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

Dogbrick

Ohio

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

I think this is a worthy offering in the Doppelbock field. Pours a lovely reddish amber color with a medium almost butterscotch-colored (but mostly beige) head. Thin and slow lacing. Medium-bodied and easy to drink, with a nice caramel and malt flavor up front. There are also flavors of raisins, alcohol and sweet fruit in there. The finish is mostly sweet with a bit of a hops and alcohol spike. I liked this a lot.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2003 13:10:09 | More by Dogbrick

jcalabre

California

3/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I originally sampled this beer on 7 April 2003. I am writing this review from my notes.
Appearance: this pours reddish brown with a thin head.
It has a thick tongue feel and a bit of maltiness. The flavor is OK, but not an overly impressive doppelbock

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2003 03:50:31 | More by jcalabre

Jon

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This may be only the second time I've been disappointed with a Bell's beer. Consecrator pours a reddish copper color with an extremely fizzy head that dissipates to nothing after a few moments. Smell is relatively subdued with minor notes of malty sweetness and a hint of alcohol. Taste is incredibly sweet, almost too sweet for the style, with a sugary sensation that I did not care for. Big time caramel malt is all I could really pick up. Mouthfeel is very thin for the style, and due to the overdone carbonation, it's hard to detect that great, full-bodied bready mouthfeel that most dopplebocks possess. Drinkability is average -- the alcohol is somewhat hard to detect on the way down due to the sweetness, but it's noticeable after drinking the beer. Not a terrible effort, but probably one of Bell's weakest.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2003 02:08:08 | More by Jon

marburg

Michigan

3.08/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Far from Bell's best effort. Light in color -- more tarnished copper/penny than deep and rich. Malt to the nose with a slight wet grass sensation. Not terribly inspiring but not awful. Flavor has some alcohol, sugar, and husky malts. Almost watery. This isn't a bad beer by any means, but it's a pretty poor doppelbock.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2003 23:05:49 | More by marburg

granger10

Wisconsin

2.93/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Very different from the usual doppelbock. Also tastes very one-dimensional-maltiness with caramel and molasses. This taste never leaves. It also has a strong alcoholic taste like most doppelbocks. But this time the Bell's yeast and it's sourness is not near as enjoyable. The balance and complexity are not there but this beer is still decent enough to get again.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2003 20:05:51 | More by granger10

TheDM

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This brew has a very nice malty aroma. It poured a nice light head that quickly disappeared. It has a very nice dark brown color. But, it's initial taste was different from other Doppelbocks I have tasted. It was full of a variety of tastes with cinnamon and caramel flavors. There was a hint of carbonation rising off my tongue as I drank it. Not as smooth as the German Doppelbocks which I prefer over this one.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2003 09:08:04 | More by TheDM

Realale

Missouri

2.28/5  rDev -39.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Mostly clear reddish copper. Fine tight 3/4" beige head quickly settles to a thin rim of foam.

Nose is very malty with some current and chalky mineral notes. A not inappropriate whiff of alcohol is there as well.

Tart in the mouth, with a slight dried currant fruitiness riding on the surprisingly small malt base. An odd, almost rotten, fruitiness quickly develops and overwhelms the palate (not that it takes much of this element to overwhelm . . .). Astringent and slightly metallic finish. The bottle-conditioned carbonation is nice, and mercifully scrapes the flavors off my tongue.

Certainly an odd duck, but nothing screamed bad bottle to me. I just think its not a very good beer. Thanks to MJR for the experience (he had the decency to warn me).

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2003 18:54:12 | More by Realale

MJR

Missouri

3.03/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I'm a big fan of Bell's ales, so I'm quite curious to see how well they can brew a traditional lager style...

Appearance: Pours a pretty plum color with garnet highlights and good clarity. There doesn't seem to be as much yeast dregs in the bottom of the bottle as usual, which is good considering the style. It's tan head starts out fairly big and shrinks down quickly to a ring around the edge of the glass with groups of bubbles scattered on the surface.

Smell: Sweet and malty with a bit of toffee. I detect a bit of a berry aroma, which comes across as raspberry. Toasted malt shows up as well.

