Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock - Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying

CwrwAmByth

United Kingdom (Wales)

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a goblet glass.

Pours a very dark red colour, going into black with a small but decent head.

Smells quite rich and dark, fruity almost like port.

Taste reflects the smell mostly, though its a bit darker, with a hint of yeast and a crisp, clean finish. Nice warming booze taste too.

Overall, quite a tasty beer. Far too drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 20:22:04 | More by CwrwAmByth

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a 1/2 inch off white head that then settles to a thin layer with good lacing. Colour is dark ruby red with a low visible carbonation.

S: Raisin, figs, dates (sort of like a good Christmas fruit cake), deep malt characters with a bit of booze.

T: Molasses, rum soaked raisins, malt, hint of bread and a very well balanced bitterness.

M: Low-med body, great carbonation that cleans up the palate. bitterness is well balanced with the malt.

O: This is a great dopplebock. The carbonation is great and would pear well with a fatty pate and/or cheese. Bitterness to malt is well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 01:56:36 | More by Kremlock

KarlosT

Massachusetts

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

This is a very good Double Bock

Comparing it side by side against Samuel Adams Double Bock. I prefer this one over the Sams. Sams flavors are overly sweet, with simple molasses flavors. The Celebrator is a much more complex beer, far less sweet, nicer balance of hops and malts

aroma:
dark brown. tan head.

smell:
sublte aromas. smells of burnt molasses.

Taste:
burnt molasses. for a doppelbock, nice balance between the malt and hops. Not too sweet. Couldn't really detect the type of hops used.

Mouthfeel:
nice effevescense (sp?)

Overall:
would definitely have this Double Bock again. Reminds me of a slightly less heavy imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 22:35:51 | More by KarlosT

CA_Infidel2o9

4.53/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz to a Tulip

A- near jet black mahogany, 1/4" quickly fading off white head

S- intense candied yams! Marshmallow, caramel, ginger, brown sugar, dark fruit, roasted, salty pistachios

T- follows the nose, but kind of watered down

M- low to medium body, average carbonation

O- sweet baby jesus this thing smeels glorious! Candied yams with all the toppings, roasted salty pistachios, and hints of dark fruit. The taste was much the same but sadlt was a bit watered down, mouthfeel was a little light as well. Could be an amazing session.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 20:06:19 | More by CA_Infidel2o9

spoony

Colorado

4.53/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

From an 11.2 oz bottle into a globe-type glass.

A-An agressive pour produced one finger of dark, tan head. The foam dropped pretty quickly into a thing ring. The beer is nearly opaque and black in color with only a glimmer of light getting through.

S-The smell is a complex mix of lightly sweet and boozy dark fruit (raisins, plums, and dates). The alcohol is a touch medicinal, and it integrates well with the fruity, lightly grainy smelling malts.

T-The taste is not quite a fruity as the smell. I get molasses, rum, tobacco, the aforementioned dark fruits, and just a touch of medicinal alcohol. The flavors are complex and long-lasting. There is just a touch of bitterness at the end.

M-The feel is medium bodied and surprisingly crisp for the style. This isn't to say there is a bunch of carbonation, because there isn't, but the beer is not heavy or syrupy, and the feel is perfectly matched for the flavors.

O-This is easily my favorite doppelbock. There is a great balance of fruit, booze, and earthy flavors here. All the flavors integrate well with each other and the beer is complex without ever getting gimmicky or unbalanced. The nearly perfect mouthfeel caps it all off.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 17:07:22 | More by spoony

dougbassett

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

One of the "1001 Beers You Must Try Before You Die" -- this is #8 of my reviews.

This is a world class doppelbock, maybe the best I've ever had in the style. It pours an incredibly dark mahogany-brown, maybe as close as you can get to black without it being quite black. (It does radiate a very solemn red in its center when you hold it up to the light.)

A very sweet nose: brown sugar, carmel, rum raisins and brandy. Flavor-wise I would venture something like "that combination indicated above dumped in a bowl of very good-quality Scottish Oatmeal, with maybe some blackstrap honey added on top as a garnish." Amazingly the mouthfeel is as silky-smooth as can be, even the grainy-mealy finish is delivered as more of an afterthought than a real kick.

I think this is one of the classic beers out there. I don't think I've ever had a doppelbock that's ever come close to getting as many things right as this one does.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 23:32:06 | More by dougbassett

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4.23/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Bottled served in a weizen glass. Had this a few times but finally trying it again to review it.

Pours deep dark brown with hints of garnet light on the edges of the glass, the 2 finger khaki head quickly forms and fades fast leaving a minimally sticky lacing and a thin layer of head remaining over the beer.

