Icelandic Doppelbock | Einstök Ölgerð (Einstök Beer Company)




Brewed by:
Einstök Ölgerð (Einstök Beer Company)
Iceland
einstokbeer.com
Style: Doppelbock
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.70%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
The 2015 version of this limited-edition seasonal is only available through the holiday season, but this winter celebration brew is worth the wait. Malted barley and chocolate tones define the traditional style, while the robust aroma and long, mellow finish make this the perfect companion for holiday adventures. Get it while you can.
Munich malt, pilsner malt, crystal malt, chocolate malt, bavarian hops.
Added by thepeter on 01-02-2012
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 151 | Reviews: 33
Reviews by Bierliebhaber3:
3.73/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
This Icelandic doppelbock pours a dark brown color with a ruby red tint and a medium foamy white head. The smell is malty with tones of molasses, dark bread, and sugar. The appearance and scent are so far classic doppelbock fare. Like the scent implies the flavor is quite malt heavy with molasses, a little coffee and dark chocolate making an appearance as well as a fairly strong presence of caramelized sugar. The body is on the heavy end of medium. The flavor is solid, but it’s definitely a little overly sweet for my taste. I don’t usually say this about a beer style like this, but a little more hop presence might actually balance this out. In regards to alcohol it is also on the lower end of the spectrum for this style, which makes it lose points in my book. While this is a half way decent doppelbock I don’t think it even compares to the better Bavarian offerings. It’s a good beer to try, but for the price, which was quite high, I probably wouldn’t get it again.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
This Icelandic doppelbock pours a dark brown color with a ruby red tint and a medium foamy white head. The smell is malty with tones of molasses, dark bread, and sugar. The appearance and scent are so far classic doppelbock fare. Like the scent implies the flavor is quite malt heavy with molasses, a little coffee and dark chocolate making an appearance as well as a fairly strong presence of caramelized sugar. The body is on the heavy end of medium. The flavor is solid, but it’s definitely a little overly sweet for my taste. I don’t usually say this about a beer style like this, but a little more hop presence might actually balance this out. In regards to alcohol it is also on the lower end of the spectrum for this style, which makes it lose points in my book. While this is a half way decent doppelbock I don’t think it even compares to the better Bavarian offerings. It’s a good beer to try, but for the price, which was quite high, I probably wouldn’t get it again.
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More User Reviews:
1.73/5 rDev -52.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
11.2 oz bottle. Pours deep ruby amber with a medium creamy off-white head that goes to a thin film that laces the glass some.
The aroma is sweet perfumey toasted biscuit malt with a little fruity leather.
The flavor is sweet toasted biscuit malt and coconut with some off chemical soapy notes and a bitter finish. The mouthfeel is pretty light and watery.
Overall, not my thing.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
11.2 oz bottle. Pours deep ruby amber with a medium creamy off-white head that goes to a thin film that laces the glass some.
The aroma is sweet perfumey toasted biscuit malt with a little fruity leather.
The flavor is sweet toasted biscuit malt and coconut with some off chemical soapy notes and a bitter finish. The mouthfeel is pretty light and watery.
Overall, not my thing.
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3.79/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours clear, chestnut brown, with 1/4 inch head. Taste is chocolate and sticky caramel. Smooth and tasty. I prefer the German classics more, but this is solid. I will get this again.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours clear, chestnut brown, with 1/4 inch head. Taste is chocolate and sticky caramel. Smooth and tasty. I prefer the German classics more, but this is solid. I will get this again.
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3.45/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A 330ml bottle with a BB of Oct 2012. Picked up a while back from Harvey Nicks in Leeds. This is a seasonal dopplebock; a comedy Christmas viking appears on the label.
Poured into a Delirium chalice. A clear reddish-brown with decent carbonation. Forms a thin off-white head that quickly subsides to a surface film. Aroma of sweet, nutty malt with hints of plums, dried fruit, brown sugar, marzipan and a big whiff of booze.
Tastes of sweet malt with a dry, fruity character. Notes of roasted grain, dried fruit, almonds, stewed hops and brown sugar. A dry bitterness upon swallowing, and a big hit of alcohol/solvent in the finish. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, but a little thin. Pretty astringent. Aftertaste of sweet, fruity malt.
