Doppelbock
Legend Brewing Co.

DoppelbockDoppelbock
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From:
Legend Brewing Co.
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
Doppelbock
ABV:
7.7%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.76 | pDev: 9.04%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
30
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 23, 2015
Added:
Mar 31, 2004
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Phillyduke:
Photo of Phillyduke
Reviewed by Phillyduke from Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
2008 Release. 8% ABV. 22 oz. bomber poured into a tall curved pilsner glass.

Beer is a clear, deep burnt umber with a nice three-finger head of foam that quickly dissipates to a fine surface layer with nice retention. Minimal lacing. Nose is pretty much all malt, but is quite appealing. Flavors are hearty roasted caramel malts with a touch of honey-like sweetness. There's also a pleasing hop presence here, though it's quite understated and only really noticeable in the finish. Mouthfeel is smooth overall, with a slight twinge of carbonation on the tongue. Overall this is a smooth and easy-to-drink American interpretation of the style that showcases an interesting flavor profile and warms the insides quite well on a cool late winter/early spring day. Bravo, Legend!
Mar 30, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of gopens44
Reviewed by gopens44 from Virginia

4.09/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Looks like age has a particularly positive effect on this beer. I can only take a wild guess at how long this beer was waiting to get popped. Maybe two, three years? I honestly have no clue on earth how long I've had it but the aging brought out dark fruit, nuttiness and great balance on both the nose and on the tongue. Too bad I didn't have the foresight to pick up several more!
Mar 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by AngusOg from North Carolina

Apr 06, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by PGVG from Virginia

Dec 29, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by ncaudle from Virginia

Oct 13, 2012
Photo of zaphodchak
Reviewed by zaphodchak from Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Deep ruby body and a fine offwhite head.

Some fruit on the nose maybe, but a bit of booze. Not easy to place or pronounced.

Taste is a knockout on the first sip. Piles of rich, semi-sweet roasty malt-- like roasted walnuts. Nutty, dry finish. Not very fruity, but a fantastic taste. Faintly, faintly boozy. Trace of cherry.

Smooth, pretty average feel.

Legend does it again. I had a small serving for this review, but I recall my pint at the brewpub became slightly less drinkable as I went. Fantastic beer for a small pour. Big flavor without going crazy on abv.
Jun 10, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by Hallce2 from Virginia

May 14, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by phrobi from Virginia

Jan 06, 2012
Photo of tatoodkelt
Reviewed by tatoodkelt from Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Consumed 12/6/2009- from notes.

Brown 22oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A- Very clear, deep brown tinged with garnet, light but constant carbination feeds a burly light tan three finger head. Looks really good!

S- Sweet caramel and molassas, not too strong but not too faint.

T- Classic doppelbock flavors, carmael, molassas, some brown sugar sweetness and just a little roasty hint towards the finish.

M- Medium to full just because of the stickiness, the carbination was hardly evident in the feel.

D- Pretty easy to drink, this ones not available by me but the next time I'm across the river I'll keep an eye out!
Dec 07, 2009
Photo of msubulldog25
Reviewed by msubulldog25 from Oregon

3.81/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
22 oz. bottle, split to a couple pint glasses with a savory skillet chicken and roasted vegetable dinner. Danke to Metalmonk for the recent send.

Label: 'A strong German style lager rich in smooth malt character'

A: Just a fine looking brewing: virtually clear ruby-auburn pour, topped with over two-fingers of exquisite ivory-tan cream. Excellent retention, the fall is gradual and the remaining cap never fades below 1/4". Lazy carbonation streams wriggle upwards and sudsy lace coats the glass.

S: Pleasant but not-so-strong aroma of sugary caramelized nuts, baked apples, dash of spice, raisins, port wine. Trace of rubbing alcohol.

T: Very nutty, a caramel/toffee-laden sipper. Good spice, at once sweet and confectionery, next more earthy, zesty. Chewy malts, a baked bread that's dark and smacks of caraway, hints at cocoa powder. Doesn't transform the dopplebock but represents well.

