Doppelbock Grande Cuvée Printemps - Les Trois Mousquetaires

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.19/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From: West Lakeview Liquors, Chicago, IL
Date: Cuvee 2011
Glass: Ayinger bock glass

This is a rich, heavy, and hearty doppelbock that is extremely flavorful, primarily with prune esters, caramelized sugars, toasted bread crusts, and, to a lesser extent, dried brown fig, date, and raisin esters. I've had this fresh on tap, and would say that the most I'd age a bottle of this is two years. While not nutty, as other doppelbocks are, and as I seem to prefer them, I still enjoyed this take on the style. While I'm not sure I'd go out of my way for a $13.50 bottle again (a 4-pack of Celebrator costs that much), this was a fairly delicious brew, one I don't think I could conduct on my own.

Pours a 1.2cm tall head of dark tan foam with a slightly above average retention of roughly two minutes. The foam descends to a 0.2cm cap atop the body of the beer, lasting throughout the session. Lacing is modest at best, consistent for the style, with a few small patches of foam adhering to the sides of the glass. The body is a deep amber-garnet color, with light bringing out deep reddish-orange highlights in the transparent beer. Carbonation is visible, though not particularly numerous and somewhat sluggish.

Aroma of caramelized sugars from dark crystal/caramel malts, heavily toasted bread crusts, dried figs, dates, and prunes, and very faint milk chocolate.

Strong caramelized sugar and prune ester flavors dominate; caramel malt and dried fruit esters most prominent. Front of palate finds strong, rich flavors of heavily toasted bread crusts, strongly caramelized sugars, prune and dried brown fig flavors. Mid-palate continues the rich bread crust and caramelized sugars, with increases in the dried fig, date, raisin, and prune esters, and the introduction of faint milk chocolate flavors. Back of palate discovers an increase in the toasted bread crust flavor, along with some continued prune, dried date and fig esters. Aftertaste is of heavily toasted bread crusts, caramelized sugars, and lingering dried fruit esters. Nowhere in this beer does its 8+% ethanol by volume content appear.

Beer is medium to medium-heavy in body, with medium levels of carbonation that foams this up substantially, yet gently, on the palate. The resulting mouthfeel is soft, smooth, and foamy, as you'd imagine a cloud of beer to be in texture; quite nice. Closes dry, with substantial stickiness lingering on the lips and palate, as to be expected for the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 22:53:53 | More by falloutsnow

AltBock

Ohio

4.29/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

750ml corked and caged bottle. On the label are 2 crossed swords and a 3 Musketeers style hat on top of them. Right at the bottom of the front label is a bottled year. This beer was bottled in 2009. On the back label is a history of the style and all the mandatory US info. Poured into an ordinary Pilsner glass.

This French Canadian Doppelbock poured a beautiful deep dark cola brown with some dark cranberry highlights. On top of this dark brew was a 1/2 an inch light tan colored head of foam. It had nice retention that left a foamy film and a number of sticky streaks and spots of lace. This is a top notch Doppelbock appearance!

The aroma of this Doppelbock takes the sweet road instead of the toasted or roasted route. The aroma starts off with the rich scent of sweet roasted malts. Right behind the malts was the sweet caramel, molasses, sweet roasted nuts, rum raisins, a dash of chocolate, and a touch of wheat bread. The aroma was so sweet that I think Willy Wonka created this beer.

Despite have a super sweet aroma, the taste was not really sweet at all. It had some sweet flavors, but those aren't nearly as strong as they were in the aroma. The taste kicks off with a some lightly roasted malts. Right behind the malts was a little milk chocolate, alcohol, a pinch of berries, a scoop of raisins, a plum or two, a few drops of coffee, and then it finishes up with a subtle sweet taste of caramel and molasses. A very good and somewhat interesting Doppelbock taste.

This was a medium bodied beer with a nice amount of carbonation, and a slightly roasted and sweet aftertaste. The aftertaste was mixed with roasted malt, milk chocolate, raisins, and caramel and molasses. This semi sweet and roasted aftertaste doesn't linger.

