Blonde Doppelbock - Capital Brewery

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Decent and interesting and bang on the style. Some funk in aroma, wheaty, yeasty. The taste is sassy blonde. Above average mouthfeel.
Bottle gifted from the brewmaster and from the owner in Tampa meetup.Told this bottle ages for eight years or more, but it was hot out and the bottle cold. Drinkability was OK.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2011 22:12:54 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.33/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Lacquered, brassy orange with butterscotch trim. The soft, ecru colored cap is strangely small and is essentially featureless. It deflates way too quickly and, in the process, leaves the glass untouched by lace. The beer itself looks good, but that's the extent of it. Not an especially good start.

The nose is far from world-class, either in terms of intensity or personality. It's malt dominant, as it should be, with a disturbing lack of complexity or even a token amount of hoppiness. So far, it's hard to believe that Capital is responsible for this big lager.

Blonde makes a comeback of sorts on the palate. It's a decent blonde doppelbock, maibock, helles bock... whatever your term of preference is. Still though, I'm amazed at the lack of the slightest bit of depth or complexity. Even a token amount of spicy German hoppiness would help immensely. The finish is somewhat bitter, but it's a bitterness that is divorced from even a modicum of hop flavor.

The flavor profile improves a fraction with warming, but not enough to warrant any real praise. At least the body/mouthfeel up to the task at hand. It's medium-full and delivers an impressive smooth silkiness that all well-constructed, high gravity lagers seem to possess.

Blonde Doppelbock isn't the beer that I'd hoped it would be. This brewery appears to take pride in their bocks since they brew six of them at various times of the year. Even though this one falls well short of expectations, I'm still excited about trying the four Capital bocks that I haven't yet had. I just hope they're better than the beer I just finished.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2006 15:45:06 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

2.58/5  rDev -33.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Twelve ounce bottle acquired as an extra. Served in a pilsner glass and consumed on 07/17/2008.

Grabbed this one out of the fridge last night before dinner and intended to enjoy it while I was eating, but it did not really turn out that way. The pour was rather dull, with an amber color, with nice clarity but that was about it. No head really ever, except for maybe a broken ring of lace on the top but that was about it. Some light carbonation streaming from the bottom, but the whole thing really did not strike me as overly impressive.

The aroma was more of the same. Light roasted malts, with a musty and very bready profile. Nothing really that would tell me the style or what direction this was going to go in. The flavor was just not good, at least for me. This one tasted stale, moldy bread and gym socks would be the appropriate description. Decent body, but again slick, with not enough carbonation in it to really make a difference. No real hint of alcohol, but still, this was a mess. No direction and everything taste stale.

Overall I was a bit shocked and let down by this one. I have had good luck with Capital so far and this was the first one that threw me. Nothing that would keep me from trying them again in the future, but it does make me take pause. Oh well on to the next one.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2008 15:27:24 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a golden color with quite a bit of haze and a thin white head. Interesting nose with grain and some light fruits. Hints of alcohol. Taste is light fruit and grain, going along with a creamy mouthfeel with slight booze. An interesting idea, but not all that good.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2010 22:21:00 | More by Thorpe429

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.45/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Having high hopes for this Dopplebock (one of my favorite styles), the inticipation falls short on a non-descript strong lager that misses the mark on a lot of finess and richness that the style demands.

A bright and strong golden color brings a steady stream of carbonation, leading to a somewhat froathy, somewhat fizzy head that doesn't retain as well as is expected. With no real lacing, the opportunities to give good marks on appearance stop with clarity and color.

Pilsner malt, apples, and sulfur come together in firm lager fashion but without the leadership from the malty end, the fruity/sharp aromas and flavors become more of a distraction than a compliment to the stronger malt components to the beer. The depth, complexity, and variety of malt aroma and flavor stop at 'grain' and 'sweet' and never develop the wealth of flavor and delicacy the Dopplebocks demand- even the blonde versions. Though this Dopplebock does show alcoholic flavor, strength, and is backed by ample maltiness; it takes the impression of an Imperial Pilsner instead. Still, a far cry from Dopplebocks partly because this beer exhibits ale-like fruitiness (apples) and hot alcohols that don't fall in line with well-aged lagers.

Full up front and with a sweet oily feel, the beer takes on aggressive scrubbing- part because of alcohol but part because of heavy sulfurs and spicy phenolics. Not the smooth creamy texture that Dopplebocks expect. A muddled linger of grain hurts the finish and makes the next sip hard to get around to.

