Sam Adams Double Bock

[HipFlask]

Well I started tonight with Veitner's Pilner as a chaser for Bloody Mary's. Then switched to Bass Ale. And when that one ran out i opened a new Double Bock from Sam Adams. It is quite a nice pour of beer. More chocolatly and sweet than I though it would be. Very pleasant finish that hangs around for the correct lenght. It reminds me of Bourbon cask finished beer but not quite. And I Like it. Has anyone else tried this?

Capitol Brewerys Maibock is next. It is good to see a spring beer make it's appearance February.

[Jono]

Sounds good...I like most of Sam Adams products but have not tried this one....this site gives favorable reviews as well....do you notice the somewhat medicinal nose mentioned? Taste wise it is generally well liked.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35/105/

Is it stout like in taste or more hoppy? Alcohol 8.8% is pretty high for beer.

[spun_cookie]

I've had it.. good stuff. It changes a little from year to year. This years was a little more sweet than befor.

The Sam Adams Utopias was good this year as well. BT Cask aged... a little glass of that is more than enough...

[smokinjoe]

I've been working on a 6 pack of this over the weekend. It is excellent.

JOE

[Sijan]

Shucks. Saw this for the first time at the wine store today but passed it up. And I am a big fan of dopplebocks. Oh well. I hope it will be around for awhile.

[pepcycle]

The Sam Adam's Double is a little on the light side for me.

If you like it, try Bells Consecrator.

(Does anyone know why the label is upside down?)

[HipFlask]

It is NOT a hoppy beer. I find this years verision to be very sweet, malty beer. It is not heavy like a stout. I found that on the first sip I did not care for it, but by the time I finished that first bottle it was a very complex and tasty beer and I did not hesitate to grab another out of the frig.

[craigthom]

For those who have had both, how does this compare to their triple bock?

[wskybnt]

For those who have had both, how does this compare to their triple bock?

It doesn't . The Triple Bock is to be consumed warm, it's not really like beer at all. Tasted more like watered down whisky with worstershire sauce :skep:

[texascarl]

Double bocks were originally brewed to be consumed during lent, when bread was forbidden to the brewing monks. So they brewed a 'liquid bread' with lots more malt. The original dopple bocks were often named with the suffix 'ator' as in Celbrator, Optimator, etc...this is the time of year to be enjoying them. Sam Adams double bock is a very tasty example of the breed, and I'll always drink it when offered. But I really prefer the Celebrator from Germany. Lord have mercy, this is a good beer. Always has a little plastic goat (bock for 'buck') tied to the neck of the bottle. Spendy. Worth it.

http://www.merchantduvin.com/pages/5_breweries/celebrator.html

[jbaker]

But I really prefer the Celebrator from Germany. Lord have mercy, this is a good beer.

It is a good beer. It's made by Ayinger, a producer that I usually enjoy no matter what style they are making. The thing that struck me about Celebrator was the dried grains note on the nose, like you just stuck your head into a silo of malted barley. Yum.

I also dig the Schneider Aventinus Wheat Dopplebock. A little creamy, milk chocolate-like feel around a dark wheat-y center.

[texascarl]

If Ayinger makes a bad beer I haven't found it yet. As a diabetic I don't drink much beer anymore - maybe 2 beers a month. When I do have one, I have a GOOD one.

[Gillman]

In 35 years of sampling beer, a handful stand out as superlative.

Ayinger Celebrator is one.

I had it on draft in Seattle at Pike's Place (I think was the name), the brewpub in the market complex owned by well known beer importer and brewer Charles Finkel (of Merchant du Vin). He had brought it in super-fresh just a week or two before I tasted it.

A very rich, deep, balanced barley beer it was, as others have noted.

In my top 5 world beers tasted, apart from that I'd include:

- Fuller ESB at the Star Tavern, Belgravia, London 10-15 years ago

- Zum Uerige altbier from Dusseldorf, the "sticke" version, flown in in wooden kegs for a Baltimore beer festival two years ago

- Tiger, a special bitter from Everard sampled in Leicester, England during my LL.M studies there in the early 1990's

- a Baltic-style stout, Perfumo's Hammer I think it was called, from an American micro that was flavored with an absinthe substitute. It was a special version of this beer, for a festival.

I have had a thousand beers as good or almost as good as these but if I have to mention 5, these will do.

Here's to beer.

Gary

[Gillman]

Just to correct the name of the fine Baltic strong porter I mentioned, it was Perkumo's Hammer, and I believe it is still made.

Gary