Spaten Optimator - Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu

PorterNicole

California

4.2/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark beer, but not completely opaque. A few hints of honey/red color throughout. There was no visible head on the beer when I got it and the glass had <1mm lacing along the sides of the glass.

Aroma: This is a malt-heavy beer with very few hoppy notes in it. There is a little bit of a nutty aroma that is slightly sweet, with almost a hint of a merlot-type of smell.

Taste: The taste is smooth and malty. There are hints of nuts and caramel and perhaps a dark berry. Very little hop taste in the beer.

Mouthfeel: Incredibly smooth, with just a little bit of bite from the hops. The beer feels a little more carbonated than you would expect from a dark beer, but it's not overwhelming. The beer is still heavy, but not quite as heavy as most dark beers.

Drinkability: Damn good. Easy to drink for a dark beer...definitely a beer you can knock back a few of without getting sleepy (like from something similar to Guinness)

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-25-2007 20:56:10 | More by PorterNicole

shanny1981

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This is one of my favorite classic German beers. This is a very decent, full bodied, flavorful, reddish amber beer with a good sweet, roasted grain smell. A roasted malt flavor with some hops in the aftertaste. Has a fair amount of head to it that dissipates almost immediately. Some toasted grains on the aftertaste so a little bitterness as the aftertaste with a hint of some grapefruit. A dry finish which would go good with any good meal.

Serving type: cask

05-14-2013 13:51:29 | More by shanny1981

MistahBeah

Massachusetts

2.34/5  rDev -40%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25

I think this one may have been skunky so maybe not accurate. Reading other reviews that were favorable but I really didn't care for this one

Appearance: Initially poured like a true dopplebock. Small tan head. Little carbonation. Deep copper. Clear amber in the light. No retention/lacing. After a little while I honestly thought it looked like sewage. Not very inviting but maybe its my overall impression clouding my judgment.

Aroma: No surprises here. Smells like yeast and sweet caramel. A tad hoppy?

Taste: This is where it tanks in my opinion. Way too hoppy for the style and it tastes skunky. Tastes more like a maibock - which wouldn't be bad if it wasn't a dopplebock. Sticky resin hops with slight char malts but virtually no sweetness. No detectable alcohol. Really not a fan.

Mouthfeel: Feels more carbonated than you'd think. Really coats the mouth. Sticky and if I thought it tasted better I wouldn't mind.

Overall: Like I said, if it said it was a maibock I'd probably enjoy it but I was let down. Not a terrible beer just a bad representation of the style

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 23:30:05 | More by MistahBeah

jimmah120

Minnesota

4.09/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

12oz green bottle with no date. malt liquor, 7.6 abv

pours a very dark but clear amber, thin layer of foam. Smell is yeast and dusty grain, some funky euro hops too. first taste is roasty malt, then some dark fruit and a very sweet middle. finish is smooth and a touch bitter. no skunk for me (well, maybe a little)!

surprisingly good, maybe a tad too sweet. not a trace of the 7.6, and the price is right. Winner.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 05:26:17 | More by jimmah120

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

3.6/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a shaker pint glass.

Look: Ruby mahogany body. Cream colored head with decent retention and random lines of lacing.

Aroma: Caramel and toffee are skunked out by the green bottle.

Taste: A spicy, toffee-like body. But there is a green bottle skunk note that ruins this. Buttery caramel otherwise.

Mouthfeel: Creamy, slightly heavy.

Overall: I can't help but think this must be great on tap. Why do German brewers use green bottles?

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 21:26:13 | More by JuicesFlowing

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Green bottle beer! Yikes! Why? Anyway, this particular bottle exhibits no skunk aroma of flavor which is nice because it would detract from the profile.

I poured this beer cold into a tulip glass. Neither appropriate for the style, but you can't always have perfection. It poured a nice clear dark mahogany with a one finger tan head that quickly dissipated to a thin ring around the glass and very little lacing is noticeable.

The aroma is of sweet caramel malts and dark fruits with a tad of bread to it and maybe some honey and molasses. It's very pleasant.

