Dopplebocks during Lent

I miss this beer.

 

Can anyone tell me how freshness influences dopplebocks? I assume they hold up well due to the higher alcohol and hops not being the main selling point. I always have Troeginator available to me locally, but the local distributor tends to sell old, sometimes very old, beers often and you cannot check his dates easily, due to the beer being stored in the back and brought out to you. For this reason I am always reluctant to purchase it, but may be less so if it is not a concern.

 

I think my favorite doppelbock is still the original: Paulaner Salvator, so I'd go with that. Ayinger has a kiss of roast I don't love, and Andechs was actually a bit hoppier than I expected. Would love to try Kulmbacher's EKU 28 if I can ever find it on draft or right out the case.

I find a lot of American versions tend to be even heavier and sweeter than their German counterparts (Troegenator and Sam Adams come to mind immediately), with Great Divide's Wolfgang being an exception. Now that I live in PA, I'm keeping an eye out for Bell's Consectrator, though.

 

Its extremely rare to find a brewer that distro's out of their home state that does not make at least 1 ipa. My observation is only 1 does not make even 1 IPA. The rest are on the fad bandwagon. What does that say about American craft beer drink tastes? all hop bombs all the time is the market sadly.

Lucky for us the Germans (and some Americans with the extra space) do not mind taking the time to brew the beer, but that makes it cost more.

Still some of us are lovers of the malt side. I prefer balance usually but I can really enjoy some malt bombs. I always wonder if its a sweet versus salt thing? who knows....

Me I prefer the goat beer....

 

Could be -- they get updated all the time. Here's a new hyper-link for you (*), but you have to remember your birthdate (): http://www.samueladams.com/craft-beers/double-bock

Looks like the same beer, new bottle and label.

(*Sorry, but people often miss the light blue of the hyper-link when the type is too short -- internet attention spans )

 

They'll hold up better than most, but become oxidized (wet cardboard smell and flavor) over time.

 

In m experience, freshness influences doppelbocks in the same way it influences stouts and barleywines. I'm not afraid to pick up a year-old doppelbock. You may get a bit more dark fruit flavor from oxidation, but nothing that really hurts the beer.

Others' mileage may vary, of course.

 

This or Andechs.

 

That's the one!

 

I had a Celebrator the other night for the first time in probably six months or so. That beer is so fucking good man, really one of my favorites. I Lent or no Lent, it needs to be consumed with regularity.

 

IMO, Doppelbocks are 'good' for up to a year from the bottling date. As has been previously discussed the beer will take on flavors of sherry, port, and dark fruits with aging. The beer is still good but it will have a different flavor profile.

A few years ago I picked up a 6-pack of Victory St. Victorious and I did not take note of the dates on the bottles. After drinking a few bottles I looked at the dates on the bottle and took note that the beer was about 10-11 months old. I stil enjoyed drinking the beer but it was indeed different.

You can read my review of this particular batch of beer within the context of a side-by-side tasting with Troegs Troegenator:http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...attle-of-troegenator-vs-st-victorious.146974/

Cheers!

 

10 posts to bring up IPA's

 

The trend is waning -- yes!

 

Spaten Optimator is a decent easy to find and affordable doppelbock.

 

I'm not a participant, but I did just pick up some of this:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/2732/

I too would agree with the suggestion for Ayinger Celebrator. Great stuff.

 

me too

are wheat doppelbocks allowed? if so, all the Aventinus stuff ... i drink em with a fork and knife

 

Yep, unfortunately this is the state of US craft beer in 2015. One of my buddy's sent an e-mail saying there was a new brewery in Brooklyn that made IPAs, and that he usually doesn't enjoy them, but liked their offerings. He said they're an all-IPA brewery.

Same here. My two picks are Celebrator and Troeggenator. @Providence, I had the same revelation when I purchased a single for Christmas dinner this past year. I drained the bottle even though I tried to savor it. Only 6.7% abv, which is low for a doppelbock too.

I've only had the Andech's once, and while it wasn't my favorite, I want to give it another shot given it's high praise. Also, I think my palate has skewed even further towards the malt side since that bottle, so I'm curious how I perceive it. Finally, Andech's has no indication of freshness, so who knows how old the bottle was. I LOVE their Helles and weissbier....so we'll see!

 

Celebrator might be the finest of the lot and one of the best beers around, i really love it. But i once had a few Salvator on tap at Paulaner Haus and the combination of freshness, deep aromas and woody flavours, that clear ruby color, even the slender stein...just clicked on me. While i love Weihenstephan i don't get into the Korbinian for some reason, and the rest of the known Germans are more average in my opinion. So in spite of not being a fan of their Hefe i will go with the original Doppelbock, supposedly;

Paulaner Salvator.