Bell's Consecrator Doppelbock - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

motorhed

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Surly pint glass.

A - Pours out with fairly low level of carbonation less than a finger of very light tan head. The color of this beer is fabulous, a cloudy very dark copper/brown with a touch of ruby red. Zero lacing to speak of as it is consumed.

S - First thing that comes to the nose is cherry and dark fruit sweetness with some funk. Some carmel and light malt in the background.

T - Dark fruit flavors up front with what tastes to me like a cherry cough drop. The middle consits of the carmel and malts. Really very little hop flavors in here but just enough malt base to balance the level of sweetness of the brew. No hint of the 8% abv.

M - Super drinkable, full-bodied, low carbonation levels, smooth finish.

O - Really liked this beer and i'm a big fan of the Doppelbock style in general, so i may be biased. Such a great balance of enough sweetness to balance the malt on this one. I couldn't taste a bit of the 8% on this brew. Will definitely be looking for and drinking this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 00:42:34 | More by motorhed

Beer_Runner

4.33/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Packaged on 02/09/12. Opened seven months after packaging.
Poured slowly into a standard pint glass.

A: It poured to about one-quarter finger of head that was a darker shade of tan. (Had to get very aggressive at the end of the pour to create a head.) After a few minutes the head disapated to an edge-ring. The brew is a dark amber with a deep ruby red hue. It is dark but still translucent and not at all cloudy.

S: The aroma consists of a sweet bready malt and some sweet and funky yeast.

T: The taste starts with a sweet bready malt with some dreid fruit notes of raisins and prunes. There is also some sweet yeast that is just a little bit funky, too. There is also just a touch of bittering hops to to keep the sweetnes from becoming cloying.

M: This is a full-bodied beer with a heavy feel. (Hey, this really is liquid bread.) There is only a small amount of carbonation, which fits the heavy body well. It is also a very smooth beer.

O: This is a "must try" for doppelbock fans and dark beer fans. It hits all the right notes for a doppelbock, and it hits them with flair. This is a sweeter, malt focused beer, and the balance comes more from the funkiness of the yeast and only somewhat from the hops. The result is a very pleasing brew for malt fans.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 21:47:44 | More by Beer_Runner

ninaturner

Florida

4.4/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Amber/brown in color with a one finger head

Aroma: Toffee, caramel, and chocolate

Taste: Tofee roasted malts, caramel sweetness, and a bread like flavors

Mouthfeel: Light to medium mouthfeel which is great for this style

Drinkability: Highly drinkable in my opinion, but I know that it may not be as drinkable for those who do not like caramel/toffee tastes

Overall: I am not usually a fan of the Doppelbock style, but I absolutely loved this creation by Bell's

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2012 00:30:46 | More by ninaturner

centurian62

Michigan

5/5  rDev +31.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I grabbed a mix and match sixer from a local snotty beer store and grabbed a couple Consecrator's as I had never had it before. All I can say is Bell's nailed it with this one!!!! Fantastic color, wonderful malty aroma and an extremely smooth mouthfeel. This is a Doppel that must be had. Wow!

The maltiness leads to a smooth finish with a slight hint of the alcohol content but is not at all overpowering. If you are a fan of doppelbocks or other malty beers, this one is a must try.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 12:59:19 | More by centurian62

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Purchased at the brewery in April and an excellent example of this style...

Pours a thin, reddish amber, lighter in colour than I expected, with very little head or carbonation of any kind. Supremely malt-forward aroma definitely has the roasted, bready elements of a bock. The flavour also nails this German varietal, with no sign of the 8% ABV until an alcohol burn just before the finish. Malty and smooth with a lingering bitter end.

Not a beer style I choose to drink often, but remember it well from earlier times in Germany and think Bell's has done a great job.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 01:36:23 | More by hopsolutely

chinchill

South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle served in a Unibroue snifter. Bottled 9 Feb. 2012.

Pours a clear, dark mahogany, with a short-lived, one-finger, off-white head.

The aroma (3.75) is a fruity mix of medium toasted malts and a dash of hops. There is much more fruit in the mouth than in the nose, with suggestions of prunes, figs and cooked raisins. A subtle hint of butterscotch toffee in the flavor. Some hints of brandy in both the nose and the taste. In fact, the nose is a bit boozy although the high ABV is fairly well hidden in the mouth. Rather sweet, particularly mid-taste but even in the lingering, fruity aftertaste. [Taste = 3.75]

M: medium body; low carbonation that I felt should be a tad higher.

