Online Doppelbock Tasting - February 4th

It was fun, but more beer than I usually drink in a night so I'm out too. You BAs in more westerly time zones carry on though. Prosit!

 

...!

 

Just polished off the Salvator, and I have to say, I was really disappointed. It was just so cloyingly sweet, the alcohol (only 7.9%) was clearly evident, and the flavors did not mesh, they just plowed over each other. I generally like Paulaner's offerings, but this was definitely not for me. I'll stick to Troegenator and Celebrator and try to find some other offerings. Thanks to @THSdrummer for organizing this, I'm ready for the next iteration of online tastings!

 

The description sounds a lot like the Scratch Bock from Troegs, which might be one of my favorites ever. That's definitely not a doppelbock, but it's just so damn good. A lot of bread, bit of spice and grass...I've been waiting for them to do another run of it and grab some.

 

More than anything else, it was really interesting to see all of the reactions to that beer tonight. They seem to be all over the map, and with each review I find myself saying "yeah, I could see it that way, too."

 

They are often used pretty much interchangeably. Starkbier means "strong beer," and dopplebock is a strong bock. (And if you only brew one strong beer that's your starkbier.... )

 

Aw damn, just realized I missed this because I spent the entire day removing carpeting from my house and prepping to refinish the floors. Worst part is I was dying for a beer when I finished, but it was definitely bedtime by then. Oh well, my Korbinian lives to be drunk another day!

 

Too true. I'm also surprised nobody had Spaten Optimator. I would have been curious to see how that compared to Salvator (I remember enjoying it substantially more):

 

I'm with you there. I'm very fond of Optimator, and it's been my default Doppelbock for a while now. Personally, I just wanted to do something different, but I'm also kinda surprised that there were no appearances last night.

 

Speaking of Optimator, isn't that one filtered? It kind of makes me wonder if Salvator would be a better beer if it were filtered more like Spaten (assuming it is, going purely by memory). I think that the yeast isn't doing Salvator any favors when it's been sitting on a shelf or a while. Just my opinion of course. The flavor that Paulaner Salvator has is clearly enjoyed by many, I just don't happen to like it compared to others in the style. I have given it so many chances but never really loved it (even on-tap once iirc). Has this weird apple thing going on I'm not a big fan of in bocks.

 

I just meant that it's a bit of an outlier in the style, due to the 14% ABV.

They also brew another doppelbock called Urbock 23 that is paler in color. I've had a bottle and while it's okay - I think the paler doppelbocks just don't have the malt complexity that I enjoy with most other beers in the style.

 

Haha, yeah! Speaking of which, did anybody here do EKU 28? I don't remember seeing it.

 

I've had Optimator in the past, and it was again cloyingly sweet. I just found the taste to be very sugary and the feel very sticky. Perhaps that's more representative of the style, but it's less enjoyable to me. Granted, it's been over a year since I had it, so maybe I've adapted more now.

 

After reviewing this great thread I decided I had to seek out the Weltenberger Asam. Luckily I found a shop through Beer Menus that carries it only a few blocks from where I work in NYC. Going to walk over and pick up a couple bottles during my lunch break. Thanks BAs!

 

Prediction: You'll enjoy it and will probably become a repeat buyer.

 

You are not off base -- Doppelbocks can range from 6 to 25 SRM. The paler of the style tends to be drier and hoppier.

Whatever they were thinking, I imagine they planned a Heller Doppelbock when they drew up the recipe. I sampled one the other day and it's pretty spot-on for style; maybe a little hot from alcohol from slight over-attenuation, but the malt character is outstanding -- especially for a US-brewed take on a German style.

 

(Opened a new thread with this request but go no response, so I'm tacking it on here.)
After participating in the tasting, I was inspired to search for Weltenberger Asam Bock. Did a search on Beer Menus and only one location came up within a reasonable distance of where I live (Suffolk County, NY) or work (NYC). Luckily the shop was a reasonable walk from my office so I went over on my lunch break. Unluckily it was out of stock, although they'd updated their BeerMenus on 2/4. Any fellow BAs know of a shop in Manhattan (preferably between 23rd & 59th streets) or out on Long Island that currently has any? Thanks.