A 750ml corked and caged French Canadian Doppelbock? That sounds like I'm making things up as I go along. Not true! In truth, this is actually a really good Doppelbock and one of the best I've had lately. I thought the age on this beer would have not brought any good qualities to this beer, but I was wrong about that. If you like Doppelbocks as much as I do, this is one you need to try for yourself.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 05:10:17 | More by AltBock

lordofthewiens

Maine

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at When Pigs Fly.
In a snifter the beer was a dark brown color with a small tan head. There was a tiny bit of lace.

Nice aroma. Sweet fruit, bready. A whiff of chocolate.

The aroma transformed into an exceptionally tasty beer. In no particular order there was some cocoa, some plum, pumpernickel bread, and caramel. Great taste!

A complex and delicious beer. Very malty, very smooth.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2013 15:44:35 | More by lordofthewiens

brentk56

North Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 bottling; 9.5% ABV

Appearance: Pours a dark russet color capped by a two inch layer of beige foam that leaves some thick strands behind

Smell: Cocoa powder, caramel, pumpernickel bread, plums and nuts; undertones of spice

Taste: Cocoa powder and caramel, up front, with undertones of pumpernickel bread, plums and nuts developing through mid-palate; subtle hints of fruit cake spices appear, after the swallow, keeping the sweetness in check; the alcohol is fairly well-hidden, though somewhat discernable in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to high carbonation; spot on for the style

Overall: So one of the best doppelbocks I have encountered comes from a French brewery in Quebec; who would have guessed but this one is a keeper

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 23:06:07 | More by brentk56

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 Vintage. 8%.

Dark brown with a reddish tinge. Fizzy beige head, moderate size. Dissipates quickly to a film.

Smell is quite sweet. Very malty and bready, along with a dark fruit scent, raisin comes to mind, maybe even a bit of dark cherry.

Taste is like the nose. VERY malty, a real bready flavour that is very sweet with caramel accompanying. Raisin, fig and some cherry. Alcohol is more noticeable than I would have expected considering this is apparently only 8%, but I find the alcohol works well, making the beer taste a bit like a liquor, perhaps rum or even brandy. A nice package, though a bit sweet.

Full bodied, fairly low carbonation level, very smooth.

Overall, very nice. Not always a big doppelbock fan but this is very nice. Perhaps the best I have had.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 21:38:59 | More by jrenihan

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

***2011 Vintage (ABV 8%)***

Poured from a 750ml. bottle.

Appearance: A deep orange-brown body with lots of foam. Lasting power is good and lace is alright.

Smell: Nuts, brown bread, lots of chewy caramel and sweet. Real nice.

Taste: Love it. A tiny but sweet but never cloying. Strong caramel mixed with a breadiness, milt nuts and some herbs. Malt rules!

Mouthfeel: Low carbonation, real smooth and quite chewy.

Overall: This is never a chore to drink and easy to polish off a bottle to oneself. A real brewer's work of art.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 11:47:10 | More by papat444

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a very dark brown, near black with red tones. Massive light brown fine head with massive lacing. Rich caramel and sweet malt, dark fruit aroma. Sweet caramel malts, dark and dried fruit, hints of cherries. Some distinct sherry elements to the finish. Medium bodied with slight creaminess. Somewhat on the sweet side, but complex enough to be a delicious, full flavored dark bock. Really enjoyed this.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 04:19:58 | More by LiquidAmber

SLeffler27

New York

3.98/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

This doppelbock is dark walnut, almost black, with a modest, creamy chestnut head and a syrupy film. The highlights are dark ruby and the long-lasting head coats the glass with lace.

An antique pilsner showcases the rich, roasted malt and strong nutty tones of this beer. There are modest tones of baker’s chocolate and sweet coffee liqueur.

The flavor opens with a flash of sweetness, followed by roasted malt bitterness and a surprisingly acidic flair. Pumpernickel bread is followed by earthy flavors, licorice, vanilla, and a hint of spiced rum. The finish is subtle, long, and complex. All-in-all, the flavors are a bit mudy.

A sharp effervescence and bristling texture accompany this full-bodied beer with hot alcohol and a super-dry finish.

Tasty and enjoyable, but very assertive. Each sip simultaneously leaves one wanting more and assaults the palate. One was enough to satisfy me.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 13:22:57 | More by SLeffler27

deapokid

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 bottle. Enjoyed in a pilsener glass.

