Ayinger Brewery – Celebrator Doppelbock

Ayinger Brewery – Celebrator Doppelbock

Doppelbock
BJCP Style: 5C. Doppelbock
ABV: 7.2%
IBU: N/A
Bottled
Tasting on: 10/26/14
Glass: Pilsner

Aroma: Overtones of caramel and toffee along with roasted, almost burnt malt. Undertones of German lager with a slight hop spice. 10/10

Appearance: Dark brown, almost black, with hues of deep amber throughout. Tan head. 10/10

Flavor: Subdued malt and hops balance each other in the beginning before an almost malt extract-like sweetness really begins to show through in the middle along with some cocoa notes. Roasted grains and some hop bitterness show up in the end. The aftertaste is pleasant with a small amount of hops remaining, along with some tanginess and perceived sweetness. 19/20

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Smooth and creamy with medium carbonation. No unpleasant alcohol taste. 10/10

Overall Impression: Sweet, but balanced throughout, with an impressive collection of similar but complementary flavors that add true complexity.  The BJCP style guidelines say that a dopplebock should not have any roasted or burnt flavors, but Celebrator does have those flavors, and I think it really adds to the beer.

This is a superb dopplebock that would be an excellent choice any time of the year, but would make a particularly good addition to a holiday meal. 48/50

Final Score: 97%