O: A very drinkable imperial dopplebock that is a bit sweeter and fruitier than usual.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 01:07:06 | More by chinchill

buschbeer

Ohio

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle
Served in a pilsner glass

A - It is copper colored with amber highlights. Three inches of tan head top of this offering.

S - I get some caramel, toffee, and toast. Malty

T - I get that caramel again. I also get some molasses and a little alcohol.

M - Medium to full

O - Yet another solid beer from a great brewery. I had been putting off trying this one and finally did it. I was worth it.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 00:58:38 | More by buschbeer

SawDog505

New Hampshire

3.3/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a Stella chalet. Pours a dark brown, with a one inch off white head, with minimal lace if any. Smell is figs, brown sugar, carmel apple, and alcohol. Taste is all of those, very balanced, with carmel apple being the most dominant flavor. Body is thin to medium, not much carbonation, not dry, and pretty easy going down. Not my favorite style, but also not anywhere near the best of this style I have had.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 01:48:13 | More by SawDog505

ONUMello

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle dated 2/9/12 poured into a pilsner glass
A: Nutty brown color with a thin head that settles quickly
S: Quite sweet, reminds me of banana Laffy Taffy. Also a bit of light malt.
T: Brown sugar, banana, and quite a bit of booze
M: Medium-bodied underneath, but thick from all the sugar
O: Not my favorite from Bells. Not bad flavors, but too sweet and the etoh is too prevalent for my palate.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 02:43:42 | More by ONUMello

yuenglingfan101

Indiana

4.6/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured into a pint glass. Copperish color and little head. Smells of chocholate but that's it taste is exceptional but mouthful dwindles as the beer dwindles. Good beer but not exactly what I expected from this company. Bell's usually hit the spot but this one is a tad mediocre.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 21:18:24 | More by yuenglingfan101

mscudder

Georgia

2.03/5  rDev -46.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Consumed a few months back and documented.

A - Ruby amber hue. Poor sized head and little lacing.

S - Light roasted malts, but I really felt as if something were just "off" at bit.

T - Dark and heavy malts hit initially and seems pleasing until the finish arrives. To me. this is just unbearable. I cannot compose any diction that would encompass what I felt this taste was, but I just could not bear another sip. I have never purchased a beer that I found had such a horrid aftertaste I would refuse to finish the bottle.

M - Creamy and malt filled body. Still just offended by the finish.

O - Bar none the worst beer I have ever had from Bell's. I cannot seem to figure out why others covet this brew, but for me I will just avoid it from now on.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 03:54:44 | More by mscudder

prototypic

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Consecrator Doppelbock pours a darker copper color. It looks mostly clear. When held to light, really nice crimson highlights become apparent. A tan head covers it and rises to roughly a finger in height. It’s quick to recede, leaving a very light, spotty lacing behind. Frankly, there’s so little lace that I almost feel guilty mentioning it. Very nice color nonetheless.

The nose is pretty good. It seems just a tad weak, but isn’t bad by any stretch. It kicks off with a mix of caramel and light chocolate scents. It smells a bit sweet from the caramel. It has a rather strong yeast scent that smells nice. There are some light notes of cherry, dark fruit, and alcohol. The alcohol seems a tad strong, but not overwhelming. Smells pretty good overall. More strength might bump it a notch.

The flavor is good. I like it. The malt base is a mix of caramel, chocolate and toasted malts. The caramel variety certainly adds a sweet flavor, while the chocolate tastes mostly like cocoa. It’s a nice, flavorful base. Yeast is definitely strong in the mix and adds a bread-like flavor. It works well with the malt base. Secondary flavors of light raisin, fig, cherry, and alcohol follow. The alcohol is a little strong. It’s not warm, but is definitely there in flavor. Finishes malty with a light, tangy dark fruit twist.

Consecrator Doppelbock has a medium body. Carbonation is light and restrained. It feels nice and smooth. If not for a slight bit of booziness, it’d be incredibly drinkable. Nice feel though!

Bell’s did a nice job with Consecrator Doppelbock. It’s not among the world’s best Doppelbocks, but it’s a good effort. It’d be a notch better with a little less of an alcohol flavor and a stronger nose. Still very good nonetheless. Easy recommendation.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 02:43:43 | More by prototypic

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass. Bottled on 02-09-12.

Appearance: Pours a deep and fairly clear brownish amber orange with some shades of ruby red. Lots of rising bubbles and a solid three fingers of off white head with decent retention. Moderate amount of lace sticks around.

