Salvator Doppel Bock - Paulaner Brauerei GmbH & Co. KG

stella77artois

New York

3.55/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

500 ml bottle, poured into pilsener glass.

A - Perhaps a bit light for a dopplebock. A medium red brown with a bit of haze. A decent sized head, slightly off-white appeared, and dissipated rather quickly.

S - Not as much going on as I expected. Noticed a lot of malt, but not much else. A little dank too, probably not the freshest.

T - Not a bad beer, but kind of disappointing for a doppelbock. Malt is definitely noticeable. Very, very light hints of roasted characters. A cheap sourness noticed. Not a bad tasting beer overall.

F - More refreshing than others of the style. A pleasant aftertaste, sits well, and isn't too heavy.

O - A bit disappointed, as I love doppelbocks. Certainly not a bad beer, but nowhere near the flavor as other quality DB's I've had. Flavor itself is decent, but not nearly as complicated or intense a flavor. Also didn;t taste the freshest, so I will try it again. Not a bad beer, I just feel there are better beers of this style.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 20:21:30 | More by stella77artois

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: light chestnut body; good head, but dissipates rapidly

Aroma: breadlike, dried fruit notes (raisins/figs)

Taste: sweet malt on start with sweet, fruity finish

Remarks: Although a pretty decent Doppel, I don't find it as tasty as my standby Andechser. Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 22:12:24 | More by IchLiebeBier

tronester

Oklahoma

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a clear, dark reddish orange, with a thin, super creamy tan head. Aromas of freshly milled munich malt. Taste begins with some green apple, then some sweetbread, then a bit of aged wood, finishing with a spicy hop finish. Mouthfeel is rich. Overall an excellent Dopplebock!

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 22:10:22 | More by tronester

TastyAdventure

Kentucky

4.4/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

To me, this is like having Celebrator, but better than I remember it being.

Had this on tap out of a frosted fish bowl glass. I'd say that's appropriate for a lager style.

The head barely retained at all, but the carbonation remained and the mouthfeel was slick, with an appropriate amount of carbonation.

Smelled of dried dark fruit. malty sweetness.

the taste definitely has dried figs in it. Tasty.

Overall. More please! I'm happy that I enjoyed this more than Celebrator because it is cheaper!

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2013 02:37:24 | More by TastyAdventure

shanny1981

Georgia

4.6/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I don't usually do doppel bocks, but because I'm a huge fan of the Paulaner (and franziskaner) brews, I decided to give the Salvator a shot poured from an 11.2 fl. oz. bottle. Not to mention it's always mostly sold out at my local Total Wines.

A - dark reddish amber hue with about a 2.5 inch frothy head that dissipates in a couple minutes after pouring. A little lacing on my classic pilsner flute though. Great looking beer; very appetizing.
S - very sweet, caramel malty aroma with hints of alcohol and toasted malt. Just a great smelling doppel bock --- I call it "the perfume" of beer because it's up there with some of the best smelling beers in the world.
T - slightly bitter taste from the malt, but mostly a sweet, caramel taste comes through initially followed by the bitterness of the malt. A very smooth, sweet and well-balanced tasting beer. Tastes exactly the way it smells which is caramel sweetness. Despite the 7.9% ABV, you can barely taste the alcohol coming through. Slight bitterness from the toasted malt.
M - very thin body for a doppel bock which made it a pretty easy drink. I was expecting a thick syrupy, medium-heavy body type of feel, but actually got a nice, pretty thin and light-medium body feel which was unexpected for a doppel bock. So this was quite surprising and an actual treat.

O - a very good doppel bock to have. Quite a treat! Won't be surprise if it happens to be one of the selected standard doppel bocks. This doppel bock was paired with spicy lentils and basmati rice for lunch to create a sweet-bitter balance, but it was such a caramel treat that I think it also would have been better had for dessert. This is an overall great doppel bock for the cost and is very satisfying. My only negative with this doppel bock was the too high alcohol content. I'm a lager type of beer drinker that branch out from time to time (hey, change is good), but I never drink to get drunk so would have appreciated a lower ABV. This one definitely hits you hard without tasting like it would so consider yourself warned (unless of course you like it that way).

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 19:51:09 | More by shanny1981

teromous

Virginia

3.83/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Rich red hued brown body, with a fluffy light tan head that settles to a layer of eggshell white. The body is semi-transparent with very tiny carbonation bubbles.

S: Rich malty scent with loads of caramel sweetness. A light scent of toasted bread.

