Captivator Doppelbock
Tree Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

650 ml bottle served cold into a pint glass. Purchased from the LCBO for under $7 CDN. This bottle is advertised as 7.0% ABV

Appearance - The beer pours a dark and cloudy amber colored beer. About three quarters of a finger of dense tan head rests on top with good retention tme. Some sparse lacing glues itself to the glass leaving behind remnants. Plenty of carbonation within.

Smell - A fine medley of dark fruits, plums, pears, figs and dates, molasses and treacle. Smells delicious and just the way you would want a doppelbock to.

Taste - A little boozy with loads of molasses up front, the fruits hinted at in the nose don't come through as well. Malt bomb with a faintly metallic ring to it. Not quite as good as the nose, but still easy drinking. Some bitterness and hints of coffee emerge as the beer warms.

Mouthfeel - Full bodied, well carbonated but its a soft carbonation making it less perceptible than expected. Finishes fairly dry.

Overall - A very good doppelbock from the west coast. The initial impressions form Captivator Doppelbock are that of a near world class brew. The appearance are nose are top notc, and while the beer doesn't quite live up to those initial impressions in taste and feel, it remains one of the better brewed doppelbocks in Canada. Certainly worth a try especially over a long evening in front of a fire.

 

 

 

Last had before I saw Primus, should have stuck to beer that night because I missed half the show and it SUCKED

 

Pours from the 650ml bottle into my oversized wine glass a near pitch-black colour, topped by surprisingly robust (for 8% abv) two fingers of cappuccino head. Lots of lacing.

Smell is molasses, brown sugar, lots of licorice. Slightly grassy, slightly vegetal or "green". Toffee, caramel, maybe some hazelnuts or nuts more generally? I find the licorice or anise scent here tremendously strong. Cocoa? Dark chocolate? Burnt chocolate.

Taste is bitter, roasted malt. Crystal malt. Slight coffee, but a lot of cocoa and dark chocolate. Less licorice in the taste, but it's still there. Slightly grassy. Surprisingly creamy. Good body, good carbonation (neither too heavy). Interesting play between bitter and sweet here.

A nice doppelbock. Not setting my world on fire, but respectable.

I have sampled this a couple of times, but this was my first serious go at the Captivator. I was pleased with the aroma - almost like a banana split? The taste had plenty of layers to it, as well. I was pleased to find licorice, caramel and toffee as this rolled around on my tongue. The higher alcohol content is well masked, but it does make an significant appearance as it flows down the throat and warms the stomach.

 

Tasting notes: Unique banana notes on the nose and palate. Fruity for a lager. Chocolate cake and a little rum toffee. Less hefty than other doppelbocks: Medium thick I'd say. Slight booze on the tongue. Burnt caramel in the finish.