Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock - Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying

jbonapar

Ontario (Canada)

4.93/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Wow... I mean.. this is a beer! I love dark malty beers. I love beers with a balance of sweet, bitter, roasted and rich. THIS IS THAT BEER. Amazing.

Pours a dark almost black with a reasonable head. Lacing all around.

Smell: Malt. Malt and More malt. But...with a dark chocolate zing.

Taste: Starts almost tangy while quickly progressing into a dark and rich chocolatey sweet malt with a hint of dark dried fruits, just a hint. Molasses and rye bread. Pure bliss. As the flavor develops, you sense the bitterness which eventually fades into a roasted malt finish. Just fantastic. I am shocked how good this beer is.

If you really want a meal in a glass, find one of these!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 00:18:52 | More by jbonapar

BerkeleyBeerMan

California

4.93/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Beer soup. A monk's dinner. One of the world's greatest doppelbock's and more. Let's review the beer that pours from the beautiful bottle, celebrator.

The beer pours a very dark brown with hints of dark red. This is so beautiful to admire. I think a rare dark brown is a hard quality to achieve. The tan head is frothy, like rich espresso the oils slowly erode the head. what remains is some light lacing that are like fingers dragging me into this holy elixir.

The aroma's remain strong in this bottle. I have no idea how long this has been on the shelves but it smells like it was just cooked up in a cloistered abby by a jolly red faced monk. I imagine the bald friar's nostrils flaring at the smell of caramel, candied sugar. The sugars resound in a symphony of chocolate, dried fruit, apricots. Is it Christmas in August?

This beer taste like it was cooked by a fireside, chestnuts, spices. The nutty dark roasted malts become a nice banana bread flavor in my mouth. The subtle hints of sourness and bitterness lend a punch to the beer. The beer finishes with a mild cocoa flavor. This is terrific.

The mouthfeel is really good. It taste like beer soup oils and malts fill my stomach and a light alcohol presence warms my head.

I love this beer. I am glad it is so widely available. This is the go to doppelbock. It's also a beer to reflect on. To slowly savour and appreciate the miracle of life and beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 05:07:51 | More by BerkeleyBeerMan

beergoot

Colorado

4.93/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This doppelbock has it all. Rich, dark color; fat, dark fig and date and currant aroma with all the associated dark malt goodness in the smell and taste; additional tastiness in the bittering and excellent mouthfeel qualities. I doubt I can expand on any other rave review of this beer. So I'll just leave it at one needs to try this beer at least once in their life. It's that good!

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 23:49:17 | More by beergoot

Hobbz

Rhode Island

4.95/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Beer exultation. Well, I just finished my beer card at a local institution and what beer by design did I have to save for last? Poured 1/2 bottle with some gusto into a glass to start. Head produced itself with noticeable white-brown foam with rather large bubbles in the mix. Head does not linger long in this guise. Coyly dark, almost blackish color - but held up to a strong light, a most alluring reddish hue becomes evident. Nose is also toying with me! I want so badly to taste... Hints of its alcohol level and sweet maltiness predominate the aroma, with almost a fruity, "raisiny" character. An absolute knock-out taste. What I particularly found was how intriguing its character remained with each and every sip! People here who wrote of its "complexity" are dead-on. Discerning the range of subtle flavors with its perfect balance was not an ephemeral experience, especially considering that alcohol at this level can overpower. Very exceptional & true to -- and a paragon of -- its brewing style. Like dancing with goats!

