Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock - Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying

GMB

Japan

4.15/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock pours a black body that turns deep crimson red when held against a strong light source. A moderate pour and some vigorous swirling fail to produce any head to speak of.

The beer's nose is very nice: Roasted malts suggest molasses and chocolate; the yeast and alcohol contribute the smell of raisins and prunes. There is a faint tinny aroma at first, but it seems to disappear after the initial sniffs.

The taste follows the nose, but is much richer: chocolate and molasses. The taste of alcohol is nicely balanced; present but not intrusive. As the beer warms, the flavor of dark raisins moves to the fore and mingles with the buttery yeast-derived flavors. Imagine butter-braised raisins and prunes, molasses, and bittersweet chocolate.

The beer's body is full and rich, as one expects from doppelbocks. There is perhaps too little carbonation. Creamy froth would augment the appeal of these flavors.

The nice balance of alcohol-derived and roasted-malt flavors that one finds in Ayinger's Celebrator places it among the best representatives of the Duppelbock style. This is a delicious beer, and I'd gladly drink a more. Still, I hold out hope that one day I'll run across a rendition of this style that delivers at every level. This one didn't.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 23:28:32 | More by GMB

WallE89

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-18-2013 03:22:48 | More by WallE89

-ronin-

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -14%

06-17-2013 02:19:38 | More by -ronin-

ahickerson

California

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

06-16-2013 13:52:50 | More by ahickerson

Sparty55

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-16-2013 03:16:18 | More by Sparty55

Azpittil57

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-15-2013 23:22:58 | More by Azpittil57

ZEB89

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

06-15-2013 23:09:54 | More by ZEB89

bf7

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-15-2013 05:05:45 | More by bf7

moistnugget

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-15-2013 04:52:58 | More by moistnugget

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

3/5  rDev -31.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Dark Chestnut with small head that dissipates quickly

Aroma: Malty, roasted grain, coffee

Taste: Malty, fruity, with bitter finish; decent, but not as good as Paulanor Salvator or Andechs Doppelbock

Remarks: Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 02:11:15 | More by IchLiebeBier

NormLobstah

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

06-15-2013 00:24:09 | More by NormLobstah

meich75

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -19.7%

06-15-2013 00:07:41 | More by meich75

kyle86

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

06-14-2013 20:41:37 | More by kyle86

andylipp

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-14-2013 00:04:07 | More by andylipp

birdsellam

Indiana

4/5  rDev -8.3%

06-13-2013 21:47:10 | More by birdsellam

LostInTheFlood

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -8.3%

06-13-2013 20:35:21 | More by LostInTheFlood

Joe1019

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -19.7%

06-13-2013 18:12:51 | More by Joe1019

ComRock12

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-13-2013 12:43:39 | More by ComRock12

cgentzkow

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-13-2013 02:10:40 | More by cgentzkow

slim2043

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-12-2013 18:05:18 | More by slim2043

Brew33

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -14%

06-12-2013 16:30:33 | More by Brew33

JSchock7

Kansas

4/5  rDev -8.3%

06-12-2013 06:48:07 | More by JSchock7

CuddleZombie6

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-11-2013 16:30:13 | More by CuddleZombie6

Hopbully

Virginia

4/5  rDev -8.3%

06-11-2013 05:21:57 | More by Hopbully

kevrice88

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -42.7%

06-11-2013 00:21:15 | More by kevrice88