M: Less carbonation than expected and an uninteresting slickness, creating a body that seems a little thin. The weakest point of this beer.

D: Good taste and aroma, a lovely looking lager that's easy to drink despite a rather substantial 7% weight. Good version of a style that ranks among my favorites. My first from Legend is one worth having again. Thanks, Jeff!
Nov 23, 2009
Photo of Metalmonk
Reviewed by Metalmonk from North Carolina

3.94/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
7% noted on the bottle, not 7.7%. Just sayin'.

This is a beauty of a beer. An inch-thick head of fluffy cream, off-white/beige leaning toward tan. Liquid is a glossy rust-brown with just a few bubbles. Looks like a doppelbock from the homeland.

Doesn't this happen often? A beautiful-looking beer with a less-than-stellar nose. Lightly mineral, even fainter cooked veggie aroma, with a ghost of toasted bread and caramel. Probably wouldn't have guessed "doppelbock" in a blindfolded taste-test. Or maybe my sense of smell just sucks.

No problem identifying classic d'bock traits on the tongue, and that's where it counts most. Toffee and caramel hit first, and big, having a grape-y twist and nearing a kind of peat-like mustiness similar to that of a Scottish Ale. Brown sugar and fresh dark bread--wheat and pumpernickel--further back; excellent support from the alcohol, which props everything up a notch without being cloying, throwing in a spicy character (or could that be the hops?). Dark berry and dark pit fruit in the (pretty dry) finish, adding even more depth of flavor.

Carbonation tingle wins in the end, although it's also slick and creamy enough to please. Just a hair less carbonation and a little more stick and weight and I would've easily given the mouthfeel a 4.

Love the flavor on this bad boy, and that's where it counts. A fine entry from this local-ish and pretty underrated brewery.
Nov 15, 2009
Photo of GbVDave
Reviewed by GbVDave from Illinois

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22oz bomber into a DT tulip. Special thanks to Metalmonk for sending this in our latest trade!

A: Pours a crystal-clear, reddish-tinted brown color with a creamy, three-finger, light-brown head that sports good retention and lace leaving abilities.

S: Aromas of molassas, raisins, caramel dunked cherries, dark chocolate, and fresh baked wheat bread. As it warms, brown sugar and alcohol become quite apparent.

T: Flavors of brown sugar/molassas, caramel, cherry, fresh bakery bread, bakers chocolate, white peppercorns, spiced raisins, and hints of vegetables. A pinch of herbal hops towards the finish.

M: Big, smooth, sweet, and malty in the beginning. As this travels on towards the finish it takes on a prickly/spicy quality that is probably equal parts hops and alcohol.

D: I found this to be pretty enjoyable. It is kept from being too sweet by the right amount of spicy bitterness. Nice.
Nov 12, 2009
Photo of BeerSox
Reviewed by BeerSox from Virginia

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz bomber into pint glass.

Clear deep copper hue with a one finger tan head that settles to a thick, smooth, and even cap.

Almost roasted malts, which give off a lot of brown sugar and caramel.

The malts in the flavor are very heavy and smoky. Molasses is also a characteristic, along with a little raisin. Full bodied.

Lots of malts in this one. Very little hop flavors. Definitely one for the maltheads. Recommended.
Oct 10, 2009
Photo of clayrock81
Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida

3.53/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Leather couch brown with great carbonation and tan head. Leads to minor malty smell with hints of fruit; somewhat lowkey for a dopplebock. Smooth, little creamy with a medium body containing a good amount of caramel sweetness (other sweet flavors hit me like butterscotch due to smoothnes) and there is an aftertaste of dark fruits. Rather subdued dopplebock and it lost a little with funky aftertaste. Not bad though.
Jun 30, 2009
Photo of MuenchenerKindl
Reviewed by MuenchenerKindl from Germany

3.38/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a bomber to a pint glass the liquid is dark brown and has good carbonation. The head is tall, thick, tan and leaves a bit of lace.

The smell is fruity, dark ripe fruits, and a thick hardy bready malt.