Taste: Starts off rich with a caramel and toffee sweetness, that gives way to a generic berry flavor. Has the same toasted malt character that was detected in the aroma. After that, a touch of sourness shows up and throws thing out of wack. A bit of lactic tartness and astringency don't exactly help. Towards the finish, it takes on a vinous, sherry-like note, along with a swipe of alcohol. Strange...

Mouthfeel: Medium in body with an awkward dryness that highlights the strange finish. It starts out good, with a round and full feel, then takes an unwanted u-turn.

Drinkability: It's not looking too good... This is certainly the strangest doppelbock I've encountered. It starts well enough, then completely takes a turn for the worse. I'll stick with Bell's ales...

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2003 12:49:58 | More by MJR

ZAP

Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Re-rate one year later...not sure what happened to this but it is not the same beer....I still like the nose but there is a real off-taste/sourness to the flavor which in turn affects the mouthfeel..The six pack I got last year was legit...I tasted it side by side with the heavy's and this rocked...maybe I had a rare solid batch...this one, while not horrible, is simply run-of-the-mill...glad all I got is one bottle..not worth paying for any more..

(2/9/02)
A fine doppelbock...sweet but fresh sweet if that makes sense...caramel/brown sugar/molasses...silky smooth on the tounge..not overbrearingly sweet...deeper in some hints of alcohol hit the nose and the palate..good carbonation..a very impressive doppel that is sweet but not overly thick....definitely a beer to savor...

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2003 22:56:27 | More by ZAP

hotstuff

Indiana

3.45/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This particular dopplebock poured a medium head. There was no lacing on the side of my mug. When I poured this into my mug, it poured as a dark amber color. Not much carbonation with this dopplebock. It had a smooth taste to it. This was a thinner dopplebock than I have experienced with other dopplebocks. It had a sweet aroma. The taste was syrupy. This was not a good interpretation of a dopplebock in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2003 19:11:38 | More by hotstuff

marc77

California

2.65/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Ruddy chestnut hue and brilliantly clear when decanted. Prodigious, stiff persistent taupe head leaves jagged, dense lace. Honeyish sweetness and toasted malt hit the nose at first, then are contrasted by a tartness akin to unripe plum. Richness in aroma is provided by a lightly buttery, toffeish melanoidin / dark caramel malt combination. Caramelized fruit sweetness hits and coats the palate initially, then is bathed by a detracting sourness reminescent of sour sop. Sourness tapers slightly, allowing sweetness to reemerge in a toasty, bready fashion, only to be offset by light, yet mildly astringent hop bitterness. Becomes thin, oddly vinous and sherrylike late. Over attenuated, but passably smooth. Finishes with diminished lactic tartness fading quickly and token residual sweetness fleeting. Hmm. A beer that had potential, but is perhaps a victim of a fledgling Lactobacillus infection. Not outright bad (yet), but easily far substandard for Bells.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2003 18:45:53 | More by marc77

garymuchow

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I decided to read the reviews before sampling and I learned that the beer will score higher if compared to Leine's Big Butt. Also that the range among the highest reviewer was 2.0 to 4.8 (whatever that may mean). And most concerning to me was that some found it pushed richness.
To my delight the richness wasn't excessive and I"m pretty intolerant of such things. To me it hit but didn't pass the cloyingly sweet line, making it enjoyable. It actually may be a tad thin. Aroma was limited with initial breadiness passing to a heavier malt quality with some sweetness, without it being excessive. Deep amber with orange and red hues making mostly brown. Clear. Felt the warmth quickly, but that may be because my stomach is mostly empty. Some fruitiness, some richness, somewhat complex. Worth sampling as a Dopplebock. And it's better than Big Butt.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2003 14:42:55 | More by garymuchow