Smell: Sweet and bready roasted caramel malts with a good amount of toffee and grains. Hints of nuts, chocolate, and brown sugar. Also a subtle hint of dark fruits in the background. Smells very rich with the roasted caramel standing out the most.

Taste: A big bready taste of roasted caramel malts. Some hints of chocolate, toffee, grains, nuts, and some brown sugar. Also a nice dark fruit presence with hints of raisins and dark cherries. Some earthy hops provide a little balance in the background. A pretty good and full taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with a moderate level of carbonation. Very creamy and smooth. Sweet but finishes fairly dry.

Overall: A very solid take on a Doppelbock. Everything you would expect from the style. One of the better American versions.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 03:51:02 | More by MattyG85

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bell's Consecrator, 12oz bottle. Batch 10864, packaged 2-9-12, from a recent trade with laymansbeerfan (thanks man) poured into a (fittingly) Ram pint glass.

A: Clear brilliant amber with minimal head and lacing.

S: Bready and malty, toasted grain, hints of honey, spices, and brown sugar; no alcohol presence really.

T: Follows the nose, very malty and bready, low bitterness and minimal hop presence, a bit nutty, with a touch of a woody note, hints of spices.

MF: Medium bodied and straightforward, light bitterness, low to medium carbonation; silky, malty mouthfeel.

O: A good malty offering, not as rich and heavy as most other Dopplebocks I've tried. Pretty drinkable and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 19:11:57 | More by Scotchboy

Immortale25

Florida

4.23/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Southern Tier tulip-style snifter. Back label says PKGD 2/09/12.

A- Pours a clear reddish brown color with a 1/4 inch off-white head that retains nicely before becoming a thin ring around the edge of the glass and a mostly-covered surface of foam. Above average lacing.

S- Faint cereal grain smell with a hint of richness in the back. Semi-roasty but sweet.

T- Pretty deep for a doppelbock. Toasty malts with the mild dark fruit providing a sweetness. The 8% ABV is well-hidden. Small notes of banana and maybe some rye spiciness.

M- Vibrant and full, especially for a lager but also doesn't skimp on the crispness and refined nature. Medium-low carbonation and slightly dry.

O- It's Bell's...need I say more?

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 00:44:16 | More by Immortale25

elNopalero

Texas

4.08/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a rich, intense caramel amber hue with foam that quickly dissipates. It has a rich, malty caramel aroma (notice the trend here) that’s mellow and sweet and a mellow, sweet, caramel malt flavor (third time’s the charm!) with a warming alcohol finish. Doppledeliciousness!

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 19:48:58 | More by elNopalero

Jamesthebrit

Michigan

2.88/5  rDev -24%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A: Super bold red color. Looks like cranberry juice.
S: Not getting much here. Subtle malt or so. After the beer has warmed a lot more smells comes through. Good cherry scent. Apples, grapes. Alcohol is subtle.
T: Sourness that overpower some subtle orange flavor. Alcohol comes through on the finish.
M: Lingering sour bitter grossness. Get's better as the beer warms but still rather unpleasant.

This beer really didn't bring a lot to the table other than a sour lingering alcohol taste. Even as the beer warmed no real flavors came through. Great to look at but not to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 16:15:17 | More by Jamesthebrit

ThickNStout

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle. 6 pack from Bullock's (Marietta, GA). 14.99.  Bottled 2/9/12. Served in a snifter. 

Pours deep mahogany with a half finger head that quickly recedes. Very little lacing.

Smells of malts, caramel and dark fruits. 

Tastes sweet and malty. Burnt sugar, bittersweet cherries, and a kind of almost roasty malt. The alcohol is barely noticeable. 

Feels medium thin with moderate carbonation. Long semi dry aftertaste. 

Overall enjoyable. This is my first dopplebock so I'm not sure what to compare it to. Being a fan of Bell's, I'd wanted to try it for a while. It drinks smooth and pleasant with many flavors I'd expect out of a quad but with a lighter feel. I'm glad to have it & will revisit every month or two to see how it ages. 

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 04:31:40 | More by ThickNStout

MichPaul

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is my first ever Doppelbock and I'm really enjoying it!

It's hard for me to review something if I have never tried the style. It feels unfari to not be able to compare to some other, but here goes.
There is not a lot of smell that hits you once you pour, but that's ok. The beer pours kinda a dark Amber color, and looks quite boozy.
For me, this has more of a mixed drink feel rather than a beer, but I still enjoyed it.
I'm not sure if I will search this beer out necessarily, but I would like to try some others of this style to see what some others taste like comparatively.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 22:03:52 | More by MichPaul

optimistictour

Michigan

4.18/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This one has always eluded me, but now I've made a capture.

