Dominator
City Steam Brewery Café

this dopple is huge.. served in a sloped-side stein, this beer appears dark brown with a soda head.. big, wide bubbles popping quick to leave a chestnut beverage of massive size in front of me.

big molasses aroma defines the dominator, along with the minty root beer thing that they just can't seem to shake. i don't consider that anymore.. like the abrasive whistle, it's just part of the experience. something draws a sense-memory of honey-roasted almonds as i take a big whiff of the dominator. i like it, but i somewhat fear its heft.

it's a malty beverage with serious thickness. there is a hint of grapiness, and many flavors that bring to mind belgian sweetness like candi sugar. the sucrose here dominates, and seems more suited to a maibock. regardless, i enjoy my pint- its just not as traditionally satisfying as the andechs that i imbibed earlier today. it's a big beer, mystifyingly lager-blind, and certainly a one-and-done experience. thought it would dry out more after sampling some in-progress casks.

let's call it a dark maibock.. or a belgian dopple. or a dopplesticke alt. whatever, i recommend you head out and try one. before you drink it, get into a liberator headspace and be prepared for a variant riff on a classic style.

Only 4 barrels produced
Lagered 12 weeks
19 degrees plato

Chestnut colored with shafts of garnet extending up the sides of the glass. A light brown and tightly bubbled head of thick foam sits atop and lingers long, leaving sheets of lace extending up the insides of the glass.

Aroma of roasted malt, brown sugar, and marshmallow.

Flavor is intially sweet and malty, not cloying, almost has a bit of wheat character, some caramel and toffee. Sharpens up a bit as it finishes into raisin and cherry. The alcohol is well hidden.

Smooth mouthfeel, even and full and creamy, slight bubbly tingle as it rolls across the tongue, finishes a bit crisp. Veeery drinkable.

Haven't seen this one in a while, hats off to Ron.

Last time I was up in Hartford on business I had the pleasure of trying this beer. I don't have the beer vocab like a lot here, but I do know that if you like Doppelbocks....this one will not disappoint.