There's not a lot of Blonde Dopplebocks of which to compare, but this one is not a great example of the style. But is is a fine comparison to Imperial Pilsners.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2010 04:20:11 | More by BEERchitect

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Its brilliant amber robe takes on a crimson cast when set upon the bar, and the frothy white head seems to last forever. It continually retains a thin, creamy cap and leaves some very nice lace throughout the glass. The body is medium/full and it's smooth and creamy across the palate. Fresh and clean, gently toasted malt is present in the nose; and then again in the flavor. It's not a complex beer by any stretch of the imagination, but it is surprisingly rich and satisfying. The clean, pure flavor of Munich malt is nicely balanced by an underlying bitterness and a bit of drying alcohol that lends toward a note of apple. Mild honeyish-vanilla and caramel evolve as it warms, backed by some very low level hop flavor; and the finish is long lasting with residual nutty malt and a wash of drying alcohol. It's an interesting doppelbock in that it's very clean-cut and straightforward, yet satisfying. It doesn't have the depth of many darker versions, but it's impelling. Certainly worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2003 18:46:51 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: bright and transparent reddish hue, with a big, fresh, fluffy head.
Aroma is sweet, a bit fruity, and fierce: alcohol, though not major, is still sitting tall on top and evident in the nose.
Taste: BAM! Shammalamma, boom! Sh-bam! Tiny hops, Big, muth*&^%in' malt all up in y'alls mouth! Mouth-filling texture, though overall the body is light. It's just that big, fat flavor, tasty, lip-smackin', delicious. Big, wonderful flavor stands out always, rings through the senses, congratulates you for consuming it.
If you're craving a beer from Wisconsin, this had better be the one. We'll be screening any excuses for other options, but it's a strict judge and jury. Really, this is the stuff!

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2003 22:21:08 | More by feloniousmonk

drabmuh

Maryland

3.35/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in an Ayinger celebrator glass. Beer is yellow and slightly hazy with a thin white head of small and medium bubbles. Carbonation is low and the head doesn't leave lacing on the glass. Its a doppelbock so pretty much anything goes, it looks fine.

Aroma is weak but its mildly malty and mildly sweet.

The flavor is weak and flat, mildy sweet medium bodied, not a lot of carb in the mouth, finishes nicely though. Its just mediocre, nothing special about it at all.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2010 13:49:25 | More by drabmuh

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.6/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A solid pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces an almost three-finger thick, pale tan colored head. The beer is an amber to red copper hue and shows an almost brilliantly clear paler version when held up to the light. An interesting raw dough character is the first thing I get from the aroma, but there is also a very soft, fermented honey note and some light cracker like malt. The aroma is surprisingly faint and I am having a hard time smelling much of anything.

Sweet tasting and rich feeling as it hits my palate, the beer has a nice light herbal hop character and nipping bitterness from the beginning, the finish seems to banish the bitterness though with a lingering, chewy pale malt sweetness that manages to be rich without being cloying. Something here reminds me of green raisins for some reason, though I can't say exactly why. This is actually nicely balanced up front between malt and hop, but the malt is definitely the dominant note in the finish. A nice dough like and pale-toasted malt character adds some complexity to the malt sweetness found here. The perception of the sweetness definitely grows as the beer warms up and it tends to reduce the hop character as well.

This is perhaps a touch too sweet for my tastes, but it is a nice Helles Doppelbock that I am definitely enjoying. While certainly not the point, I can't help but feel that some more hop character would make this a touch more balanced and enjoyable; especially as this beer warms up it starts to get a bit too sweet.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2010 23:49:17 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep amber color, with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains honey, lager yeast, light caramelized malts, some fruit and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out bready from lager yeast and a hearty malt character. Then some strongly sweet flavors of honey, caramel and fruit follow. The hops presence is mild but complementary and brings some balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, light but good representation of style, this is a very solid beer worth drinking for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2011 03:30:04 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours amber with a finger of khaki colored head. Minimal head retention & lacing

S: Slight breadyness & pears

T: Some pear & breadyness, plus herbal hops up front. Pears & white grapes as this warms & just a hint of caramel as this warms, but mostly orchard fruit. Finishes fruitty with a touch honey malt &
pineapple

MF: Fairly chewy, low carbonation

A good bock that has a few flaws holding it back, but I drink this if offered it, wouldn't buy it again though

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 01:14:53 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Purchased a six-pack on the last trip to WI, and now it's available a few weeks later in Chicagoland...new label from the one pictured.

Pours a deep golden orange into a Duvel tulip. Very nice coloration, it reminds me of fossilized amber. Head retention is good, a little swirl generates a 1/4" foam boost.

Initial aroma of banana candy, which faded into sweet malts, hay, and mild spiciness. It has a buttery caramel feel on the palate, ample carbonation, with the bigger body of a doppel. Sweet and smooth, there are no sharp edges, it just bellydances down the gullet. Malty and sweet, Werther's Original candy, with a vague cookie dough flavor.