The taste is of malted sweetness with molasses, dark fruit, some nice bread notes and a hint of cherry all pretty much apparent equally throughout the sip with the molasses lingering until the end where some mild bitter hops finish it all off with a bit o' black pepper. Alcohol is apparent in neither the nose or the taste. Well done!

The mouthfeel is sweet, almost syrupy, but not quite, the hops and moderate carbonation help to counter that. The body is generally full with maybe a little chewiness to it.

Overall this is an exceptional beer in my book. Why they risk putting it in a green bottle I have no clue. It may be too sweet for some, but that is the style. I like it a lot and if I were to detract any points it would be for the very faint head. I give it a solid 4 out of 5, maybe one notch higher. I am not happy about the ownership of the brewery and that destroys any chance of me buying it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 02:22:17 | More by WissBrauSean

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 5/9/2012. Pours fairly crystal clear dark reddish brown color with a nice 2 finger dense light khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with moderate streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of caramel, raisin, apple, molasses, toffee, toast, brown bread, floral, brown sugar, light roasted malt, and earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of malt and fruity esters. Taste of caramel, raisin, apple, molasses, toffee, brown bread, toast, brown sugar, light floral, light roasted malt, and earthiness. Lingering notes of caramel, light fruits, molasses, toffee, brown bread, toast, and light roast on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of malt and fruity ester flavors; with nice robustness and zero cloying sweetness present after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a moderately slick and creamy mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with almost zero warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an excellent doppelbock. Very nice balance, robustness, and complexity of malt flavors; and very smooth to drink. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 05:15:20 | More by superspak

FlatRabbitRed

Arizona

4.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very good beer, bold body and flavor, will be going back for more!

Darker in color ... all the bocks I have had are darker, but I do understand there are lighter colored ones out there also.

Good balance of coffee and caramel notes, and not very heavy for 7.6 % ABV. Balanced well with the hops also, you really can't taste the hop character to much. Bocks seem to have a sweeter quality then a Porter ...(which I would probably get confused during a blind folded taste test) ..and this one works it well that way.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 23:17:40 | More by FlatRabbitRed

TheMarkE

California

3.76/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Deep, dark amber with a very nice head and lacing.

Smell: Chocolate and dark roasted malts.

Taste: Chocolate, caramel, molasses, raisins and dates and other dark fruits.

Mouthfeel: Thick, with a slight bitter raisin aftertaste.

The Verdict: Not bad. It’s nowhere near the best doppelbock I’ve had, but I enjoyed it. Plenty of chocolaty goodness, this would pair perfectly with a chunk of gourmet cheese.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 02:02:35 | More by TheMarkE

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

4.35/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

7 Feb in my room at The Fishermans Wharf Sheraton in San Fransisco, picked from some all night store round the corner. This beer is wonderful, even out of a plastic beaker!

Deep brown body with a creamy biege head.

The nose is malty sweet: roasted/toasted caramel, red berries, toffee and trees.

The taste is a lovely sweet malty molasses mix: too sweet for some maybe, but not for me, I loved it.

The body is rich and full, the alcohol just about noticeable within the flavours.

A true classic.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 10:41:52 | More by BlackHaddock

RichieS2

Michigan

4.41/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Samuel Adam's glass.

A - A deep ruby color, only able to see through when it is held up to the light. Respectable carbonation and a frothy white head.

S - Very malty, a promise to the sweetness to come.

T - Very sweet, it hits from the moment the beer hits your tongue and does not let up. Some slight hoppiness at the end.

M - Pleasingly warm and thick.

O - Great, try this one!

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 23:51:21 | More by RichieS2

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.09/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours all head, beige and compact, at first. As the head dissipates the liquid rises, copper-colored. Decent lacings.

S: Dark dried fruits; sweet but also a bit light in smell. Some chocolate and some licorice. Bready malt. Some bitter hops lures in the back.

T: Molasses; sweet dark dried fruits. Very syrupy bready. A faint smoked tone in the well roasted malts. Some bitter cherry notes. Chocolate in the back. Well balanced.