Aroma is subtle with smokey notes, savory meat, dark fruits, molasses, is inviting but not overly strong. The flavor too is subtle as the start with caramel sweetness on the tip of the tongue that evolves into a smoked meat and a smooth tobacco character flavor on the middle palate with dark fruits, dates, raisins, and sizable molasses and caramel notes. The finish is pretty bitter and the alcohol is quick present which was surprising to me considering the ABV is only 6.7%.

Mouthfeel is smooth, wet, with moderate body, and medium-low carbonation.

Celebrator is a high quality Doppelbock with a really cool but gimmicky advertising goat charm and great label. The beer matches the advertising and though I really enjoyed it, I would not seek this one out but would try it if ever offered.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 15:34:49 | More by williamjbauer

cousineddy

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Been trying to find this for a while, thank you friar tucks in champaign IL. for carrying it.

Appearence: pours an opaque chocolate color with two fingers of tan head that dissipates a little to quick.

Smell: chocolate, coffee, molasses, english pudding

Taste: very tasty, smooth chocolate mocha flavor, some roasted malt notes add to a subtle sweetness that would be a nice after dinner brew.

Mouthfeel: Not as thick as I expected, turns out this is very drinkable. More carbonation than expected as well.

Overall: Lives up to the billing, not sure if i will buy it again but it definately passes the test of a world class doppelbock.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 00:24:27 | More by cousineddy

Mavigo

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Been locking forward to trying the Celebrator for a while, the time is now. Served in a snifter.

A: Pours a deep, almost black, brown with red tinges to it, had a short caramel head, not much lacing.

S: Smells like dark fruit, roasted malts, burnt sugar, grainy, hints of chocolate and toffee.

T: Sweet, brown sugar, fruity, very complex, chocolate hints, roasted malts, bit of hops. Great flavor, it's delicious and well balanced.

M: It's got a bit of carbonation going, it's balanced a bit by the outstanding rich flavor, its fulfilling and refreshing, it's darn good.

O: Overall, I was expecting greatness, and my expectations were exceeded, a well balanced beer, it was expensive but it was worth it, one of the world's delicacies that should be enjoyed.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 02:08:56 | More by Mavigo

s1ckboy

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Cola colored body, a finger of off white head.

S - Fruity, bready, light amout of brown sugar and molasses.

T - Some dark fruits, lots of malt. Like the nose, bready, brown sugar, molasses. Clean finish.

M - Surprisingly very thin. Little carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 03:35:20 | More by s1ckboy

bambam2517

Arizona

4.55/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Old World Standard of the style, shapes the idea of beers to follow. Its high quality is evinced in every detail. The color is rich and carbonation is lingering, yet always delicate in the background. Oaky, bready fruity smell, very complex. I can't put a taste in terms, unique enough to be called its own. The mouthfeel is warming and so smooth, finish is absolutely perfect. No gimmicks here, just an expertly crafted beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 01:45:42 | More by bambam2517

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.58/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very dark brown colour, strong carbonation, with a compact head that leaves a good film and lacing.

Smell is full of dark malt, coffee, bitter chocolate. Roast coffee blending with some fruitier undertones, plumy. Remarkably rich.

Taste starts with a fruity kick with tangy malt. A strong roast character follows. Strong maltiness throughout with a creamy feel. Just exudes rich character, with a plumy, coffee, chocolate undercurrent. There is quite a bit of sweetness initially. Complexity is great, this beer just glides on the palate. Malts are nicely tempered with a bit of hop bitterness at the end. Finish is crisp, malty with a good roasty length.

Mouthfeel is quite full bodied, appropriate carbonation. Gives a nice bit of refreshing crispness while the strong finish lends a strong satisfaction. This remains remarkably drinkable and pleasing on the palate.

This is rich and delicious from start to finish. Plenty of rich malt carried through by a delicious fruitiness and roast bitterness. Highly recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 19:01:10 | More by mick303

nofalltoofar

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Dark dark brown with an off-white head. The head faded in about 5 minutes. It looks like a perfect glass of onyx.

S: Sweet and dark with caramel and slight musk of coffee

T: Savory and dark, aftertaste is middle-of-palette and crisp. Notes of cinnamon, caramel, honey. Strong grain presence

M: Smooth, good carbonation level without being excessive. Not as thick as stout, but good consistency so it doesn't go down like water.