This Quebecois doppelbock has a rich, chocolate body with a thin, brown layer of foam and a lively dose of carbonation. It's a shade darker that expected and the lacing is thin, but I'll be damned if that brown foam doesn't look tasty.

Aroma boasts raisins, chocolate, berries, a hint of booze, sweet plum and mild spicing. Frankly, it smells delicious and is just subtle enough as to not overpower.

The ultra-dry conclusion is the first taste to make itself known. It's rather aggressive. Flavor profile packs a distinct smokiness with a bitter roasted malt that lingers on the tongue. Other notes include a light cocoa, a peculiar doughy/yeastiness and sugary fruit notes. It's not the sweetest DB I've ever had, but the tongue scorching dryness is a bit much... Now wait just a second! As it warms, the chocolate comes out big time, mixing extremely well with the smoke and coffee bean bitterness, making for a super delicate and complex lager. You'll even pick out some maple syrup overtime and giving this beer about 20 minutes to chill out was one of the best things I've ever done.

The conclusion is initially harsh, but let it get to room temp and it's as smooth as silk and so multi-layered. The roasted notes meld so well with the chocolate and berry flavors that you'll wish  you had a 3L bottle.

I initially had my doubts, but this one is so subtle, nuanced and delicious. Give it time to warm and you'll be greatly rewarded.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 04:07:55 | More by deapokid

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance. Pours a hazy, deep and rich caramel red with a finger of thick, pale tan head.

Smell. Smeet caramel and brown sugar, a little booze and just a hint of plums and strawberries. Smells awesome.

Taste. Wow! Big brown sugar and caramel with some light toasty malts and raisins and a hint of smokey wood. Sweet and delicious.

Mouthfeel. Medium body with lighter carbonation.

Overall. This one blew me away. Love that sweet caramel goodness.

Big thanks to DaftCaskBC for landing this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 03:40:24 | More by Rutager

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a deep brown color bock with a nice foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of semi-sweet malt with some notes of banana and cloves. Taste is also dominated by some cloves and banana ester with an excellent grain bill. Full body with a creamy texture and good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Probably one of the best that I have tasted form this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 19:19:07 | More by Phyl21ca

ludachris

Ontario (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours an incredibly deep and rich mahogany red. Two fingers of light egg shell white head leave thin strings of lace as it dies down. Deep amber and ruby red highlights are revealed when light hits the glass.

A bouquet of rich and sticky dark fruits ooze from the glass. Dark raisons, fig pudding, and mushy dates make a cake-like richness come to mind. This impression is furthered by fresh toasted dark bread and liquid dark chocolate. Alcohol peaks through but is not a force. Quite sweet and very rich, but not over done.

Everything from the nose is equally apparent in the taste. The overall impression given is of a sweet fruit cake generously drizzled with overly ripe dates, raisons, and figs in syrup form. Dark chocolate icing is thinly spread across the tongue. The alcohol is placed in the very back and helps to amplify the sweetness coming from the dark fruits and chocolate.

Its full body is undercarbonated, showcasing its sweetness and accentuating its syrupy and sticky feel. The alcohol comes off as mellow but helps bring attention to the fruity and chocolatey notes.

This is a dessert in itself, no question. The skill of the brewmaster however is highlighted by the fact that this is not overdone in sweetness, impact, or feel. This edges out Ayinger's Dopplebock for me. Absolutely perfect by the fire in this early stage of winter.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 01:07:35 | More by ludachris

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep brown colour, a grand malting. Decent beer and drinkability based on what it is, but I like it not as much as most, regardless of vintage. Chocolate malty aroma, a bit above average mouthfeel. Chocolate, nutty, caramel, raisin, earthy. Sweetish, and perhaps too much.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 01:23:36 | More by northyorksammy

Foddz

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A: Beer pours a rich, dark reddish-brown, and quite cloudy. 1.5-2 fingers light head that dissipates quickly and leaves minimal lacing.

S: Figs, prunes, and other fruit. Caramel plays a slightly lesser role. A llittle too subdued for my preference. There is an edge of alcohol in the nose as well.