M: Full body, low carbonation - just like I like a Doppelbock! Aftertaste is short but both sweet and kernel-bitter.

O: A very sweet and well balanced Doppelbock.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 19:36:15 | More by Sunnanek

GossageBrewery

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured this Doppelbock from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Poured a dark brown color, produced an average tan head, nice retention and nice lacing. The aroma of this ale consists of toasted malt, caramel and white pepper. Medium in body, the ale contains a foundation of malted grain, sweet caramel, roasted coffee beans, dark chocolate and earthy hops. Nice example. of the style, not outstanding but it is worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 20:33:36 | More by GossageBrewery

merc7186

New York

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at McGregors in Amherst NY, poured into a pilsner glass.

A: Dark Amber Hue, Passes Some Light, Off White Head, Some Lacing

S: Molasses, Cherry, Plums, Sweet Bread

T: Plums, Sweet Bread, Brown Sugar, Mild Cherry

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Sweet, Mildly Filling

Overall, pretty decent for an out of season bock, nice balance of fruit and malty flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2013 23:35:40 | More by merc7186

carlspeed

Florida

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Wow. I forgot I had this in my fridge, and I forgot what it tasted like. Too bad. I just opened this up and it all came back. Delicious, thick, refreshing, and now that I've finished the one bottle at 7.6% ABV, I'm a little buzzed too. Definitely remembering to buy more.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 22:53:21 | More by carlspeed

d1ckvanswype

Florida

4.41/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Poured from 12oz green(!) bottle into a Duvel glass, formed a finger of khaki head which died quickly. Appears dark brown, but shows a deep garnet when held to the light. Smatters of lacing.

S: Caught a slight whiff of skunk from the bottle, but it aired out by the time I poured it. Dried cherries, prunes, raisins, a touch of coffee, molasses, honey, wheat, sweet roasty malts. Man, this smells really, really good, if a tad sweet.

T: Almost exactly the same as the nose, with a nice twinge of nuttiness, barley syrup. Very mildly astringent, which leads to a very clean finish. Aftertaste is almost better than the sip.

M: Mild carbonation and a pleasantly lush mouthfeel leaves you feeling refreshed, but the sweetness does tend to get a bit sticky after a few sips.

O: While I have to knock off some merits for the green bottle, this is a remarkably good brew from a macro brewery that needs to be shipped across the ocean to reach me. I'm glad to see one of my gateway beers actually tastes better now that I'm a bit more knowledgable.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 04:42:02 | More by d1ckvanswype

Murrhey

Montana

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a 500 ml bottle into a weizen glass in high elevation Libby, Mont. Reviewed live.

A- Finger and a half width off-white head. Appears to have some bubbly lacing. Ruby-walnut color, deep and dark, but high clarity when held to a light. Two minute long retention with a nice ringed floater head.

S- Sweet, dark malts. Noble hops present. Candied flavors, prunes maybe? Sweet dark fruits are the main smell I get. Wheat is around too.

T- Sweetness of the malts and some bitter, noble hops. Candied dark fruits. Some alcohol notes, its a strong lager.

M- Medium bodied, well-developed carbonation.

O- Great beer, great example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 03:05:31 | More by Murrhey

mfnmbvp

Illinois

3.13/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle, given to me gratis from the bar at a funeral banquet, RIP to my neighbor Bob. No bottled on date present on this beer. Poured into some kind of pint glass looking thing, forgive me beer god for not knowing what it was. Reviewed in detail on the back of a CVS reciept.

A - Pours out a fizzing cherry cola type appearance with some visual carbonation and virtually no head whatsoever.

S - Smells of malts & vague bourbon spiciness. Aside from that, there isn't much action happening.

T - Dark fruits reminiscent of fig, dates, and dark cherry. Light unsweetened chocolate taste. Not phenomenal by any means, but still a worthy drinkable beer,

M - Smooth clean, slightly watery finish. Decent level of carbonation. Highly drinkable, and not a heavy sitting beer.

