It’s a new year and I thought we might try something different this month. There are a lot of beers, special editions and one-offs which are often only packaged into large bottles so we don’t get to include them in the beer packs. So I figured I’d try putting in a big bottle (at the expense of the sixth beer) and seeing if our members thought this was a worthwhile idea – or not!
This beer is part of a series devised by Brauerie Gebr. Maisel, based in the Bavarian city of Bayreuth in Germany. The brewery was founded in 1887, and it now being run by the fourth generation of the family. Famed for their traditional Bavarian Weissebier, a few years ago the brewers developed the idea of brewing their interpretations of international beers, inviting friends and colleagues from the brewing and food industry to collaborate. And all while adhering to the German Purity Laws of the Reinheitsgebot.
Part of the special ‘Signature Series’ of three different beers, this is brewer Marc’s interpretation of a classic Irish Stout but brewed as a German bock. Its purpose is to highlight the ability to create flavours in various beer styles, with just the four basic ingredients of water, malt, hops and yeast.
As you open you get a big whiff of chocolate. I mean, even the boxes holding the beers smelled of chocolate as I was unpacking these!
On first taste, I get lots of coffee. I’m not a coffee drinker, so I’m quite sensitive to the coffee character, but the richness of the malt with the slight dark fruit character softened this. But then as the beer warmed a little, it became richer and fuller. So much so that by the time I’d finished the bottle, I really didn’t get much coffee.
Dark chocolate pushed through with that nice bitter edge, as well as some caramelsweetness, dark berries and hint of bitter spice on the finish. The flavours linger well in the aftertaste, as the beer drinks bigger than the ABV, which is never a bad thing in beers like this.
I’ll be trying more of the beers in this series, so be sure to let me know your thoughts on Including the odd large format beer in our packs.
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
A smoked Dopplebock, rich in flavour but supremely balanced
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 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