T: Sweet and fruity! Dark fruit predominates, prunes and figs especiallly, though some of the sweeter notes remind me of peaches and cherries. Pleasant chocolate and caramel undertones. The bitterness takes its time making its presence known and is generally understated. Balances nicely once the initial 'impact' of flavour is past.

M: Silky smooth with a pleasant sweet viscosity on the tongue. Pleasantly dry, though the taste has a tendency to make one salivate. No bite to it whatsoever. Positively exquisite.

O/D: A very excellent beer. Besides a bit too gentle a nose and a bit too strong an initial presentation to the palate, this beer goes down easy and with pleasure.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 01:26:14 | More by Foddz

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.73/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Hoppypocket for this one.

A: 1/2" tan coloured head over brown liquid, reminiscent of a good Belgian quad.

S: Caramel malt, chocolate, dark fruit and some yeast.

T: Beautiful. Sweet caramel malt and bitter chocolate are combined with accompanying Belgian yeast dark fruit flavours including figs and cherries.

M: Medium viscosity and a medium level of carbonation.

O: The best doppelbock I have had aside from Celebrator. Definitely worth seeking out. The interesting thing about it is that while cold it tastes primarily of Belgian dark fruit yeast like Belgian Strong Dark Ales like Gouden Carolus Classic, and as it warms it tastes more like a malty doppelbock.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 00:35:43 | More by DaftCaskBC

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottled dated Spring 2011. 8% ABV.

A: Pours a clear reddish-brown (bit of a crimson red) when held up to light, with a solid two finger of brownish-tan coloured marshmallow like head. Decent retention with a collar that sticks around, and spotty lacing.

S: Caramel-like malts, lots of dried dark fruits (raisins, cherries, figs), faint chocolate notes, maple syrupy sweet smell. Quite warm and enticing aromas- Nice!

T: Loads of dried dark fruits up front (raisins, figs, dates), semi-sweet and syrupy caramel, and some bitter molasses qualities. Detecting a bit of tropical tastes with some faint pineapple and banana.

M: Full and rich body with a low carbonation, which both seems appropriate. Mouthfeel seems fuller and richer than an 8% ABV beverage. Well executed.

D: An interesting take on the doppelbock style. Personally, not sure I can drink much (>1 bottle) of this style (a bit too caramel-sweet for myself), but something I occasionally enjoy in the colder months. PS. If you have fruit flies in your house, they will find this beer!

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 01:24:02 | More by Digimaika2

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared with Steve and Zach, 750ml into some tulips. Spring 2011 bottling, listed at 8% alcohol.

Poured a dark brown with some burgundy highlights, and some darker reds around the edges when held to the light. Big fluffy tan head initially, but fades to almost nothing, and leaves behind an extremely thin collar. Nose has some dried fruits, sweet malt characteristics, and some earthy and woody notes - almost akin to a softer version of what I remember picking up in their Altbier. Taste continues these sweet woody and earthy notes, with some candied flavours in there as well. Big, sweet and malty - fairly appropriate and standard from what I've seen in the style. Some spicy wood comes through in the finish, with touches of caramel and alcohol. Full mouthfeel, and low carbonation. A unique take on the style I think, and something I'd easily recommend.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2011 15:41:42 | More by liamt07

dgilks

Australia

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cloudy dark mahogany colour with a moderate, creamy tan head.

Rich, dark fruits with raisins and dates. Lots of bread and toast with some mild alcohol and even something that is almost citrus.

Rounded bready and toasty malt with some rich, dark fruit and caramel notes. Really good.

Medium body with moderate carbonation. Silky and delicious.

A great, rich, complex lager with a delicious malt and fruit character. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 10:42:09 | More by dgilks

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2010 edition. Purchased in November 2010, cellared until August. I'm sure I could have kept it longer, but I just couldn't wait!

Poured into a goblet, shared with my Quebecois friend who brought it back to Ontario for me!

Dark cherry-brown in colour, with an impressive head with scads of fluffy lacing. I can tell that the carbonation has not cooled off yet; as I don't have a beer fridge, the cellar probably wasn't cool enough. No matter.

