When you think of German beers, most commonly you imagine a delicate Hefeweizen, a crisp Kölsch or a seasonal Märzen. But for me, the first beer I’ll always scan a menu for is a tasty German Dopplebock.
A Bock is a strong German lager, popularised by the Munich brewers in the 17th Century, but originally dating back a further few hundred years to the German town of Einbeck.
A Dopplebock is just a ‘double’ Bock – a bigger grain bill, and therefore a bigger, thicker body higher in alcohol. And super tasty!
We were delighted to see Ganstaller’s offering also included smoked malt. And while smoky beers can often be very divisive, this particular beer – though smoke is strong in the aroma - integrates the smoky character into the rich malt body so well, I’m hoping it won’t upset any anti-Rauch-ers.
The aroma is smoked bacon, wood and dark berries. The flavour is rich, sweet caramel malt, raisins, dark fruits, smoked meats and an earthy hop bitterness. All combined in an amazingly balanced way. I like this beer!
Did you know: the original beer from Einbeck gradually became known as ‘ein bock’ which means ‘a buck’ or goat. And if you have a look on many German bock labels, you’ll see an image of a goat!
This smoked dopplebock is a collaboration between De Molen and Poch's Cervesa Artesana from Spain
A delicious smoked dopplebock is the result of a collaboration between De Molen and Sound Brewery of Washing State USA
by Brouwerij Emelisse/Slot-Oostende
One of Emelisse's big hitters - a Dopplebock malt bomb, with a little hop bitterness and spice
by Brouwerij Emelisse/Slot-Oostende
The first White Label barrel-aged offering from the new owners and brewers of the Emelisse beer range
This is a strong bock style beer made with wheat and barley malt
A lightly smoked summer dopplebock - apparently it's how the 'Indian's celebrated the autumn!'
A traditional German brewery's take on a classic Irish Stout, brewed as a bock
A collaboration between De Molen and Reketye (HUN), this dopple bock features smoked malts and smoked paprika powder
Just the world's oldest wheat dopplebock from the weirs kings of Bavaria
Nothing to see here, just an apple strudel dopplebock from Uiltje
by Bayerische Staatsbrauerie Weihenstephan
From the world's oldest brewery we have the Korbinian dopplebock
A delightful dopplebock from the world's oldest monastery brewery
An unfiltered pale lager, dry-hopped with Comet and Mandarina Bavaria hops for a fruity hop character
A smoked Marzen style beer from this little artisanal brewery in Upper Franconia
This Smoked Imperial India Pale Lager has lots going on, but all in this amazingly balanced and complimentary way
It's a big dark lager, in the form of an imperial stout. And it is delicious!
This is a strong bock style beer made with wheat and barley malt
A very traditional German Zwickelbier - an unfiltered, unpasteurised lager