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2003 20:07:14 | More by Hobbz

lackenhauser

Maryland

4.95/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is one of my all time favorites.Pours a muddy red color with little head and carbonation.The aroma screams malt with a hint of alchohol.The aroma is backed up by the taste of malt with just a slight bitterness and warming.Makes my mouth happy-I could drink this one all night.I thought it was a lot higher in alchohol then it says so its nice to have one on the lighter side that still smells and tastes like a much "bigger" beer.And the goat around the neck is a nice,classic touch.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2003 16:03:47 | More by lackenhauser

Rastacouere

Quebec (Canada)

4.95/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

In a Fin Du Monde tulip. It's very dark brown with a huge frothy tan head, slowly, but steadily diminishing though. Aroma is not as intense as I thought, but definitely complex and appealing with its chocolate and numerous fruits notes. Now that's malty. This beer is as complex as any other beer. Period. Rich roasty black chocolate, some caramel, lots of plum esters, blue grapes, cherries, pecans, coffee, yum yum, butter notes as well as robust earthiness every couple of sips (sometimes, the malt reminded me of Rogue Hazelnut Brown nectar). The palate is as good as it gets, thick, full, round, velvety. Long aftertaste once it warmed a bit that varies from a sip to the other, once it will be the dark chocolate, the other time it will be the roastiness and next time you'll remember those juicy plums, subtly bitter at times. In my eyes, it's fully worthy of these high ratings. That's precisely the type of beers I adore, a big malty phenomenon with a body to back it up. Only critic I'd adress it is the palate fatigue (or I just want the moment to last forever) I get after just one bottle, maybe the sweetness is too much although I never found it stickingly cloying, I wouldn't have two in a row, hell I'd never deserve two i a row! Glad I've got another one of this rare treat. Thanks to both Erics!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2003 23:27:41 | More by Rastacouere

Rootdog316

Virginia

4.95/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The aroma is strong, sweet with notes of prunes, brown sugar, citrus, coffee, malt, and bitter chocolate. The color is deep red-brown and it has a beutiful lasting light brown head. The flavor is sweet malty with very strong roasted notes; coffee, roasted bread, combined with caramel, alcohol, citrus, and more - great complexity. The alcohol runs prickling over the tongue and gives it a good palate.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2008 01:03:56 | More by Rootdog316

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.95/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: As black as tar with extremely dark brown tones. Half an inch of creamy looking head.

S: The malt is what really stands out.

T: Malty and semi-sweet. World class taste.

M: Thick and full bodied. Medium to low carbonation. Very pleasant aftertaste.

O: Hands down one of the best beers in the world. So incredibly well rounded and unique, any time I have the chance to have one I take it.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2011 02:10:50 | More by DaftCaskBC

Rob315

Kentucky

4.95/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a bottle into a tulip

Look: Pours a deep dark umber / almost black color with a two finger butterscotch colored head that leaves lacing all all over the glass.

Smell: Dark fruits, caramel, brown sugar, molasses, sweet maltiness, bready notes.

Taste: Wonderful. Brown sugar with caramel notes, followed by dark fruits and candied sugar. Extremely creamy and chewy, leaves a slight bitterness in the after taste, that fades into sweet again.

Overall: Amazing. Incredibly complex, honestly had trouble finding words to describe some of the nuances. One of my all time favorites, perfect.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 00:26:53 | More by Rob315

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Saw the reviews so I had to try this. WOW!!!!. It cost me $2.20 a bottle, so I only got One to try. The Label itself is enough to justify the purchase. Poured with a huge browny-fluffy head full of large bubbles. Took a second or two to settle down, but kepts its head to the end. Huge nose, superb malty aromas that reminded me of the air outside when the local Brewery back in England were brewing their Stout. Caramel, small hint of dark chocolate, with soft smooth rounded malty flavors that are very morish. Very dark brown colour with some lucidity. Really full-bodied, with almost a rich toffee, syrupy aftertaste that lasts. This is a very good dark beer, with a deserved reputation. I am getting a 6-pack next time, blow the cost !.
AWESOME !!!!