The nose is very tasty and reminds me more of abbey quadrupels than of a doppelbock. Figs, raisins, grapes, caramel, sherry, chocolate and strong boozy smell. A pleasure to swirl and sniff.

Sweet, boozy, and with the aforementioned dark fruit, sugar and dry sherry flavor. Again, reminds me more of a Belgian quad. Slightly syrupy, but with lively enough carbonation to keep this from becoming tiresome and cloying. The bottle required about ten minutes of sitting out to allow it to settle and reduce the initially harsh carbonation.

An enjoyable brew, flavorful, diverse and well worth the extra time in the cellar. Hopefully I can score another couple bottles of this year's edition to compare.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 18:24:57 | More by JohnnyBarman

claspada

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2009 version, no exact bottle date, just the year listed on the label.

The aromas begin with nuttiness and a hint of dusty sweet cocoa. Thick toasted bready malts and caramelized sugars in the background but are a sturdy backbone for the more complex darker maltiness. Darker fruits emerge as it warms, highlighted by figs, prune and dates.

The tastes begin with big malt flavors. Toffee, a hint of milk chocolate, brown caramelized sugars, raisins, and prunes are most notable. Bitterness is moderate and alcohol is not present except in the warming quality in your stomach.

The mouthfeel medium-bodied with medium/ample enough carbonation which helps to balance the heft of the beer. Smooth throughout with a light syrupy finish. Aftertaste is long as the flavors last; definitely a huge malt bomb that requires enjoying over an hour or so.

Overall this is a great great example of the style and maybe the best Doppelbock I have ever had, would definitely revisit if it wasn't so rare and hard to come by; silly Canadians... Definitely recommended because its quality is world class.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 17:37:56 | More by claspada

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Impressive three-finger head; leaves some chunky, but spotty, lace. Dark amber, light brown color. A very light haze.

Silky sweet smell of maple syrup and brown sugar. No notable hop.

The flavor matches the smell. Very, very sweet like an apertif. I also note a metallic tinge to the tongue. Very rich as one might expect.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 23:12:09 | More by smcolw

ctgui

Quebec (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured in a mug, as recommended. Dark brown color, poured a thin half inch head that fell almost completely quickly.

S: Sweet dehydrated fruits, Dark Chocolate. Alcohol as well. Really pleasant.

T: Sweet dehydrated fruits again are present, malt also. Undertones of alcool, not prominent.

M: Medium to heavy body. The finish is sweet and a little sirupy.

O : My first Doppelbock and I must admit I really enjoyed it. As for drinkability, it hides its high ABV nicely. My first beer review for BeerAdvocate. Definitely won't be the last!

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 02:32:44 | More by ctgui

rtepiak

Poland

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

again... thank you flipper2gv

a very nice pour and proper look of dark mahagony with some cloudiness to it. nose is toasty malt and honey subtitles. there are some floral notes in the honey quality and the palate seems to have a what i thought was going to be a harsh tingle but which ended up being a lot like royal jelly. not smokey what so every. hints of plum preserve. the beer was sweet... but still managed to not fall into the world of syrup. even some nice maple hints. the best doppelbock i've had in north america. totally its own take... a tad bigger than expected but quite nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2011 06:10:46 | More by rtepiak

TomStew

Quebec (Canada)

4.88/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2009 750ml Bottle, tasted in November 2010 (from notes),

Dark Brown-red color, thanks to my best friend for offering me this beer!
Incredible taste of figs and chocolate, great beer. A lot of dark fruits and caramel.

The mouthfeel is great, almost syrupy but not quite. Benefits greatly from aging.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 13:18:26 | More by TomStew

slimspady

Alberta (Canada)

4.72/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - dark, slightly opaque when held to the light. A thick, tan head that dissolves quickly

S - ripe fruit, and malts with slight alcohol undertones

T - sweet, ripe fruit. Hints of chocolate as well. A little more alcohol towards the bottle of the bottle. My palate is not learned enough to decipher all the complexities.

M - medium feel. Aftertaste is long but pleasant.

D - hides the 9.5 well. Easier to drink than you would think. A fantastic beer

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 04:39:39 | More by slimspady