Imperial Doppelbock - Capital Brewery

jj21

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark- almost black with a thick head. Aromas of caramel with loads of malt. A bit of alcoholic warmth but not overpowering in the least. The loads of candy sugar don't drive the sweetness too much. Very easy to drink for being so high in alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2008 17:25:45 | More by jj21

ChopsMeister

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +2%

02-23-2013 20:59:37 | More by ChopsMeister

imperialking

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

11-13-2012 19:08:49 | More by imperialking

cfh64

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

10-13-2012 23:08:55 | More by cfh64

Duff27

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2%

09-05-2012 01:25:03 | More by Duff27

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle, the dopplebock was a brown color with variations in hue. Any head, did not last long as should be the case with the style. The dopplebock gave a sweet malty aroma, just a hint less sweet than a children's breakfast cereal. The initial impression was quite smooth, showing notes of toffee, malt, and a hint of milk chocolate. Also present was a hint of smoke which gives the beer an overall nice twang. In the aftertaste, the smokey notes continue in conjunction with the malts that were detected in the original taste. By this point, the toffee and chocolate have largely faded. The thickness allows this beer to linger nicely in the back of the throat. This is a very good beer for the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 13:40:25 | More by JohnnyHopps

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottled 17 December 2009. Wow, that's a long time ago. But I believe it was the last time they bottled it, and a brewery rep was recently pouring samples at my local shop (which is when I bought this one).

Pours chocolate brown with amber highlights. It absorbs all light, but at the narrow edges it's crystal clear. Half a finger of head, gone in a flash, but nice spotty lacing.

Smell: this is a serious fruity malt bomb. I get barrels and barrels of plums. In fact, that's about all I get.

Taste is similar. Loads of dark stone fruit, some bready flavors. Alcohol comes on at the end, bringing astringency and bitterness. A little oxidation, but that's to be expected.

Heavy-bodied and chewy, but pretty darn flat. Alcohol dries up the finish.

Not the best of Capital's doppelbocks, IMO. A bit one-dimensional, with really strong fruity malts, but not much beyond that. Hope they brew another batch so I can try it fresh.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 03:02:18 | More by zeledonia

seeswo

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -17.1%

03-11-2012 23:15:19 | More by seeswo

xipho

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -36.2%

01-15-2012 03:49:59 | More by xipho

Grebdioz

Texas

4/5  rDev +2%

12-28-2011 08:06:35 | More by Grebdioz

tbeq00

California

4/5  rDev +2%

12-12-2011 20:45:14 | More by tbeq00

bondebonde

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +2%

12-04-2011 03:06:02 | More by bondebonde

barnzy78

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

11-25-2011 04:13:27 | More by barnzy78

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in a stein.

A- Dark brown yet somewhat transparent. 1 finger light tan head with no lacing.

S- Sweet caramel malts, roasted malt, vanilla.

T- Sweet candi sugar very apparent. Roasted & chocolate malts. Slight vanilla taste. Almost has barrel aged characteristics to it.

M- Medium body from the alcohol, but a little thin. Some creaminess as you swoosh it in your mouth.

O- Not the biggest of dopplebock fans but this is a pretty tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 00:41:43 | More by kawilliams81

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a modest 1.5cm head that is light tan in color. Fairly dense bubbles, creating a creamy-looking head that fades within seconds to a thin ring around the glass and some smoky residual bubbles in the middle of the glass. Body is very dark amber color and barely transparent. Lacing is very little, mostly spots that sluggishly slide down the side of the glass.

Fairly huge sweetness profile in the nose, mostly of malt density and breadiness mixed with compote of prunes and raisins. Despite the 9% ABV, no detectable alcohol.

Taste follows the scent profile: Super-heavy malt sweetness, like syrup-drenched thick German bread, mixed with syrupy raisins and prunes, and further complicated by alcohol residues. A bit of detectable ethanol is in the back of the tongue as well. Aftertaste of residual molasses-like malt sugars.

Mouthfeel is expectedly chewy, thick, and heavy. Carbonation is fairly light, making this easy on the palate and allowing you to savor it more slowly. Finish is dry, but sticky, in a mostly good way.

It's funny: I like Capital Brewery, and this is an excellent doppelbock, but this so-called "imperial" version smells and tastes almost similarly to a normal German doppelbock, only with a higher ABV. Still, very drinkable, would be glad to have more of, and something to always keep an eye out for.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 23:02:48 | More by falloutsnow

BeerLover99

New Jersey

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

A - deep amber body, trace tan head, ringed lacing

S: big malt, caramel, ripe fruits (figs), hint of toffee, perhaps
light spiciness.

T: sweet dark fruit, toffee, toasted big malt breadiness.

M: Med/slight heavy body, firm carbonation, light chewy

D - DELICIOUS! Capital = good bocks. This is very
good, not world class. Sip this local loveliness. I would
most definitely get this again. Only can have 1-2 at
a sitting, but big body and sweet flavors might be too
much for some new to bocks.

DELICIOUS, WORTH GETTING!

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 15:49:26 | More by BeerLover99

bsp77

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Mug.

Appearance: Dark, murky reddish-brown with very thin head.