T: The taste very closely mimics the scent. There's a strong malty caramel flavor, but the toasted character comes out much more when tasting. Some alcohol notes pop up while drinking, but only enough to say "I have a good dose of alcohol" without rearing an evil head.

M: It's not a real thick feeling Doppelbock, which I like. It has a smooth texture but it is mild and thin enough to make it easy to drink.

O: Overall I thought it was a good easy going Doppelbock that anyone would find pleasure in drinking. It's a beer that can be had at any time during the day without feeling too heavy. The flavors found a nice even keel.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 19:41:00 | More by teromous

hitter114

Colorado

3.84/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

poured from 500ml into crooked stave tulip

A: good looking glowicng orange amber brown low carbonation
S: Alcohol biscuits bready slight roast
T: A little bit boozy but with nice spicy (noble?) hosp and a nice breadyness
M: Thin nothing special lager feel
O: Good beer, probably one of the standards in Double Bocks these days, good but a bit too much booze on it for 8%, good and drinkable but there are better ones out there

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 21:14:18 | More by hitter114

JuliusCaesar

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Light brown with red hues. Pours a white head that quickly dissipates.

S: Sweet malts, caramel, and bread.

T: Caramel and bread. Malty with alcohol on the finish.

M: Little carbonation and a bit thin. Dry.

Overall: It's not my favorite Doppelbock but I like this beer. The aroma is nice and the flavors are sweet without being cloying. The alcohol is present but not overwhelming. It isn't sticky or syrupy like many other beers of the style. An easy to drink, enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 01:09:03 | More by JuliusCaesar

Premo88

Texas

4.06/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottled poured into pilsener

(03/14 drink by date on the label?)

L: brown; almost orange held up to the sunlight, and very murky opaque; perfect full tan head about 7/8 inch but doesn't stick. the color is a 5 but the head is a 2.5.

S: so much malt. bread, biscuits, sweet malt stuff ... nice. then you get a bit of that bock mediciny thing ... what is that? it isn't overpowering, for you still get plenty of the sweet malt.

T: malt, sweet biscuits, yeast, candied hops ... and that bit of a medicine taste, almost like an alcohol swab. it's a weird mix because the good taste of malt and a little spicy hops is nice, but the spicy hops might also be pushing in the medicinal note, which isn't great. overall, though, this thing tastes good.

F: loaded carbonation, full medium weight ... perfect.

O: i would REALLY like to grab a fresh one of these in Munchen ... i bet it's knock-you-over good. what i got here ain't bad at all; a little mediciny but not overly so. i love malty lagers, and this is a great malty lager with loads of taste and character. the ABV isn't kidding ... 7.9% or plenty to get you going.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 23:35:42 | More by Premo88

lancecenter

Texas

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Deep red color, light head that dissipates quickly in to a thin layer. Not much lacing.

S - Surprisingly muted, kinda metallic, really not a whole lot here.

T/M - Exceptional. Malty goodness, caramel, bananas, honey, and spices. Fairly strong alcohol aftertaste.

O - Very drinkable doppelbock. Probably a little underrated. A little bit of the taste comes through in the nose as the beer warms.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 22:03:40 | More by lancecenter

mmmbirra

Italy

3.58/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

a clear deep red. the head is large but dies off quick.
Some nice maltiness in the nose, typical of a doppelbock, but there's also a significant alcohol burn which is unexpected and unwelcome.
the flavor it has is nice: malty and fruity, some raisins figs cherries, typical traits of large portions of Munich malt(and I believe this one is made with only Munich malt.) Unfortunately though it doesn't have a rich enough flavor to balance the alcohol and as a result the alcohol bite is a little too present.
Very light-bodied for the style and much less sweet than other doppelbocks. This makes it easier to drink, but ultimately it's thinness allows the alcohol to come through too much which really takes away from my enjoyment of it. I'm putting a few bottles aside to see if it mellows out over the next year or so.
I like it, but it could be so much more and really should be.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 21:43:44 | More by mmmbirra

cavedave

New York

4.01/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours amber brown, a one finger tawny heady, cloudy, thick looking. Head collapses pretty quickly, a nice ring stays. Swirling it leaves some oily legs.

Caramel, lighter sweet, light floral, even lighter spice, sort of a generic fruitiness to it.

Taste is a nice mix of malt flavors, caramel, toffee, grainy bread, some really light malty fruit in there too, even a hint of chocolate, quite a palette of malt artistry. Balancing is a modicum of rooty herbal bitter, and some light floral, that ends the sip on a note that tries to cut through the mainly sweet flavors of the beer. It warms and I grow to enjoy it more.