The taste is ok dark fruits and sugary bread but also a tangy flavor not so great.

The mouthfeel is good a big thick brew with good carbonation.

The drinkability is ok, but not a must try.

Prosit, MK
Sep 20, 2008
Photo of JayQue
Reviewed by JayQue from Virginia

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Good one!!! May not be the best Dopplebock I have had, but the flavors are strong and pronounced. After having an Irish Car bomb and splitting a Vertical Epic 08 08 08 before sampling this, I was afraid that the taste would get lost somewhere. Not the case!!!

Pours a dark reddish brown with a nice size off-white head. Smell is malty - better than average.

Taste is very good- pronounced flavors dark fruit, malt and sweetness with a bit of bittering at the end. Everything is balanced nicely. The alcohol is well tamed.

The mouthfeel is rich and creamy and drinkability is very good, given the high abv. I will probably get another one and drink it first in the rotation. I'm sure it will be just as good.
Aug 16, 2008
Photo of SCW
Reviewed by SCW from New York

2.97/5  rDev -21%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Not my cup of tea. Subtle toffee aroma leads to great promise and wishing for and hoping for and praying for rich and diverse malt background with peppery spice.

Left with slightly astringent, tannin and husk flavor, light to medium bodied brew with a bitter aftertaste.

A fair try, but not my cup of tea.
Apr 22, 2008
Photo of Proteus93
Reviewed by Proteus93 from Virginia

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: A deep reddish brown pour, the first pour into one of my Celebrator glasses (perhaps I should have saved it for marriage with the Celebrator itself, but this is what I had). A rich, foamy head... a very, very light tan or khaki colour, closer to an offwhite.

S: A toasted grain scent of barley, some mild dark fruit esters behind. A slightly floral aroma.

T + M: A dark fruit flavour, closer to raisin. Some very light chocolatey notes, but just a little highlight in the flavour. Still, it's got a consistency leaning more towards creamy, which is nice. A little bit of a hoppy bitterness right in the finish. A touch thin, but otherwise a decent feel throughout the mouth.

D: I'll enjoy this bottle, and call it good for now. This is one I would see myself coming back to from time to time, and at those times, I'd seek it out. When it comes to the style, there are several others I'd likely lean towards more often, but this is a decent drink - worth giving a try.
Apr 07, 2008
Photo of asabreed
Reviewed by asabreed from New York

3.97/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bomber into a pint glass. 2008 Vintage. 8% ABV.

Appearance: A fairly deep amber with lots of small bubbles floating toward the top. Initial head is rich and billowing but fades rather quickly and even with the pours later on doesn't go much.

Smell: Fringe malt sweetness with fruit sourness, roasted malt richness, spiciness, along with some maple, vanilla, rich chocolate, and caramel from the caramel malts. Also some whiffs of alcohol when it warms, but overall pleasant and fairly complex.

Taste: Rich roasted malt, fruit, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, molasses, and a lingering finish with hints of roasted malt, slight citrus hop twinge, and earthiness with some bread crust in the mix.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with slightly watery carbonation initially, but fulfilling in the end with the semi-creamy burst of carbonation happening.

Drinkability: A rich and balanced treat, and a nice sipper in this cooler weather in Richmond before the warmth arrives indefinitely for a while. I haven't had the pleasure to try the older versions, but this is very nice and worth picking up if you see it.
Mar 24, 2008
Photo of arguemaniac
Reviewed by arguemaniac from Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
The palate of this wonderfully drinkable dark lager features a cleaner, more delicious caramel malt character than that of any other dopplebock I’ve had. Some chocolate, dark fruit and nice toasty, roasted malt flavors, but the caramel is the star here.

I don’t know how they do it but Legend manages to imbue most of their beers with an unparalled caramel malt flavor, and this tasty doppel is no exception. Other than that, it’s a pretty straightforward doppelbock with tasty, subdued roasted malt character.

Recommended…
Aug 16, 2007
Doppelbock from Legend Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 30 ratings