StevieW

Florida

3.15/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz brown bottle. Double image of a goat's head on the label. Allrighty then. Murky deep wet shoe leather brown color. Creamy bubbly beige head, fades quickly into a clumpy covering. No lacing or covering left. Smell is super sweet, malty and rich, just as you would expect from a dopplebock. First taste is oddly sweet, and overly fruity, melons, yea honeydew melons ? Is that what they are called. Tasted like a hint of those then faded. Syrupy sweet, cloying malt flavors followed. Some toasted flavors come and go, but not consistent at all. Nearly slick toward the end. Carbonation bubbles present to start, but not at the finish. Not much carbonation on this one either. I think they have a real problem with that. Just not one I would seek out.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2003 15:54:44 | More by StevieW

inebrius

Michigan

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

Slightly mired deep amber sporting a thin, but clingy cap. Aroma of old sticky buns topped with raisins and shaved almonds. Sweet maple malt start is nearly cut by bittering hops but rests a little too thick on the tongue. I wouldn't turn down a Consecrator, nor would I seek one out. One of Bell's weakest.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2003 15:17:48 | More by inebrius

Wildman

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured a very dark amber color and formed a light tan foamy head that left trace lace. An aroma of malt and caramel. A flavor of malt, caramel and some other sweetness, not sure how to place it though. A touch astrigent in the finish. As doppels go, it's a fair interpretation, but is not going to knock you off normally getting the German ones that we all rave about.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2003 20:20:22 | More by Wildman

AudioGilz

Pennsylvania

2.8/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

I just can't dig doppelbocks yet. Unless this is an off one. I enjoyed Salvator a lot. This one seems bland in a way. It's appearance is a wonderful dark cherry red/amber, and the head is about an inch of tan thickness. I didn't get much out of the whiffs, just some sweet maltiness. It's thick and full bodied on the tongue, very sweet. Maltiness is about it, very sweet, then some hops in the finish. A weird aftertaste kept bothering me. I had no idea what it was. It knocked taste and drinkability down somewhat. Not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2003 13:43:25 | More by AudioGilz

mjohn27603

Michigan

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

Came out of the bottle a walnut varnish color, looks a little more reddish brown in the glass against the light. It smells on the sweet side and doesn't have much a head on top. The head doesn't stick around for long either. First sip reveals a bit of sugary sweetness then quickly yields to a warming alcohol presence. The 8.0% is noticeable in this beer. I was hoping for more of a caramel note like Salvator or Celebrator but it doesn't seem to be there. The aftertaste just says alcohol like a more subtle shot of vodka. Maybe I've got an old bottle of something since I got this at a place that is prone to put old stock on the floor. I think I'll stick to the better stouts of Bell's.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2003 20:02:25 | More by mjohn27603

ADR

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Hazy, yeasty orangey umber (I don't decant) color, very yellow creamy head of 1/8 of an inch. Coats but doesn't lace the glass very well. An orange oil aroma with a faint malty clove tone as well. Chocolate covered pear flavors, a bit of spice and mid mouth smokey bitterness with a surprisingly hoppy citrus finish that steers this beer well away from the somewhat cloying stickiness that's a territory many Doppels can flirt with. Lighter bodied but consistant feel front to back. This is certainly a different take on the style, but unlike other Doppelbocks in name only (like Leinenkugel's) it has complexity and good flavors. I admit to expecting a "bigger" brew, though.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2003 09:22:14 | More by ADR

Mitchster

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

OG=1.081, 8.0% ABV. Bohemian Lager yeast strain.

Crystal-clear when carefully decanted off the yeast, yielding a beautiful cherrywood, chestnut-amber brew with a voluminous, nicely retained creamy beige head atop medium-sized bubbles. Adding the yeast adds sediment without a whole lot of clouding. Lace is nearly absent. Carbonation is moderately strong with spiral streamers. Aroma is somewhat odd...closer to an Belgian Abbey Ale than a dopplebock...there is a ton of malts (particularly reminiscent of Scotch or Whiskey) with dark fruit notes, sour milk, alcohol, cloves, browning bananas, hints of nutmeg, freshly cut wood and smoke. The beer itself leaves a soft feel in the mouth and is easy to drink, but the flavors are very odd for the style...body is medium-firm with lots of sticky, chewy malts. Taste starts out with some initially harsh, somewhat sour bready malts, a big surge of woods and peat smoke. Pleasantly warming from the alcohol with a very mild bittering hop off-setting the lingering sweet malts with more sourness. The finish reminds me of sharp cheddar cheese. The harshness smooths out as it warms to room temp. and it takes on a particularly strong whiskey character, more so than I've had in probably any other beer.