This beer was a profound experience. I was at a Brazilian steakhouse on somebody else's check. I ordered a Doppelbock of some other brand I didn't recall. They told me they had run out of that and that this was the only other doppelbock they had. I said thanks and they poured. I have never been a benefactor of such beautiful and just coincidence in my life. It's like meeting your future wife in a car accident. It's like finding a gold deposit in your basement after a meteor caves in your house. This beer changed the way I thought about life. I'm not exaggerating. I do not know how else to put it.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 02:57:25 | More by nofalltoofar

rangerred

Tennessee

3.85/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

330ml bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a nearly opaque dark brown with a half finger tan head that fades rather quickly leaving just a tiny bit of foam on top. No lacing.

Aroma is full of malt. Lots of caramel, toffee, and burnt sugar along with an almost soy sauce like character but it is not off-putting. A touch of chocolate as well.

The flavor is very heavy on the burnt sugar/caramel but it doesn't become astringent. This leads to some milk chocolate and a touch of coffee and toast. A little hop bitterness towards the finish but it is far in the background. Malt dominates. Mouthfeel is full and sticky/sweet but stays just below being cloying.

Overall, one of the best Doppelbocks out there. This is probably one of my least favorite styles but I can appreciate it for what it is; a nice, malty, cold weather beer and this one really packs in tons of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 02:00:55 | More by rangerred

tarheels86

California

3.58/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

355mL. Pours a deep deep ruby with lower carbonation and a small, dark tan, lingering head. Aroma is black cherries, coffee, minerals, coffee. Taste is less fruity, almost like a smoked beer with tobacco, chocolate, savory meat, cinnamon. Nice mix of roasted coffee and mild, sweet barbeque. Raisins, brown sugar, black cherry soda and caramel come through. Overall very drinkable, lighter palate, neutral aftertaste. Fairly decent, but again this is one of the few decent doppelbocks to be distributed stateside. Like almost all German beers, they don't hold up well in the bottle. Need to find this on tap or stick with local dunkels in Germany. Or better yet, pilsners/lagers.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 21:48:15 | More by tarheels86

RichardMNixon

Delaware

4.23/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First time I'm rereviewing a beer, with a bit more experience and I think a better or fresher bottle of it.

It pours a dark ruby-root beer colored body with a finger and a half of persistent off-white head. The smell, while pleasant, is faint and is the beer's major weakness. The mouthfeel was chewy and perfectly carbonated at first. As the beer warmed, the caramel scent grew stronger, improving the aroma, but the mouthfeel weakened, becoming more watery and one-dimensional. If there's some perfect temperature sweet-spot where the two trends lined up it would be marvelous.
The taste is certainly the selling point. Leads off with a burst of caramel that drops off slowly leading up to an aftertaste of chocolate and toffee. These guys know their malts.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 16:00:37 | More by RichardMNixon

Dope

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a dark mahogany. Huge light brown head. Fades very slowly, however only leaves fluffy tufts of lacing behind here and there.

S: Loads of dark fruits. Raisin, grapes, cherry, plums and fig. Very earthy with some hints of cocoa and caramel.

T: As mentioned above, dark fruit overload. There's cherries, raisin, figs, prunes and grapes. Lots of them. Very earthy in the middle. Hints of cocoa on the back end with more hints of dark fruit, slightly drying.

M: Medium bodied, a bit drying.

O: A well-attenuated example of the style. Lots are very sweet, this is actually surprisingly dry. The earthiness and dark fruits really shine here. Excellent beer, surprising complexity in only 6.7%.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 04:56:23 | More by Dope

Ford

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

If you like Doppelbock's, this one is outstanding.

Had it at the Flying Saucer Beerfeast in Sugar Land, Texas.

All the typical DPB flavors. Really was great. Had to go back for more on this one at the festival.

I wish I could have tried it side by side with Real Ale's 16th anniversary Dopplebock. Would love to compare them head to head.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 22:10:44 | More by Ford

RussBecker1

4.65/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Whew! This is one helluva beer. This doppelbock has a malt profile unlike anything I have ever tasted. One of the most complexly balanced flavors I have ever had the pleasure of tasting and without question the best doppelbock I have gotten my hands on. The profile begins with a smooth hit of tangy molasses, but directly before that flavor gets to be too much, the profile shifts to a great hit of hop bitterness and a twinge of alcohol. In addition I got a bit of what I think may be coriander, and it was all wrapped up beautifully with a harsh smoke note and a beautiful caramel coffee finish. It is not often I find doppelbock, but when I do I snatch up every bottle I can get my hands on.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 15:38:04 | More by RussBecker1

brystmar

New York

3.93/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Plastic goat hangs around the neck of the bottle. Brown body, tan head, not the best retention. Toasty malts, bready aroma. Smells slightly sweet, not pungent enough.