It looks a bit more substantial and realistic than other bocks I've tried which seemed to be flexing as hard as they could to look a bit heavier. Deep brown/red shading light without murkiness, solid head receding somewhat quickly.

Nose barely hints at flavor, smelling almost like a light wheat/dubbel/whatever despite the reality.

That on-tongue reality is solid and bright and open-armed, embracing me all the way with a balance of sweetness and hearty dark bitter tones. There's apple and coffee and hints of bitter. It feels substantial despite a lack of thickness, coating and filling, decent carbonation and viscosity, especially for the style.

It's a satisfying and interesting drink that I'll gladly buy a 6 pack of next time I see it.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 06:37:36 | More by optimistictour

Pintofbrown

Iowa

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I consecrated this doppelbock with a glass stein.

Appearance- A half-finger of ecru foam is the result of the pour. It has a frothy, filmy texture and retains well enough to keep the cap completely covered.

The body has an amber-auburn hue with reddish-gold highlights. I am also surprised by the amount and speed of carbonation flying through the glass.

Smell- Sweet nose that has hints of raisins and crystal malt. Maybe some herbal and earthy qualities. It is a little soft in general.

Taste- Wow! What was lacking on the nose explodes on the palate. It has a sweet and earthy flavor that pervades the length of the drink. The sweet is reminiscent of honey and raisins.

Halfway through the drink there is a hint of alcohol and warmth giving the impression of apricot of all things. The finish is loaded with earthiness and raisin-like malt sugars.

This is a great tasting doppelbock.

Mouth feel- This beer is silky smooth on the tongue. Unfortunately, it is also a bit on the thin side.

Overall- This doppelbock tastes great, and the heat it packs is more than appropriate in the end when considering the flavor profile as a whole.

Maybe the feel could be beefed up, and the aromatics of the nose could be stronger, but there is little that could be done to make this doppelbock taste more amazing.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 02:36:57 | More by Pintofbrown

bigkingken

Virginia

4.65/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very light brown, bordering on amber. A gentle pour brings little to no head to speak of, and what there is dissipates quickly. Clear, no haze. Smells malty of molassas and licorice with a touch of hops to counter. Mouthfeel is light and delicate with just the right amount of carbonation. Goes down extremely smooth. Sweet up front with a tinge of alcohol. Fairly complex follow up with notes molassas and honey. Tastes like a dopplebock should, in short. Has zero bitterness in the finish. In fact, a sweetness lingers on the tongue making you want more.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 20:23:42 | More by bigkingken

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle dated 2/9/12. Poured into a New Belgium tulip. Appearance is clear dark reddish-brown with typical moderate carbonation and a thin head that had excellent retention. The nose was faint and slightly sweet with primarily toasted malt and a very, very subtle vanilla note.

The taste is very spot-on and traditional for this style and not over-the-top or otherwise interpretative at all. The beer has a medium body and a nice soft, bready, malty sweetness that develops to mild raisin and figgy flavors towards the back of the palate. Hop profile is extremely mild, as per the style. The beer is very easy-drinking and the alcohol is undetectable. It has no objectionable qualities whatsoever.

Overall, this beer lacks the complexity of the top-shelf dopplebocks, but it is a nice entry from an outstanding brewer. Everything about it says ``traditional'', right down to the (blank)-``or'' name that dopplebocks typically have.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 11:20:07 | More by deadonhisfeet

rundocrun

Iowa

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Body is coppery brown with red highlights. Yields a 1/2 finger of coarse fizzy tan head that dissipates within seconds. No lacing.

S - Super sweet chocolatey malt is the most prominent here. A bit of an herbal hop aroma eeks through the malty haze. With a bit of warming I get aromas of corn and strawberries.

T - Very sweet and almost candy-like up front. A cocoa-like bitterness follows shortly thereafter. Milk chocolate, caramel, pears and hop bitterness in the finish.

M - Medium-to-thick mouthfeel with good carbonation. Slightly sticky in the finish, but not syrupy.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 01:03:57 | More by rundocrun

neckbracesub

Indiana

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bell’s has created one of the finer bocks around with their Consecrator. Pouring a bit of a darker amber than most of its kind, this is truly one of the most complex of any bock I have tasted.

I am not the biggest bock fan (I prefer stouts and barleywines) but at 8.0% ABV this stands at a much higher volume than anything in the same field.

A major hint of toffee and caramel add to the pleasant finish, creating what is overall a commendable choice, especially if you’re big into bocks.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 00:29:51 | More by neckbracesub