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2002 21:39:29 | More by TheLongBeachBum

Kwak

New Jersey

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Celebrator Doppelbock
The mocha head had a toffieish malt flavor, it came on strong and stayed their for a
while.
Nice strong body a little oily and almost thick with a bite of spices and an almost warming effect.
The aftertaste was verry dry with a big malty taste

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2002 17:33:25 | More by Kwak

Sixpack595

Michigan

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is what a Doppel should be. Beutifull red-black color with a solid tan head. Nice malt flavor with slight hops, and a hint of fruitiness. Thick beer, leaves a syrupy mouthfeel, and combined with a fair alcohol content reassures you that you made a wise choice. Good, but not great head retention and nice lacing. Runs almost $20 a sixer here, but is worth every penny. Also saved me the hassel of buying Christmas orniments...just emptied out my mason jar full of goats. Good times.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2003 12:08:17 | More by Sixpack595

waughbrew

Massachusetts

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Fabulous. Deep chestnut with a small creamy beige head. It is a nice combo of roastiness, smokiness, and nuttiness with low carbonation and nice lagery characteristics. Ultra-smooth yet complex. Very drinkable. Not really like any other doublebock that I have had - less body and caramel, more nutty and that little smokiness. A classic.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2004 21:26:02 | More by waughbrew

EPseja

New Jersey

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I can't believe that this is the first time I'm ever having this beer.

Served from a 330ml. bottle with a neat plastic goat charm tied to the neck, at cellar temperature in my Samuel Adams Double bock glass.

A - Medium chestnut in color, pouring with some noticeable viscosity. The head just screams to come forth as it battles against the liquid still falling from the bottle. Once I pull back, the creamy sand-colored takes off for the rim of the glass, superceding it by just a little, then slowly settling and becoming more dense. The amazing, microbubbled head finally drops to a creamy island in the center, along with a thick ring around the glass edge - but after a full 6 minutes or so! Lacing is unfortunately spotty and provides the only (very slight) letdown in light of the amazing head.

S - Rich, warm hearth-baked dark molasses bread. Is there such a thing? Mmm... there should be. Nice, rich well roasted malts. The light sprinkling of hops that is (barely) noticeable adds a clean freshness that also plays off of the very subtle alcohol. Yummy.

T - "Damn." That was precisely the first word out of my mouth after completing one sip and swallow. Starts off with a candy-sweet maltiness that is quickly overtaken by a slightly yeasty-tart toastiness in the middle. I almost get a nuance of smoke in here as well... As it hits the back of the tongue, the subtle hops lend their bitterness to a drying finish. Once down, the aftertaste is bready, sweet and slightly dry. Fantastically delicious.

M - Definitely qualifies as one of the the top 5 best mouthfeels I've ever had in a beer. Soft like velvet on the way in. Creamy and fulfilling in the mouth, turning into seafoam as it moves around. The swallow is gradual, like liquid taking its time down a very slight grade. An absolute pleasure.

D - Well, all my friend Yelterdow's championing of this beer was definitely in the right place. This is an amazing Dopplebock. 'Nuff said. Less typing. More sipping. This beer is the real deal.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2007 01:00:16 | More by EPseja

MarkSCCOT

South Carolina

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I am a huge fan of German beers and I have been wanting to try this particular beer...forever! Fortunately it is now available in Charleston.

Poured from a really cool bottle into a pint glass.

A. A rich dark brown with little or no head.

S. Strong bready malt aroma. Sweet molasses or brown sugar. Figs or raisins. A slight chocolate aroma.

T. Toasty bread, chocolate and tofee.

M. Like heaven! Goes down smooth with a rich toffee chocolate after taste.

D. Wow, I will have to break the bank, hide the car keys and drink a 4 pack myself.

A classic beer. The epitome of the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2007 22:28:29 | More by MarkSCCOT

Pauly2X

Wisconsin

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A- Nearly black, slight amber tinge when held to a light. One finger head faded slowly to a wisp.

S- Sweet maltly aroma with a faint earthy hop pressence.

T- Fantastic! Wonderfully complex malt profile but not so complex as to force you to "think" about this beer if you'd rather just sit back and enjoy. Great sweetness held in check perfectly by just the right amount of spicy hops.

M- Smooth as silk, very full boddied.

D- The $12 a 4 pack is the only obstacle here, If only I had a better paying job...