Mouithfeel is quite thick and coating, finish is right in the middle of the style, light carb., and fairly clean flavors in the linger, no hint of alcohol.

Always liked this one, though not a huge fan of the style, and I certainly recommend it, even if you also are not a fan of this style.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 21:45:29 | More by cavedave

dar482

New York

3.33/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

It has a light caramel brown/coppercolor.

The aroma has some light caramel malts.

It has a smooth flavor, but lacks pop. It has a syrupy caramel malt and a decent amount of alcohol. It has a big honey dry sweetness, but really lacks complexity, big malt, hops, or huge dark fruit flavors that I want from a doppelbock.

It really lacks carbonation and a round mouthfeel. It's a too thin for me. Quite disappointing.

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2013 04:22:03 | More by dar482

kvnstfrd

Missouri

3.68/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a 16 oz. snifter. Pours a medium amber-brown with a small, white head that fades away quickly. Aromas of strong, sweet tea, cherry Kool-Aid and a moderate scent of alcohol. Taste is fruity sweet and bitter right up front. I don’t notice much complexity or change between the initial taste and the finish. I also don’t detect any toasted or caramel flavors that I am accustomed to with other doppelbocks. That aroma of cherry Kool-Aid is also slightly present in the flavor. Alcohol presence is above what I consider normal for a doppelbock with a bit of a burn. A bit hoppy, too. Mouth-feel is right; medium to full bodied with carbonation very low.

If I were judging this beer by its accuracy to style, I would give it a low rating; it lacks the many of the attributes that a doppelbock should have and possesses some that it shouldn’t. However, it is still a very tasty brew that I’ve bought many, many times and will again.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 12:21:04 | More by kvnstfrd

microbrewlover

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

This brew is an amber brown color with a two finger frothy mocha head which lasts a while then settles down into a creamy lace.

The smell is cherries, wheat, raisins, carmel, nuts and bread.

The taste, sadly, does not follow the nose. The taste is pretty plain with sweet malts, carmel, wheat lots of sugar but that is about it. The alcohol is masked well. There is almost no hop bitterness; which is fine for a Doppel Bock

The mouthfeel is thick, bready and chewy.

Overall this brew disappointed a bit with the taste which is a shame because the smell was good. This is still a drinkable brew and it does down nicely at the end of the day.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 21:57:35 | More by microbrewlover

Danny1217

Florida

4.16/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a medium amber color. A somewhat small head with decent lacing.
Smells of sweet caramel, grainy bread, and dark fruits. The alcohol is hidden well within the aroma.
I'm getting some caramel and bread. However, the strongest flavor is sweet red cherries. The sweetness isn't overboard though, and the beer is actually somewhat dry in comparison to some other doppelbocks I have had. This beer is fairly balanced. Nice rich mouthfeel.
I thought I would only have one tonight, but I ended up having two because I enjoyed it a lot.

A pretty good Doppelbock.I think I am starting to open up to the style a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 04:58:56 | More by Danny1217

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

3.61/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

It poured at 55 degrees F into a pint glass an amber/brown colour with a nice one to two finger head that fades to a ring and a Friar Tuck center cap and leaves a little bit of lacing, but it's not very sticky.

The aroma is of caramel malts, quite sweet smelling with strong hints of fruits like pear and raisins. It also has a nice bready smell to it as well. Some molasses and alcohol are noticeable also.

The flavour starts off caramel sweet and pretty much stays for the duration until the end where hops are definitely noticeable. Along the ride are some spicy apple notes with a bit of tart, some bready notes and finally apparent alcohol nearing the end followed by some peppery hops and a bit of dryness. It's mostly sweet but not overly so. At the end of the pint glass as this beer warms up, I get an unpleasant corn taste in my mouth.

The mouthfeel is creamy sweet on the border of syrupy and the body which is full, but not enough to make annoying. There is a slick feeling on the tongue and the carbonation is light to moderate.

Overall, this is a good beer. It's affordable and a good example of a doppel bock, but I am not down with the corn taste. I will, however, score this beer fairly high because it seems to meet most of the requirements of a doppel bock and is, for the most part, pleasant. I'm going to say an average of 4 may be in order.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 01:27:43 | More by WissBrauSean

themind

New Jersey

2.96/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Well it's not a bad Bock beer but it's no legend in the making. I enjoyed the chance to try this brew but sadly I would not buy it again. Not because it's bad but because I would like to spend cash on others that I have not tried. My point is this beer was average...nothing more.

