Chophouse Doppelbock

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

Sampled GABF 2008
This beer has a dark, grape-stained, brown color that is quite opaque and is topped by a thin, tan colored head. The aroma is malty and rich with a bit of sweetness and lots of toasted grain notes. Aromas of well browned malt, sweet raisins, and alcohol, the last two combine to form a sort of warming Rum / Brandy like aroma to this beer. There is also a touch of husky, grain astringency to the nose.

The beer is sweet tasting, though perhaps not quite as much as the aroma might have suggested, but it is still evident. Rich malt notes contribute flavors of toasted malt, a definite Maillard-browning heartiness in the finish and lots of caramelized bread crust notes. The beer is a bit hot towards the finish, it has some sharp astringency and it can be a bit thin at times. It is note nearly as rich and chewy as I would prefer for a Doppelbock, but it is still a sipping brew. It also doesn't have that lager-like smoothness that it should; perhaps it needs a bit more lagering time. Somehow the sweetness is a bit too clean and simplistic at times, a Doppelbock should have some sweetness, but it should be a big, complex, chewy sweetness that is oozing character.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 5

The server claimed this is not a lager, perhaps meaning that the color isn't gold? Murky ruby brown, nearly opaque, served with no head. Very sweet nose, perhaps a trace of bubblegum. Deeply sweet right off the bat with banana and bubblegum flavors, a trace of bitter coffee as a kind of afterscent. Lacks the complexity or subtlety found in finer doppelbocks, so not great.