It's very agreeable, and seems to be a good introductory German-style beer in general.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2008 00:56:17 | More by emerge077

jwc215

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Brewed in 2009, with nothing more specific (ordered from Liquid Solutions).

Pours golden with a thin creamy white head that descends to a lasting thin cover and leaves lacing.

The smell is of sweet grain/pale maltiness, with grassy/herbal hop aroma.

The taste is sweet - grainy, a bit nutty (almond) with underlying fruitiness (lime-ish) and a touch of grassy/floral notes. Boozy alcohol warmth shows, but controlled.

Hits full-bodied, a bit syrupy, yet creamy. It has mild-to-medium carbonation. Spicy alcohol and a balanced sweetness linger on the palate.

A nice malty (but with balance - sweet - but not cloying) warming sipper. Hits a blonde/Helles doppelbock interpretation well!

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2010 01:11:13 | More by jwc215

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Little to no lace--Starts with a small head but recedes to a single layer of fine bubbles. Bright copper color and very clear.

Strong molasses/brown sugar aroma.

The smell comes through in the taste. Rich body with a relatively low carbonation level. Nearly no hop--on the sweet side (even for the style). Not crisp--round, like an ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 00:14:20 | More by smcolw

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

(Served in a weizen glass)
A- The light copper body is clear with a sea of carbonation supporting a bubbly off-white head that last for a bit.
S- The sweet malt flavor blends with a buttery diacetyl aroma and a dry cracker finish.
T- The sweet almost cloying flavor of malt gives way to a dry buttery note and a carbonic acid bite in the finish. There is really no hops noticed in the taste or bitterness.
M- This beer has a medium-full mouthfeel with no alcohol heat but a soft fizz in the finish.
D- This beer is really too sweet with nothing to support it and no depth to the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2010 02:54:17 | More by rhoadsrage

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to hopdog for this...
Appears a light gold with spotty lacing.
Smell is of sweet, canned tropical fruit.
Taste is malty, with grapes, citrus, grainy, odd clay-like taste.
Mouthfeel is sweet, hitting mostly in the middle of the tongue.
Drinkability is ok. I wouldn't bother with it again though. I think I just prefer doppelbocks on the dark side.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2005 21:59:42 | More by weeare138

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a re-rate. I didn't do it justice last year.

Clear copper appearance. Little head surprisingly, but a nice collar and good lacing. Deep bavarian malt aroma. Excellent. The nose is sweet as well as malty. Luscious taste. Deep malt. Some toasted notes. Just the slightest hint of alcohol. Bready and yeasty. And a little grainy as well. It's very nice. The body is full and gratifying. Carbonation seems to be in check, but nonetheless, fitting. This is a Blonde Doppel to be reckoned with.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2003 20:55:49 | More by Bighuge

HopHead84

California

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to eyncognito. The beer appears transparent orange in my pint glass. The head is beige and one finger high.

The aroma is of light toasted malt with some caramel. Light fruit notes are evident and a hint of spiciness which I assume is from the hops. No alcohol is present in the nose.

The malt is rich, with toasted malt and toffee notes. The malt borders on bready. Bitterness is at a moderately low level. The hops are slightly spicy but impart virtually no flavor, and the alcohol is apparent in the semi-sweet finish.

Medium bodied with medium carbonation. The mouthfeel is smooth.

I've never had a blonde doppelbock before this, and I wasn't expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised by this subtle beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2009 07:58:58 | More by HopHead84

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Golden-bronze, off-white head, very little retention, some leg/lace.

S: Grassy, spicy & slightly floral/herbal German hops, with a light toffee, candied sugar & bready aroma.

T: Grassy, spicy & earthy-metallic hops, caramel & bread. Residual sweetness is balanced by a decent bitterness. Alcohol is readily apparant.

M: Moderate to full body is slightly syrupy (a little too much residual sugar), carbonation is moderate.

D: It's a big, warming brew.

I'm not quite sure what style I should be comparing this to. I wish I picked up their Maibock (I figured I'd try it on tap, but didn't get around to it).

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2007 00:43:36 | More by Derek

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Sampled full bottle at the Capital Brewing Seminar for distributors and establishments in Brooklyn Center. Thanks to AL for the invite.

Color is a deep golden orangy/amber with a head of short fluffy loose whiteness, lace sticks in strings. Smell is a lightened but darker orange and a terrific caramel sweetness in the nose. Rich and creamy taste, a bit of chewyness with good amount of caramel malts and a pretty moderate amount of dulled bitterness that has a great little hold of solid tang from hops. Excellently balanced. Great malt body, quite hefty with a bready thickness. Feel is a partially full bodied, creamy, chewy, nearly cloying, crisp full finish. Extremely drinkable, yummy, delicious, rich and creamy delightful wonderment. Capital has a winner with this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2003 13:44:49 | More by tavernjef

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.43/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz delivered all the way from Chicago by way of Archer Liquors, Thanks Randy, I've been wanting to try this one for a looong time. Poured into my small weizen glass.

