Starkbierzeit 2022

I have been looking for Optimator (and also Spaten's Maibock), but I haven't been able to find any nearby. Spaten Oktoberfest, sure. But not Optimator. I do have one more place to check, though.

 

Augustiner-Bräu München Maximator
I just finished 2 bottles. I drank them separately.

I found the first bottle in the back of beer fridge . L323082042 about 1 years and 5 months old.
It was ok Very drinkable but you can tell it was past prime peak freshness.

Second bottle was better L280052102, about 6 months old. This one tasted better
I am getting brown sugar, dark bread, caramel and a little pumpernickel bread type flavor too in the middle. A hint of spice like anise on the finish.
A good beer

 

Over a year old?

 

It's a bottled on date. The first three digits are the julian day, the sixth and seventh digits are the year.

They need to sticky that thread with the German brewery date codes.

 

Edit I think I found it, but for some reason I'm thinking there's a separate, similar thread:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/date-codes-for-imported-usa-german-beer.658248/

 

Dangerous Man Brewing, Minneapolis, MN
Doppelbock 9.2% ABV
I just finished my last 750ml crowler. At room temp it had a hint of brandy flavor.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30349/579915/
https://untappd.com/b/dangerous-man-brewing-co-doppelbock/4601271

 

I am in south-central Pennsylvania, outside of Lancaster.

In the past I have typically seen Optimator on the shelves at this time of the year.

Seeing the Spaten Oktoberfest on the shelves surprised me. It isn't normally there this time of year. It might be unsold stock from last fall. I would have picked some up, but I already have some that I saved from last fall.

Oh - I wanted to thank you for plugging Spaten Oktoberfest in the threads last fall. Reading your posts about it led to me picking some up and trying it again for the 1st time in a long while. I see why you like it. I certainly did.

Good to know re. Spaten Maibock. I won't waste time trying to find it. But I will be keeping an eye out for Hofbrau's Maibock Boy do I miss Troegs Cultivator. And Victory's St Boisterous ....

 

I have that page bookmarked.

 

Ran across an interesting "local" Doppelbock, so thought I would get in on the action.

Fleuther Doppelbock 2021 Dark Choc High Vanilla

Pours a very nice dark brown with excellent head. Flavor is a touch sweet actually, the vanilla and chocolate here are rather aggressive and make a very serious first impression. It settles into a very solid maltiness, with a little burnt and a little biscuit. In the end, it balances out fairly well. Mouthfeel is decently thick while still being a touch crisp. It treads the line between a stout and doppelbock, with a hint of sourness as well. There is no real bitterness to be found. Overall, it is actually quite good. I honestly don't know if I would call this a "doppelbock" from flavor, but rather a slightly thin stout? Maybe that is the flavoring, which is unexpected in a German doppelbock. But it feels too "solid" and sturdy to be a doppelbock. Either way, it is a good beer.

 

7.5% ABV. Haven't seen the 2022. This was bought in early January in the local grocery store. Sat in my cellar for a bit. Haven't seen the 2022. But then again, I never saw the 2020 either...

 

Prost!

 

A few years ago, I tried to add an obscure beer (and the odd little store where I bought it), and both got rejected for lack of confirmation (or something like that). So I don't bother anymore. Sorry.