Islay Whiskydoppelbock
Braumanufaktur Hertl

11.90 Euros/0.33L from Bierotech, Bamberg, Germany. Reviewed 10/16/18.
Limited run of 300 flip-top bottles. Marked “Mindestens haltbar bis 11 Feb 2019. Stored at room temperature in the store and consumed at room temperature from a hand washed and dried glass coffee mug. Opens with a loud “POP”.
Appearance – 4.25.
Body – Brown, hazy, and translucent.
Head – Average (Maximum 3.5 cm, aggressive center pour), tan, medium density, average retention, diminishing to an irregular six to eight cm ring, a complete layer with some thickened areas, and some narrow partial rings of small to medium bubbles.
Lacing – Excellent! Wide rings of tiny to small bubbles, some connections by thin columns and some by wide pillars.
First pour – Medium brown, hazy.
Aroma – 4.25 – Very much like Islay single malt scotch.
Flavor – 4 – The scotch barrels do not really translate to the flavor. The maltiness of the traditional doppelbock is somewhat subdued, with a slight sourness. No alcohol (11.3% ABV), no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide.
Palate – 3.5 – Medium, almost creamy, soft carbonation.
Impression and interpretation – 4 – Overall, a decent doppelbock. I would question the choice of Scotch whisky for aging a beer this sweet. For me, it didn’t work exceptionally well. While the aroma says scotch, the flavor says mixed acid-producing bacterial cultures.