Taster's Choice
DC Brau Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

pours maroon with an off white head. Aroma is feint and kinda lacking but what is there is bready, a touch fruity, and only the slightest hint of coffee (and I am being generous). Flavor is more present, fortunately, though the coffee presence in this one is really quite weak. That isn't to say I didn't like it, I did, just that it wasn't what I expected from a coffee beer. Flavor is bready, caramel, fruity, a touch of cocoa, and some light coffee that shows in the finish giving off a nice roastiness in the finish . Medium bodied, some activity. Overall, dug this even if the aroma was lacking and and the coffee presence was underwhelming for a "coffee" beer. The beer itself was still enjoyable and I did begin to appreciate how the coffee was used in it in the end, even if it wasn't how I might have preferred. Would drink again.

 

i think I have decided that my new globe glass gives every beer a perfect pour, holding head, producing lace. I don't know, either I have had six or seven good looking beers in a row, or the glass is brilliant. hard to tell, but this one pours clear copper, a straight shooter here, with an inch of just off white head. I smell almost nothing, so bizarre. my lady and I were both disappointed by the nose, it smells like nothing at all, no coffee, no malt, nothing, like sniffing normal air almost. odd. the taste is there though, coffee up front, no acid. followed by a thicker malt body that exudes terra that's somewhere between the two collaborating brewers here, as this is decidedly Midwestern grainbelt stuff. a funny amalgamation of geography. full bodied as they get, decently carbonated, and easy enough to drink one, but that's all I want. clean finish, the lager character is well illustrated here. ive been saying this a lot lately, but its good not great.

A: Rich copper and amber in hue.

S: Sweet raisins and chocolate notes.

T: Hints of prunes, coffee, toffee, coco, and brown sugar...very brown ale smelling.

M: Light and sweet, malty and hoppy.

O: I am impressed. I have never had a "Doppelbock" such as this before. Not to mention one with a Lager and coffee twist. Very drinkable...surprising for its ABV. I like this one. Comes across as a crisp, sweet, and lively brown ale. Nice!

 

 

 

 

22oz bottle into a goblet. no bottling date

Pours a dark reddish brown color with a 1 inch head. Great looking pour. Smell is roasted coffee..wow, it's very pleasant and not what I was expecting. Smells nothing like a doppelbock. The taste is roasted coffee as well, with a nice chocolaty finish on the end. Really digging the taste too. No way this is a doppelbock though, at least nothing like a typical bready german style one. Goes down extremely easy as it's almost creamy. Lighter side of medium bodied with low carbonation.

Overall I'm thoroughly impressed by this beer (but it's not a doppelbock.) This is my second offering from DC Brau and both have been home runs in my eyes. Recommend this one to anyone who likes coffee or chocolate flavored brews.

 

 

 

 

Poured from the bottle into a pilsner style glass. Had this several weeks before the release and it looked promising. Keen on checking this one out.

Real nice creamy top tan head, with some swiss cheese bubbles. A gorgeous chestnut red body with lighter creamy tan brown hues toward the bottom of the glass. Lots of tiny pinhead carbonation. A real nice looking classic doppelbock.

Bouquet mixes with creamy simple coffee. Lots of milky cream sensations, slight brown ale like nutty character. Sweet malts and big husky dark quality to match. Very aromatic, smells real impressive.

Palate hits with interesting texture. Slightly grain finish with a mid palate that fills with a light bodied malt. Coffee and toasty qualities open up with numerous sips. Milky cream almost in to sweet lactose comes out with a hint snickers bar like chocolate. More toasty qualities as the beer warms up on the finish. Body is a little bit wet with some borderline over crisp like carbonation, which takes away some of the malt richness.

Overall though when I heard they were adding coffee to a doppelbock I thought it wouldn't work, but this one does. While not the ultimate doppelbock, it's a very enjoyable and unique tasting brew that I could easily have again, I wish it had just a pinch of more malt thickness in the palate, but it's a solid and unique tasting beer.