For me, personally, It just doesn't get any better... for now.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2007 17:57:56 | More by Pauly2X

K7M

Mississippi

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I truly regret that I only had one bottle to experience. Everything positive that I read about this beer was more than true. This is the most exceptional Doppelbock I have ever experienced. The flavor and aroma from this Beer is beyond description, suffice it to say it is as near to perfection as I have tasted.

Bocks and Dark Beers are my favorites and this is the best Dark Beer that I have had to date. Thanks to my friend John who brought this one back from a trip. I will be purchasing Celebrator on my next trip to Pensacola.

I stopped by Four Winds in Pensacola Fl and bought all that they had on the shelf.

If I had to spend the rest of my life with only one Beer, this is the Beer for me. That being said, I will continue searching for a better Beer, as it is really all about the search for perfection...

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2009 19:09:05 | More by K7M

stingrayvr6

New Jersey

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Deep brown/red color, with malty, caramel, vanilla and molases smell. Two finger gream colored head, lingered and stuck well. Incredible taste, malty and sweet but balanced with molasses notes, and a somewhat floral taste. Very smooth vanilla caramel finish, but not too sweet. Incredible beer, my new favorite.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2009 15:41:34 | More by stingrayvr6

Newmerator

California

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

WOW! I can't believe I have never had one of these before

11.2oz brown bottle. poured a deeep brown with copper hues to it. nice fluffy 2 finger cream head with a tint of brown, that simmered down to a wispy lace.

smell is so inviting. sweet malts, roasted malts, a touch of hops, caramel notes to it as well.

taste: Wow. deeelicious. kinda toasty tasting (if i can say that) a bit of bread flavor also. i almost taste some fruits, like dates or figs. just really good

very smooth. feels almost chewy. light carbonation.

This is one (sorry ahead of time for cursing) f*cking delicious beer. I wish I could buy a case of this stuff. I have been mainly into craft beers. Im starting to get into dopples after having an aventinus and now this. WoW. Schroeder's here I come!!

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2009 03:09:14 | More by Newmerator

KDReeves

Virginia

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Without fail, in my humble opinion, the very definition of beer.

As a doppelbock, you would expect dark, rich, nutty, flavorful experiences, and you'd be right. The richness of this brew blossoms extraordinarily. It is a strong, present contender, so young palates may raise an eyebrow more than once both at first taste and as the taste experience expands.

It's got a toasted, caramel quality to it, that twinge of sugary goodness a tiny but important aspect.

I cannot express how important it is to give this beer it's space and give it time to really flourish in your mouth. Take your time with it and enjoy the particularly fantastic aftertaste.

Without doubt, one of the finest beer experiences I've ever had, hands down. You'll rarely find my house without at least a few bottles of this. We've collected so many plastic goats - hung around the neck of each bottle; "bock" is German for "goat" - that we could start some kind of craft fair!

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2009 19:00:49 | More by KDReeves

SamN

Colorado

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

11.2 oz bottle purchased from LiquorMax in L-Town. I love this beer, but this gonna be my official review. I'll try to be impartial. Served in a tumbler.

Pours a deep, deep brown, almost black with just a bit of light coming through. No head to speak of, lots of bubbles coming up. The goat fell in! The lack of head is the only thing keeping this one from a perfect 5.

Smells a rich velvety malt, wow! What a smell! Herbs come through, spices, smells like black bread, maybe pumpernickel. Smokey and wonderful. My mouth is already watering...

Taste is out of this world! This is probably the most balanced beer I've ever had. Starts off like it's gonna be a bitter beast, but quickly mellows out to smooth grains. Lots of burnt earth tastes, almost unnoticeable hops, very doppelbock-y. This is what I think of when I think dark German beers; this guy doesn't mess around, but it's kind and gentle. Absolutely fantastic, a delicious beer!

The body is medium with perfect carbonation.

Drinkability is perfect, too. A dark beer with plenty of complex flavors, but without the overpowering qualities that prevent many a dark and tasty beer from being consumed with the gusto it deserves. Ayinger has solved that conumdrum with Celebrator; I could drink this at a BBQ, a funeral or when I'm simply thirsty.