Smell: Molasses, soy sauce and dark fruits. Very sweet and quite strong until I finished the glass.

Taste: Loads of molasses, licorice and soy sauce. Some light roasted characteristics, cherry and plum. While sweet, it is not as sweet as the aroma. Some very light noble hops on the finish help to balance at the finish.

Feel: Moderately low carbonation with a full body. Not quite as chewy or chalky as some other Doppelbocks of this strength (which is good), likely sure to the addition of sugar to lighten the body. Warming and fairly clean.

Overall: Another strong Doppelbock from Capital, but not up to the level of Autumnal Fire, or Celebrator for that matter, which it seems to be a higher abv version of.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 22:37:05 | More by bsp77

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Dark amber with a thin tan head that fades to a ring of foam.

S - Caramel, toffee, dark fruits, fresh bread and candi sugar.

T - Caramel, toffee, licorice, toasted bread, dark fruits, molasses and candi sugar.

M - Medium to full with light carbonation and a light sting from the alcohol.

D - I really like the addition of the candi sugar in this. It adds a very nice complexity.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 02:21:39 | More by brewcrew76

TMoney2591

Illinois

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

Served in a tumbler.

I'm kinda digging these random singles at Binny's. You never know what you're gonna find. This particular find pours a dark garnet topped by a finger of ecru foam. The nose explodes with bread, both rye and pumpernickel (possibly some wheat bread as well), along with some dashes of caramel, toffee, and light cocoa. The taste follows pretty closely, though some dark fruits (figs, raisins, the like) make their presences known as well. The body is a solid medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a smooth, grainy feel. Overall, a solid d-bock, a very nice example of the style, though it somehow falls just short of exceptional (not very far at all, I should add).

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2011 23:49:03 | More by TMoney2591

deltatauhobbit

Maine

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

Big thanks to Gary for giving this bottle, knowing that Doppelbocks are some of my faves.

Pours a dark dark amber color, a vigorous pour presents a decent sized light tan head, fades at a fast rate, leaving some big bubbles on top but those eventually pop away, hardly any lacing on the glass.

Smell is mostly caramel malt with a light fruity sweetness in the nose.

Taste is primarily caramel malt, picking up the candied sugar that they added which adds a bit of complexity, not overly sweet like some Doppelbocks can be which is surprising considering the candied sugar, lightly creamy, seems a bit thin though but at least it isn't cloying, not picking up any heat or strength whatsoever.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 00:51:44 | More by deltatauhobbit

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.73/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz twist off.

It pours a dark brownish red with a foamy off-white head

The smell is clean and classic, some dark bread, caramel, and a subtle bit of alcoholic sweetness are all that is in there.

The flavor is a bit more bold and adventurous. There is a sharp bitterness not usually found in this style. Other than that is is a big, dark doppelbock with lots of dark fruit, dark bread, and caramel.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 04:11:12 | More by crossovert

arboristfish

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a deep amber color, almost reminds me of a blood color. The head is off white, almost tan looking. The aroma reminds me of black licorice, and caramel malts. The taste is balanced with carmel malts and hops. The mouthfeel is medium with a good carbonation. Overall for an imperial I consider this a very drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2010 02:28:04 | More by arboristfish

mariposafan

Wisconsin

3.4/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured with minimal head. The color is that of a dark, dark port wine. Some lacing but as with the head it's minimal.

It smells very sweet with a touch of malt but that's pretty much it. Maybe a little dried fruit in there but that may be my imagination.

The taste is completely at odds with the smell - it's not sweet. Some burnt sugar flavor and bitterness, but the bitterness never becomes excessive. The aftertaste is again that of a port wine, less the sweetness that you'd expect from port.

The mouthfeel is creamy and smooth. Really very nice.

It's not real high on the drinkability scale for me. The flavor is a bit one dimensional until the aftertaste kicks in and there isn't the richness that I'd hope for in a dopplebock.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2010 01:08:09 | More by mariposafan

alexgash

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle.

Never seen an "imperial" doppelbock (almost seems redundant). Anyway, this one pours out a dark maple syrup amber body. Small, wispy, light sandy brown head. Some lacing. Rich, malty nose with notes of toffee, raisins, caramel, rum, Concord grapes, and tobacco.

Starts off with some light woody, tannin notes, before the maltiness takes over. Rummy fruit mixes with toffee and caramel to show off some sweetness. Smoky notes throughout. Hints of tobacco and licorice. Faint herbal hop notes in the otherwise, sugary finish. Medium-full body with a slightly creamy feel. Another nice doppelbock from Capital (they sure can make doppelbocks!).

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2010 02:23:25 | More by alexgash

bashiba

Iowa

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured the deepest shade of clear red without being pitch black, deep garnet highlights when held up to the light with a thin off white head.

Big cedar and brown sugar doppel nose with toffee and caramel as well.

The flavor is smooth and mild with cedar, caramel, brown sugar, molasses, and dark fruit notes all coming through nicely. Very mild on the hops as I would expect but not overly sweet and very mild alcohol notes.

The mouthfeel is thick and creamy with a nice bit of warming.

Very drinkable big doppel, Capital continues to really nail this style.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2010 01:04:03 | More by bashiba