While Bell's beers have mild sourness as a characteristic, it has no place in the dopplebock style. If they want to brew a dopplebock, they need separate facilities, because their trademark yeast/bacteria strain taints this beer. Incredibly hard to believe this was fermented with a Bohemian lager strain. Let this one warm up, and think of it as a Belgian Style Strong Dark Ale...you may be pleasantly surprised. After letting this beer warm, taste, mouthfeel and drinkability went up 0.5 points each. Definitely a sipper. Probably my least favorite of Kzoo's brews, though not a bad beer.

On re-review 2005, I have to stand next to my initial impressions. This is an odd dopplebock, but still a good brew. Bananas are still here which is not acceptable in this style, and the whisky impression is prominent. Smoke this year is hardly there. This is odd for the style, but has a very nice mouthfeel and seems to have softened up compared to previous years.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2003 17:15:46 | More by Mitchster

purplehops

Maine

2.45/5  rDev -35.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Consecrator pours a hazy orange/brown with a light tan head that hangs around and leaves dome lacing. The aroma is sweet like dried figs and dates but there is also a sour note in there that starts to over power the sweet aromas. The taste starts with a burst of carbonation and then moves to flavors of vienna and caramel malt. This is suddenly overpowered by sour flavors that overpower all other flavors. The finish is sour fruit and grain flavors. The aftertaste is grainy and sour flavors lingering until you sip some water or eat some bread. The mouthfeel is medium sour.
Overall this has to be an infected beer. This is the second Kalamazoo product that I have tried that was sour. I have also had two that were excellent. No way they can be proud of this product. I will give them another try in six to nine months.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2003 13:37:51 | More by purplehops

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Once the bottle is opened, an enormous explosion ensues! Color is dark brown, head is a tarnished tan. Aroma is complex and highly charged, resembling barleywine in ways. Sweet, fruity, dark rum, mollasses, brandy, raisins, figs, cherries, and a huge whiff of alcohol. Thick, warming mouthfeel, large malt presence, and a strong hop profile. Great balance, in a big beer. Uniquely tasty! A flood of flavor takes charge on the palate, with strong, sizzling hops doing a wardance on the tongue. A remarkable beer!
I once taste-tested this against a regional version, Leinie's Big Butt Doppelbock. It was like Godzilla vs. Bambi.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2003 20:07:30 | More by feloniousmonk

cokes

Wisconsin

2.15/5  rDev -43.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A disappointment from Kalamazoo.
This one pours out a nice amber-brown body. Tan head lasts a while. It looks the part.
Very little to speak of on the nose. Some malt sweetness, leaning toward prunes or raisins. But not very much.
Taste is similar. Pretty faint for a doppelbock. In fact, I get more off-flavors than anything else. Malt sweetness leans toward prune. Then comes a parade of truly odd flavors. Celery, radish and some other veggies. The veggie flavors do not ruin this beer, but the yeasty sour aftertaste does. Bitter and disgusting with hints of bile. It lingers oppressively. The more you drink, the more pronounced it becomes.
Fluffy and airy body. Neither robust nor thick...especially given the ABV.
The aftertaste of this is truly horrifying. The longer it sits in my mouth, the more I drop the taste rating. Not recommended at all.
A huge letdown.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2002 22:52:43 | More by cokes

proc

Michigan

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

Flavor, flavor, flavor. This doppelbock has it. Pours out to a very nice dark ruby color, with a creamy, light brown foamy head. The head looked good enough to eat. Nice alcohol kick on the finish with enough hops to trip the sweetness of the malt back to earth. A very impressive beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2002 07:45:18 | More by proc

Bighuge

Minnesota

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

Nice, thick slightly tan head. Aroma is very sweet. Very complex malt tones in this beer. Slightly viscous mouthfeel. Cloudy, slightly muddy appearnace. Sweet tastes like dates and raisins are evident. Layered tastes like fruit cake and caramel apples come through if you look hard enough. Dopplebocks are not one of my favorite styles, but this is a good one. Right up there with Celebrator, S.A. and Sprecher.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2002 01:46:31 | More by Bighuge