Instigator Doppelbock
Sly Fox Brewing Company

Instigator DoppelbockInstigator Doppelbock
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From:
Sly Fox Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Doppelbock
Ranked #67
ABV:
7.3%
Score:
88
Ranked #15,090
Avg:
3.91 | pDev: 8.18%
Reviews:
87
Ratings:
106
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 04, 2022
Added:
Apr 07, 2003
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  2
A classic German-style doppelbock: dark, malty and full-bodied. Brewed with German pils, Munich and roasted malts and lightly hopped with German noble hops. It will agitate your taste buds and incite your imagination.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by rajendra82:
Photo of rajendra82
Reviewed by rajendra82 from Georgia

4.15/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This growler arrived on my door step from pezoids as part of BIF 20. The beer poured out dark ruby brown with no head and left only spotty lacing. The growler was well sealed before opening, so I am assuming this is how this beer is meant to be. The malty aroma of cherry, molasses, raisins, and chocolate gave a good hint of things to come. The taste was super smooth, with dark skinned fruits, brown sugar, and citric sourness mixed with a dose of spicy noble hops. Soothing and chock full of flavor, the beer was very satisfying. Body was a touch thinner than other Doppelbocks, but the level of residual sugars made this little feel more substantial than it really was. While not an earth shaking experience, this was very pleasant indeed.
Jun 11, 2005
More User Ratings:
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On draft at the Pottstown location, served in shaped pint glass

Very dark brown in color, thin cream colored head. Rich malty aroma. Similar taste, but not overly sweet. Medium to full bodied.
Sep 04, 2022
 
Rated: 3.9 by Curt3 from Ohio

Sep 01, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by Barleycorn from Pennsylvania

May 06, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by thgreatrandini from Pennsylvania

May 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by salthemonster from Pennsylvania

May 04, 2015
Photo of bluehende
Rated by bluehende from Delaware

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
It may have been rebrewed as I had this at a tasting. Very nice Dopplebock. Nice heavy malt that lingers.
Apr 25, 2015
Photo of tigg924
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I really like how Sly Fox brews German beers and this is no exception. The taste is predominantly layers of caramel, toasted malt, and slight dark chocolate. Sweet but not overly sweet and a good American example of the style.
Mar 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by victory4me from Pennsylvania

Oct 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by curlybird from Pennsylvania

Jul 21, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Zetcha7x from Pennsylvania

Mar 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by BillRoth from Maryland

Dec 28, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

May 16, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by BARFLYB from Pennsylvania

Mar 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by deapokid from Pennsylvania

Feb 15, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Jan 28, 2013
Photo of claspada
Reviewed by claspada from New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dark burnt caramel color with ruby hues along the edges. There is a rather large tan head with great retention that left loads of lacing as it receded.

Aroms begin with toasted malts, brown sugar and sweet caramel covered apples. As it warms you get notes of smoked wood and red grapes as well.

The tastes begin with apple cider and dark red grape skin. Then it's quite caramel malt forward with hints of smokiness. As it warms you get more and more dark fruits; figs, dates and raisin.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium'high carbonation. Finish is on the sweeter end of the spectrum but the ample carbonation helps to balance the large malt presence.

Overall this is a nice American example of a classic German brew. Nothing worldly or revolutionary here or up to the quality of the authentic examples but a fine showing for a low price point.
Aug 24, 2012
Photo of tobelerone
Reviewed by tobelerone from New Jersey

3.47/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On taping Phoenixville. Pours a highly red-tinted amber color. Minimal head without much retention or lacing. Beautiful coloring but the head was pretty suspect. Aroma of caramel, bready malt, banana esters, prominent fruit. Smells a bit more like a dunkel weizen than a doppelbock.

The flavor follows suit. It's quite fruity and again there is a bit more of a banana note than one might reasonably expect for the style. Also lacks the big and profoundly chewy malt breadiness of the best examples of the style. Decent dark fruit and caranel sweetness and a semidry finish. I see past reviews are quite favorable, so perhaps there was something a little.off with this batch? Hard to say.

I also found the body to be a bit thin for a dopplebock and the carbonation a.little fizzy, which cut down on the overall smoothness I was hoping for. Pretty mediocre, but I'd like to try this again sometime I suppose.
Jul 29, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by tedho21 from Pennsylvania

Jul 28, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by nickfl from Florida

Jul 27, 2012
Instigator Doppelbock from Sly Fox Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 106 ratings