I love this beer, one of my all time favorites. It's especially good when we have our Swedish Thanksgivings; compliments the food without filling you up and becoming heavy. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2009 21:25:56 | More by SamN

lumikuuro

British Columbia (Canada)

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

330ml bottle poured into tulip glass.

Appearance: Very, very dark brown with fiery hue. Dark biege head recedes to a ring and leaves a little lacing.

Aroma: Smoky, cheesy, wet chocolaty malt. Different and intense, but typical of darker offerings from this outstanding brewery.

Taste: As in the aroma: smokiness, cheese, wet chocolate malts, but also with a good vinous character and a christmasy spiced flavour, cinnamon and perhaps nutmeg or allspice, with a delicate treacle and honey sweetness. All of this balanced with just a touch of hop, enough to round it out but to keep this essentially a malt bomb. Absolutely delightful. 6.7% abv is not particularly noticeable.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, incredibly smooth. Low carbonation.

Drinkability: Delicious and moreish. One of the world's best beers from one of the world's best breweries.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2010 04:01:49 | More by lumikuuro

doppelbockrob

Michigan

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Looks almost black in a bar setting, but shows a dark ruby red color when held up to a light. Slight head and semi creamy look.

Smell is delightful. Full of rich malt with a chocolate/coffee undertone.

Taste is very balanced. The subtle flavors of chocolate, coffee, and hops do not overpower any single flavor. Smooth, and vibrant.

I love this doppelbock on draught, however I prefer this wonderful beer form a bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2010 16:51:47 | More by doppelbockrob

sureshot08

Arizona

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Pours a dark brown with some red hues. Head dissipated quickly, but I probably used to wide a glass (like a goblet).

Smell: Lots of molasses, some dark fruit (cherries, etc), malty.

Taste: Again with the dark fruit and molasses. Slightly sweet with a little tartness. No bitterness. Bready aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Full and rich with relatively mild carbonation.

Overall: Probably one of the top five beers I've had. Outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 03:46:13 | More by sureshot08

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.98/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The beer's dark tone and steadfast opacity give it the intimidating appearance of a guard dog, or maybe one of those angry, long-horned rams on its label in mating season. This is slightly ironic considering how its violet and ruby highlights are gorgeous and inviting. Its head, while thin, looks harder than marble stone (and is coloured like it too).

It smells like someone took the world's finest tawny port and improved it exponentially. The sweet, fruity notes of plum and grape are gracefully tempered, somewhat offset by a tremendously rich maltiness. This 'toast and jam' combination would make a memorable breakfast; even the best noses are bound to miss a feature or two. It's that layered.

I don't think you could find a better, more exemplary tasting doppelbock than Celebrator. The poised sweetness of a fig and prune compote is mushed into the taste of heavily browned bread crusts, which turn into a sooty, moderately bitter dark chocolate note on the finish. If ever a beer deserved a perfect score for flavour, truly, Celebrator is it.

There's rich, and then there's Bill Gates rich. This doppelbock is Bill Gates rich. Profound, full-bodied, uncompromising maltiness becomes heavily intimate with all parts of the palate, and refuses to go away even in the aftertaste. To suggest caramel is grossly overstating the quantity of sweetness, and downplaying the rich, luscious quality of it.

If you want to learn about German brewing, throw out the books and just stock up on Celebrator. Few examples pack as much punch per square sip or capture so elegantly the style's rich, nectarous qualities. Although the expression is used quite commonly, few things are actually "mouth-watering" - this is. Trust me, I feel myself drooling.

Brewers will make a lot of claims about the superiority of their beer on labels. Typically, these should be taken with a heaping tablespoon of salt. However, for Ayinger to call Celebrator "the finest double bock beer" is no exaggeration. It is unequivocally, undeniably the golden standard of the style; any attempts to replicate it or even to honor it only serve to advertise that fact and endorse the superiority of its brand.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 16:03:11 | More by biegaman