Bottom Line: Average Bock.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 02:16:27 | More by themind

FLima

Brazil

3.56/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Copper color with lots of off-white thick head with fair retention until it left just a ring.
Malty aroma with hints of vanilla and caramel.
Again malty flavor with lots of rum, oak (and it doesn’t say it is aged!) and some spices. Felt just a bit of hops but hard to be sure on their type, some pine. Alcohol is noticeable but enhances the overall beer. Dry aftertaste but not really bitter.
Medium body with medium carbonation.
Solid Doppelbock, even better it gets a bit cold. This is a good example to differentiate between a doppelbock and a lame malt licquor.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 00:47:27 | More by FLima

mjurney

Texas

4.56/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance:
Deep copper color, clear. Lots of fine bubble rising up. Thick beige head.

Aroma:
Sweet bread, deep caramel, toasted, sugary, molasses, some alcohol.

Taste:
Very rich, deep barley malts, brown bread, caramel, toasted, spiced rum, touch of molasses. Bitterness is very mild. Soft, semi dry finish. Body is full, a little syrupy, warmth, smooth, easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 01:56:18 | More by mjurney

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

3.83/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a shaker pint.

Look: Hazy pumpkin-brown; off white head; no lacing.

Aroma: Buttery caramel and malts.

Taste: Spicy caramel, bitter, sweet malt notes. Faint hops.

Mouthfeel: Medium weight, dry.

Overall: Alcohol is hidden well and the caramel comes out well. A pretty good brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 20:35:34 | More by JuicesFlowing

1234Jack

3.45/5  rDev -12%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

initial smell out of bottle is malt, cherries.

1/2 in. head, dissipates in about a minute.

color is beautiful brown at darkest to vibrant orange at lightest.

smell out of glass is sugary sweet malt.

initial taste brings toasted malt, a little bit of sweetness in the back.

tart on sides of tongue.

slight apple taste.

bitterness is strong.

alcoholic feel is definitely there.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 09:32:47 | More by 1234Jack

bat6

District of Columbia

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured into tumbler, added vigor provides a creamy one-finger head w/out much retention. I caught myself staring at it trying to figure out the right words for the deep teak appearance that catches ruby reds in the light like mahogany... forget the head, the color is captivating.

There's a lot going on in the nose: brown sugar and molasses, maybe fig, black bread w/ a hint of musty earth... it smells rich and very deep, I'm intrigued

The taste is much sweeter than it smells. Candied nuts and brown sugar- maybe candied stone fruits too- are the first wave, then there's some bready molasses w/ a hint of sour to cut the sugar a bit. The hops barely start to dry things out but it lingers slick and fairly sweet on the palate. Definitely tastes a bit boozy. It's not balanced and it's not supposed to be.

The mouthfeel is slick, smooth and massive like the dominating flavor profile. Almost gravity-bending. Impressive.

This beer commands immediate respect by asserting a brawny ego and aggressively pushing the senses. It makes me wish I could drink more than one of these so it wouldn't think I was lame, but in this case the heavy sweetness is a little overwhelming. I definitely recommend trying this beer

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 10:54:17 | More by bat6

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle. best before 08/13.

A: slightly hazed. however mostly bright chestnut hued. head is slightly off-white and bubbly. retention is average as is the slightly spotted lacing.

S: tons of chestnut and plenty of oak. there is a definite woodiness to this brew. brown sugar by the boatload.

T: wow this is a sweet malty brew. cherries, wood, blackberries. a little bit of apple juice. lingering meaty finish. plenty of grain, some wood all make a presence after the drink is gone.

M: a zesty carb. full and flavorful body.

D: a solid doppelbock. plenty of flavor for a lower abv doppel brew. for the availability, definitely worth picking up.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 03:08:53 | More by Jimmys

safaricook

Netherlands

3.83/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bought in a regular Rewe supermarket just across the border in Germany coming from Sittard, NL. Poured this right out of the fridge into my tall Zwettler Original Pilser glass and drank it cold.

Beautiful beige fine bubbled head of a few fingers and very steady. Body is clear dark amber with lots of carbonation visible. Can't believe this is unfiltered (according to label).

Malty aroma and some oak maybe. Molasses and hidden booze.

Malty and bitter in taste. Much more bitter than expected.

This foam can be bitten almost as whipped cream. Full body as well. Goes down with a dryness that sticks to palate. Enough carbonation to remove some of the heavyness.

Perfect beer on an Ash Wednesday. Nourishing and full flavoured. Alcohol content is well hidden. Leaves you satisfied and your taste buds busy for quite some time.

As the beer gets warm the alcohol aroma and taste gets stronger and a bit unpleasant. I prefer drinking this one cold, why not?

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 21:14:50 | More by safaricook