Lee Hill Series Vol. 9 - Barrel Aged Doppelbock
Upslope Brewing Company - Lee Hill

19.2 oz Can from Bin 22. Dark amber, ring of tan head. Malty, caramel aroma with hints from the barrels. Taste adds some raisin, slight accents from each of the different barrels. Still a damn good Doppelbock, gets boozy late. Lots of small notes adds up to a complex whole.

19.2 oz. Can
Canned On: 8/22/16

Poured into a tulip a pretty nice brownish color, pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice thick/creamy one-finger tan head, which leaves some sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, slight yeast, with some dark fruit (plums, raisins, cherries, figs), whiskey, tequila, some oak. The taste is pretty nice, malty, slightly yeasty, nice touch of dark fruit (plums, raisins, cherries, figs), pretty nice touch of whiskey, tequila, slight oakyness. Medium body, ABV hidden pretty nicely, a nice little complex brew. Overall, a pretty tasty brew.

Poured into a pint glass. A hazy copper-ruby color with a light khaki head that quickly settled into a wispy cap. Somewhat nutty on the nose accompanied with raisins, vanilla, plums, and malt. Faint whiskey was there as well. The barrel flavors were more prominent on the palate with a cool mix of whiskey and rich German malt. The raisin and faint tequila was most noticeable on the finish. The entire beer tasted clean like a lager with only a gentle warming on the finish. Really interesting and tasty beer.

one of the best beers i have ever had from these guys, they have really upped their game in this series of beers. this is in tequila, rye, and american whiskey barrels, and the blend and complexity are awesome, just awesome. i think i get a lot more tequila in both aroma and flavor than i do of the other barrels, but thats cool with me, and its all there. deep brick red color, almost brown in the glass, with a foamy inch of tan colored head with decent retention and scattered lacing. aroma is strong tequila, wet oak, fresh botanicals, and sturdy german malt. its not readily a lager to me, i mean, i might taste some lager yeast in the end here, but the feel is not like that of a normal bock, and the yeast is an almost irrelevant contributor to the beer, although it bothers me not at all. there is a great rye character too, almost seems like there is rye in the mash bill and not just the whiskey, its quite pronounced in here and really earthy which is nice with the sweeter kilned and toasted malts here. there is a great richness, a note of maple syrup with the oak, and then a ton of tequila to finish, high quality and pure. maybe a touch of a corn based bourbon sweetness, but i dont get the usual vanilla complexion from the whiskey so much. the barrels really accent a great base beer, and with the multiple spirits, its really a unique and delicious offering. clever and well executed at the same time, i love when that happens. all of us who shared this can were thrilled with it! i hope they keep it up, this series has been rad!

 

 

This is more of a doppelbock-flavored tequila/whiskey

Dark, tawny reddish brown body; thick, fizzy head; webs of lacing along the glass. Interesting spirit barrel aroma with notes of whiskey and tequila; slight fruit and berry-like component; rich, malty tones, too. Flavor immediately starts with deep, malty doppelbock character followed closely with the barrel aging notes; caramel and booze. Heavy body; not quite syrupy yet soft and velvety on the palate.

This is a very fine, well-done doppelbock. It delivers spot-on doppelbock malt boldness nicely tempered with the rye, tequila, and American whiskey (I don't know what kind of whiskey) barrel aging. Bold and engaging with some deft blending of beer and booze. One can hope that this might be a recurring offering from Upslope, yet in the meantime, you better get some while you can. A fine mixing of old world style with new world innovation.