Toasty, sweet malts; deliciously creamy body; finishes dry. An enjoyable beer that's quite good for the style, but definitely doesn't deserve a spot in the Top 100.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 23:44:33 | More by brystmar

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Celebrator opens with a rich, malty, yeasty nose, liquid breads and bread dough spilling forth in waves of marble rye, French baguette, honey wheat, and thick brown bread, all topped with a gooey thread of molasses and wildflower honey. Add to this a good measure of brown sugar, vanilla, caramel, toffee, and lighter touches of coffee and cream, as well as a good range of fruit esters, including raisin, fig, black cherry, orange liqueur, date, and prune. The aromas aren’t necessarily powerful—perhaps a seven in terms of sheer strength—but they are exquisitely nuanced, balanced, and developed, resulting in a nose that only lightly taps your chin, but still somehow knocks you to the floor.

On the tongue, the beer opens with a wave of bread dough and toast crust that carries mainly dark wheat and grain flavors, but these are soon joined by a rush of molasses and brown sugar, and following just behind, caramel, toffee, and creamed coffee, as well as darker fruit esters (fig, prune, date, black cherry). In subsequent sips the molasses, date, fig, prune, and black cherry notes come out more clearly, kept earthbound by marble rye bread, spent grains, and touches of pepper. Late in the mouthful a cola, or perhaps kola nut-like flavor emerges, and this carries into the aftertaste, along with a surprising amount of sugars and breads, which linger on the tongue for a very long time in syrupy goodness. Mouthfeel is a slick, syrupy medium, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is one of the finer Doppelbocks on the market, and while it’s not one of the strongest, it is one of the more balanced, flavorful, and all-around fantastic examples available. Too many beers sacrifice the beauty of nuance and tempering for beat-you-over-the-head hoppiness/sugars/alcohol/etc., and it’s very nice to see a beer that’s obviously been made by someone who knows the supreme strengths of subtlety and crafty understatement.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 19:05:15 | More by jondeelee

Jparker37

Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a

A - Dark brown with good clarity. Small cap of dark caramel head holds a small cap. No lacing.

S - Smooth light chocolate malt alongside a dark nutty quality. Raisin, red fruit character. I get some sweetness inside.

T - Velvety smooth malt. Rich/dark caramel tones, with bitterless dark malts. Warms up slightly near the end joining forces with some balancing hop bitterness. Finishes clean.

M - Light side of full bodied, medium-light carbonation. Semi-sweet.

O - Rich smell to this beer followed by an even richer flavor. Very clean lager. Alcohol is relaxed enough to let other flavors shine. A little lighter than expected. Sweetness was minimal.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 01:56:37 | More by Jparker37

cosmicevan

New York

4.83/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

picked up locally. enjoyed from a bell's tulip.

a - brew poured a deep purple that settled as black in the glass with a small creamy almost belgian looking head. lacing was spotty and slippery and hardly held onto the glass at all.

s - YUM. dark fruit, nutmeg, figs, raisins. roasted and toasted malts. smells perfect to style.

t - FANTASTIC doppelbock. grapejuice, nuts, some brown sugar. some faint hints of cocoa.

m - awesome creamy feel with great carbonation.

o - overall, one of the best, if not the best doppelbock i've ever had. i love this style and am kicking myself for not trying this one sooner. i am blown away and in love with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 01:01:20 | More by cosmicevan

GMB

Japan

4.15/5  rDev -5%
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

pkalix

California

4.65/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

i got a very dark (ruby around the edges) pour from this, with very little head on top.
the smell is of a very toasted, malted elixir, very reminiscent of an age long passed. i'm happy this stuff still exists, though.
the taste is sweet and dark and i absolutely love this stuff! i love the sweetly malted taste and the beautiful smell i get when i put it to my mouth.
i like the round feeling of carbonation with the thickness of the taste.
overall, although i have had a couple of these within the last year, i realized i hadnt reviewed one yet and i'm at a loss to explain the difference of the recent tastings versus the tastings of 20 years ago. this is certainly one of the best beers i have had in the last couple of years and the fact it comes from Ayinger doesnt surprise me.
20 years ago, the little goat hung from the neck of the bottle in a thicker, red and white intertwined rope; today's offering is a pathetic little red string i could floss my crowns with. yes, it was noticed. i still have several of these GOATS hanging from my DER BARON's mug from yesteryear and this pathetic little note confirms the cheapness the old empires have sunk to. and 20 years ago, though, i didnt like this beer much . . . . i'd love to find this stuff on tap...

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 02:33:38 | More by pkalix