Veldensteiner Saphir Bock
Kaiser Bräu

 

Pours a clear, deep, dark amber coloration with a medium, frothy head that quickly fades to nothing and visible carbonation. Smells of bready, caramel malt, light chocolate and herbal hops,with just a hint of dark fruit and estery spice. Taste is dominated by sweet, caramel, bready malt, with lighter notes of chocolate and dark fruits: fig, plum, as well as some herbal, very slightly citrussy hops and just a hint of estery spice: clove. Finishes with a medium sweetness, light bitterness and some caramel malt and herbal hops lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

This a good Doppelbock with a decent complexity, but still too much on the sweet side for my personal taste, despite some lighter, bitter and herbal hops, while also lacking just a tad in mouthfeel, richness and balance to be truly great. Still an enjoyable brew, especially if you prefer your Doppelbocks on the sweet side.

From the bottle, this not really retired beer pours a ruby amber with a nice head. The head lasts a bit and leaves a bit of lace on the bottle. Plums, raisins and malt in the nose. In the mouth as well. Nice bock!

2024 update: yum!

 

Half litre bottle, poured into pint shaker.

A: Dark ruby, thick looking without being opaque, small tanned head which made a quick getaway.

S: Dark chocolate.

T: Caramel, dark chocolate, cherry, booze was barely detectable.

M: Light body for the high ABV, smooth, slipped down well.

O: Really liked the subtlety, dangerously drinkable.

L:
-pours a clear copper-ruby with a medium,.foamy,beige head
-high carbonation visible
S:
-plums,raisins,figs,fruitcake,chocolate,strawberries,caramel
T:
-Follows the nose with a bready finish
-medium to high bitterniss for the style
-dry finish
F:
-medium carbonation
-medium body
-alcohol warmth
O:
The Saphir Hops add Bitterniss to this Brew.The Hop Profile is buried under all the sweet malt.
Very good overall