Rather nice, though it probably doesn't compare with the best German examples. The aroma is good, but the flavour lacks depth and is somewhat overpowered by the booze. Body could also be a bit more substantial. Still, a decent beer that warms the cockles. Pick one up for Christmas.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A 330ml bottle with a BB of Oct 2012. Picked up a while back from Harvey Nicks in Leeds. This is a seasonal dopplebock; a comedy Christmas viking appears on the label.
Poured into a Delirium chalice. A clear reddish-brown with decent carbonation. Forms a thin off-white head that quickly subsides to a surface film. Aroma of sweet, nutty malt with hints of plums, dried fruit, brown sugar, marzipan and a big whiff of booze.
Tastes of sweet malt with a dry, fruity character. Notes of roasted grain, dried fruit, almonds, stewed hops and brown sugar. A dry bitterness upon swallowing, and a big hit of alcohol/solvent in the finish. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, but a little thin. Pretty astringent. Aftertaste of sweet, fruity malt.
Rather nice, though it probably doesn't compare with the best German examples. The aroma is good, but the flavour lacks depth and is somewhat overpowered by the booze. Body could also be a bit more substantial. Still, a decent beer that warms the cockles. Pick one up for Christmas.
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4.5/5 rDev +23.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
3.73/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.9/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
DATE TASTED: December 17, 2015 ... GLASSWARE: Schnieder Edel-Weisse pokal... OCCASION: watching the Cavs, but already celebrating the kitchen victory--barbecue and beer/beef/potato turnovers, laced with the doppelbock I am currently rating, for tomorrow's holiday luncheon.. APPEARANCE: beautiful copper brown body that allows some daylight through; head is off-white, clinging in banking clouds; base stays at a strong half-finger... AROMA: caramel malts front and center, with deep chocolate overtones...malts are slightly toasted as well, with some toffee and sweetness... PALATE: medium to full-bodied, demonstratively weighty at the throat and warming at the tongue; average carbonation; creamy with a reasonable finish... TASTE: as the scent suggests, chocolate and toasted malts akin to caramel, making for a winter warmer of a different persuasion than the usual uber-brown or extra-alcoholic ale; chocolate at the finish as well--a singular, effective profile... OVERALL: the beer I took to Tom's beer fest was confirmed as a find by a friend who visited Iceland and sang its praises...this beer is a great winter companion (fantastic label, too), with strength and a flavor profile that compliments a relaxing night...
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
DATE TASTED: December 17, 2015 ... GLASSWARE: Schnieder Edel-Weisse pokal... OCCASION: watching the Cavs, but already celebrating the kitchen victory--barbecue and beer/beef/potato turnovers, laced with the doppelbock I am currently rating, for tomorrow's holiday luncheon.. APPEARANCE: beautiful copper brown body that allows some daylight through; head is off-white, clinging in banking clouds; base stays at a strong half-finger... AROMA: caramel malts front and center, with deep chocolate overtones...malts are slightly toasted as well, with some toffee and sweetness... PALATE: medium to full-bodied, demonstratively weighty at the throat and warming at the tongue; average carbonation; creamy with a reasonable finish... TASTE: as the scent suggests, chocolate and toasted malts akin to caramel, making for a winter warmer of a different persuasion than the usual uber-brown or extra-alcoholic ale; chocolate at the finish as well--a singular, effective profile... OVERALL: the beer I took to Tom's beer fest was confirmed as a find by a friend who visited Iceland and sang its praises...this beer is a great winter companion (fantastic label, too), with strength and a flavor profile that compliments a relaxing night...
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4.59/5 rDev +26.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Not too heavy on the stomach. Nice pleasant taste and sweet aroma. Great for a relaxed day.
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look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Not too heavy on the stomach. Nice pleasant taste and sweet aroma. Great for a relaxed day.
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3.79/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
2.7/5 rDev -25.8%
Pours a finger of off-white head on a clear dark red colored body.
The aroma is grains and caramel. Nice.
The taste starts mild and goes super caramel sweet with a slight metallic bitter finish. An abrupt profile.
The texture is crisp.
I didn't enjoy it. Too sweet too long.
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Pours a finger of off-white head on a clear dark red colored body.
The aroma is grains and caramel. Nice.
The taste starts mild and goes super caramel sweet with a slight metallic bitter finish. An abrupt profile.
The texture is crisp.