Big initial head that goes away a little too fast (alcohol?)... no real lacing but a good color remains from a pretty good carbonation level... liquid looks like sparkling apple cider...but only crystal clear.

Smell is malts... lite caramel and more sweet malts... maybe a little one dimentional... no real hop nose to speak of... could use a smack or two of noble hops.

Flavor is more of the same with a little lite fruitiness... not quite as clean as other Capital brews I've had. Big malts through and through... munich and toasted malts... complex malts but needs more bitterness to be balanced.... even a touch of hop spicey hop flavor would be appreciated. viscosity is no where near as thick as expected for a dopplebock.... I would quantify this one as a big boned maibock.

Pretty good, and a fantastic transitional beer for a macro drinker... needs more depth though for my palate, and I love a good lager...especially American made ones.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2007 08:14:55 | More by JohnGalt1

RoyalT

Ohio

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance – This is a bright but thick orange in color with a moderate head that settled into a foamy white residue on top of the liquid.

Smell – The malts here are very simple. They are lightly grainy with a hint of toast and actually have a sense of alcohol.

Taste – Wow! What a difference between smell and taste. This DB is much bigger on the tongue. The alcohol, like maybe vodka or something else benign, is big for the modest ABV. It’s much more sugary at the taste as well, like granulated white table sugar.

Mouthfeel – This is medium-bodied with a warming sense of alcohol and a super-sweet finish.

Drinkability – This is a fairly stiff DB because of the boozy flavor but it streaks down the throat with ease so watch out!

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2006 02:11:47 | More by RoyalT

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Isn't really a blonde hue, more of a killians with constant, thin bubbling. Aroma was that of a brown sugar, toasted malt. Lots of toaty sweet malts give some bready and brown sugar notes all over the palate. Plenty of sweet yet adjunct noes to be a "buy again" dopplebock.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2006 00:22:17 | More by scruffwhor

TheLongBeachBum

California

3.43/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Presentation: An oval label with a blue background containing a picture of a domed building sits a front a 12 fluid ounce long neck brown bottle. A similar, but smaller scale neck label complete with the usual health warning bollocks that no-one ever reads, completes the presentation.

Appearance: Poured with a minimal carbonation, a small ¼” off-white head formed at first, but quickly faded to a broken covering, some lacing. The color threw me for a short while, Blonde?? I think not! It’s more of a Copper-Amber color with an orange glow from the Californian Sun that sits behind the glass when placed on my desk nearby the window.

Nose: Aroma’s are above average in strength and are heavily Malt based, with some spicy-zest aspects. That’s about it really – yep, Malts, and plenty of ‘em.

Taste: Mmmm, more ‘Big-Ass’ Malts, slightly spicy with a definitive alcohol presence and a zesty spiciness. Crisp though, the flavors are strong and confident enough to be slightly one-dimensional in the overall context of this beer. Whilst not a favorite of mine, the lingering malt flavor profile in the finish is very nice and attests to the beers quality.

Mouthfeel: Above average feel to this beer. Smooth feeling at times, that is ever so slightly warming in the mouth; after swallowing the warmth builds.

Drinkability: Not sure this is my Cup of Tea to be honest, it’s a reasonably good beer with no down side, and I enjoyed it, but it is just not to my taste really. I found it a little too 'one-dimensional' with too much malt for it to appeal to an aging lambic & hophead fan. One 12oz bottle, or maybe even two at a stretch, is enough for me. I am sure that this is one of those good quality beers that nonetheless polarize views and opinions.

Overall: Not much experience of Blonde (?!) Dopplebocks if the truth is known. So as to where it fits in the style profile, who knows? Who cares! It is obviously a very well made beer, nevertheless.

Thanks to BigHuge for setting me up on a Date with this “dirty” Blonde!

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2003 00:45:08 | More by TheLongBeachBum

ZAP

Minnesota

4.6/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours an auburn color..very clear and clean looking...nice bubbly soft white head on top....aroma is incredible..vanilla...caramel....outstanding

A very creamy tasty blond doppel. Great malt load !!! Very rich, and malty with an unobstrusive hop load that balances, but isn't noticable except on the long finish....The hops they used are perfect for this beer as they balance while also adding to the overall malt experience in their own way.

For the style you cannot do much better...

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2003 23:56:08 | More by ZAP