Overall, a drinkable, smooth, light doppelbock, if anything it is one to turn the beginners on to craft beer. Probably not a beer I'd go out of my way for, and in no way is it compatible to the world of true craft beers, but decent enough, worth a try, and clearly the best beer that this banquet hall had to offer.

Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu Spaten Optimator ---3/5

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 23:23:18 | More by mfnmbvp

Utica_Brew_Review

New York

1.94/5  rDev -50.3%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

First off, this beer has an awesome color--dark amber. Green bottle is followed naturally by a skunky aroma. Taste matches the smell. Mouthfeel isn't that bad apart from taste. Our sample may be old or spoiled since our review differs so much and if this beer knew our opinion it'd be embarrassed.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 05:07:35 | More by Utica_Brew_Review

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into pilsener glass. Dark amber/garnet, clear with lots of visible carbonation. Thick off-white head dissipates after a bit, not leaving any lacing yet. Smell is sweet malts all over. Taste is smooth, sweet malts up front, finishing sticky-sweet with hot alcohol on the back of the tongue. Mouthfeel is slick and full-bodied. Even if this is a macrobrew in its home country, it still blows American macros out of the water.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 04:12:12 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

mikeg67

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle. Pours dark read with a long lasting, thick, off-white head and nice lacing. Aroma is of toffee, bread crust, cherry and hint of noble hops. Body is full and slightly crisp. Caramel malt, grain, noble hops and alcohol fill the mouth. Long drying finish. Outstanding bock.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 22:04:28 | More by mikeg67

kvnstfrd

Missouri

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 500 ml bottle into a 12 oz. mug.
Dark copper color when held to the light with a tan head that dissipates quickly into a sticky lace. Smells of caramel, toasted malt and some spicy alcohol fumes. Big, viscous body with light carbonation. Taste of toasted, bready malt, caramel and a grainy, cereal-like flavor. A light dose of alcohol and hop flavor in the finish. Not as sweet as a Paulaner Salvator and not as hoppy as Ayinger Celebrator; somewhere in between. One of the better doppelbocks I’ve tried, and one of the lesser expensive ones.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 18:02:53 | More by kvnstfrd

leokbelo

Florida

3.48/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark cherry wood color into a pint glass, with an inch mocha head that dissipates quickly into a fine lacing.
Caramel malts on the nose, with hints of raisins and figs.
Sweet raisin on the palate, with coffee and dark chocolate tones. Sweetness from the malts comes through, with the alcohol a bit too much present. Hop bitterness is kept at a minimum.
A decent Doppelbock, even though it comes from a Macro brewery.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 18:12:48 | More by leokbelo

TastyAdventure

Kentucky

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A - Very dark amber, translucent. 1/2 finger head that dissipates to paper thin. the bubbles are very tiny

S - Dried out raisin bread, some sweetness

T - Dried figs? very sweet, slight roasted. Alcohol covered up real nicely by sweetness.

M - Nearly cloying. smooth.

O - Very nice for the price. Rich. A sweet treat.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 16:39:04 | More by TastyAdventure

1234Jack

4.6/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On sale at my neighborhood QFC at $2.81 per pint.

500 ml bottle. Gold wrap around the cap and neck. Double-spade front icon, medieval "Optimator" on front.

"7.6% Alc/Vol". Label also says "Malt Liquor".

Smell out of bottle is a flood of maltiness. Later smells in glass add apple. Even later are aromas of licorice.

Barely transparent dark red amber-brown in glass. Head is not super aggressive, bubbles like to remain tiny towards the lace, which isn't super sticky.

First taste is chocolaty malt. Similar to the flavor of chocolate malt milkshake.

Second taste notices a comfortable feel on the mouth, with carbonation present but not overpowering. Bubbles feel micro.

Aftertaste is pleasant. Bitterness just barely dances on sides of tongue.

Nice flavor. Perfect winter/festive/seasonal beer.

This may be one of my favorite beers. Alcohol content with flavor that isn't like drinking a mud-meal. :)

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 07:29:02 | More by 1234Jack