I didn't enjoy it. Too sweet too long.
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3.84/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours an effervescent & ruddy caramel with 2+ fingers of tan head. Nice lacing & great head retention
S: Dark fruit, brown bread, a little leafy hop
T: Follows the nose, dryness as well, a slight grainy bitterness up front. Dryness, jammyness, a little bit of fig preserves & leafy hops as this warms. Finishes dry, with a little woody hops, figgyness & a touch of brown bread & just a whisper of booze
MF: Medium body, firm carbonation
A nice tamped down Dopple, but still pretty interesting
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours an effervescent & ruddy caramel with 2+ fingers of tan head. Nice lacing & great head retention
S: Dark fruit, brown bread, a little leafy hop
T: Follows the nose, dryness as well, a slight grainy bitterness up front. Dryness, jammyness, a little bit of fig preserves & leafy hops as this warms. Finishes dry, with a little woody hops, figgyness & a touch of brown bread & just a whisper of booze
MF: Medium body, firm carbonation
A nice tamped down Dopple, but still pretty interesting
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3.87/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.52/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I was pleasantly surprised to see this beer in the store last weekend after my experience with their Icelandic Toasted Porter. My experience tells me this will be nothing out of the ordinary but just a solid beer that is highly drinkable. Love the clean and consistent labeling across their different beers. A Viking with a red Rudolph nose on green packaging. How festive.
A: Pours a clear auburn with a thick beige head that settles to a thin layer, almost disappearing. Minor amount of carbonation visible. Scant lacing on the glass.
S: Touch of raisins and toffee sweetness. Raisin bread. A hint of dry, walnut bitterness.
T: Touch of chocolate, dark bread, dark tea, nuts, toffee.
M: Somewhat chewey. Indeed a long a finish moderately dry again with some soft bitterness.
D: Highly drinkable doppelbock. This drinks more like a brown ale to me than some of the more popular examples of this style such as Ayinger Celebrator and Troegs Troegenator. The flavor profile here is less complex. At 6.7% the alcohol really does not play a factor either in the flavor profile. Overall there is nothing groundbreaking about this beer, but there's also nothing wrong with it. Flavorful and highly drinkable.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I was pleasantly surprised to see this beer in the store last weekend after my experience with their Icelandic Toasted Porter. My experience tells me this will be nothing out of the ordinary but just a solid beer that is highly drinkable. Love the clean and consistent labeling across their different beers. A Viking with a red Rudolph nose on green packaging. How festive.
A: Pours a clear auburn with a thick beige head that settles to a thin layer, almost disappearing. Minor amount of carbonation visible. Scant lacing on the glass.
S: Touch of raisins and toffee sweetness. Raisin bread. A hint of dry, walnut bitterness.
T: Touch of chocolate, dark bread, dark tea, nuts, toffee.
M: Somewhat chewey. Indeed a long a finish moderately dry again with some soft bitterness.
D: Highly drinkable doppelbock. This drinks more like a brown ale to me than some of the more popular examples of this style such as Ayinger Celebrator and Troegs Troegenator. The flavor profile here is less complex. At 6.7% the alcohol really does not play a factor either in the flavor profile. Overall there is nothing groundbreaking about this beer, but there's also nothing wrong with it. Flavorful and highly drinkable.
1,217 characters
3.75/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.5/5 rDev -3.8%
Sweet, malty, medium-bodied. Bonus points for using glacial water
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Sweet, malty, medium-bodied. Bonus points for using glacial water
66 characters
3.51/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a brown 11.2 oz. bottle. Has a very dark brown color with a 1 inch head. Smell is mild, some malts. Taste is not mild. Toasted malts, dark breads, just a touch of nuttiness. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a pretty good beer.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a brown 11.2 oz. bottle. Has a very dark brown color with a 1 inch head. Smell is mild, some malts. Taste is not mild. Toasted malts, dark breads, just a touch of nuttiness. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a pretty good beer.
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2.25/5 rDev -38.2%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
Wasn't the worst beer I've ever had, but it was a terrible doppelbock. Really displeased with this one
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look: 2.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
Wasn't the worst beer I've ever had, but it was a terrible doppelbock. Really displeased with this one
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Icelandic Doppelbock from Einstök Ölgerð (Einstök Beer Company)
Beer rating:
3.64 out of
5 with
151 ratings
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