Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock - Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying

kingcrowing

Vermont

3.98/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

.3l poured into a celebrator glass.

Pours a very dark brown with a small light brown head. Nose is boozy and very malty.

Taste is mostly malt with some sweet licorce and nuttiness it's really good. Mouthfeel is fairlyrich an crisp. Easy to drink for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2010 05:04:29 | More by kingcrowing

JMac311

North Carolina

4.72/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Amazing doppelbock! Looks true to style with a dark rich color off the SRM charts! As expected from Ayinger brews, this bock is certainlynot lacking in flavor. Was extremely surprised to find this on tap, and could have sipped on these all afternoon. Excellent drinkability, certainly not overpowered by the above-average ABV. GREAT BEER!

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2010 15:08:54 | More by JMac311

MrDanno96

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a very dark brown color - almost black wit just a touch of light getting in. A thin ring of off-white head circles the glass, but sticks around for most of the drink. Looks very manly (if that's possible for a beer). Nice.

S: Lots of roasted malts meet the nose along with notes of caramel and dark fruit. A little more subdued than I expected. As the brew warms the dark fruits become a little more apparent.

T: Similar to the nose, but better. Plum, raisin, hints of caramel, and roasted malt all hit the palate initially. There is some brewed coffee flavor to go along with some bitterness in the finish. As with the nose, the dark fruits become more prominent as the beer warms. Some hints of what I think are anise and alcohol surface as well. Fairly complex and flavorful overall.

M: A thick and fully body, boarding on chewy, with a medium amount of carbonation. I would expect nothing less from a dopplebock.

D: Obviously this is a great example of the style. I wasn't as impressed as I hoped I would be, but it's a solid drinking brew nonetheless. A high degree of complexity combined with the well hidden abv give this one a high drinkability rating.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2010 04:50:56 | More by MrDanno96

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.13/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Prime 16 into a 3/4 pint glass.

A: Clear, deep ruby body with just a whiff of tan foam that swirls quickly into a thin ring. Nice color, but I want some head.

S: Subdued but highly enticing aroma of sweet fruity malt - raisins stand out.

T: All maltiness. Starts out nutty and toasty, followed by smooth, rich fruits. Dry, woody finish. Excellent.

M: Fairly thick, sticky body with somewhat light, spiky effervescence.

D: Flirts with cloyingness (and is definitely overly sticky after a while), but it's too tasty to put down.

Notes: While I'm not a huge doppelbock fan, this is definitely a world-class example of the style. Highly recommended for maltheads everywhere. Good stuff.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2010 12:31:40 | More by woosterbill

leecschmidt

Pennsylvania

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

This was an excellent Dopplebock beer. Great from start to finish. Of course got even after I let it warm up a little.

Was served from draft in a thistle glass.

Has a nice dark color, small head with some lacing.

Good flavors, slight fruit flavors, with a nice taste of the alcohol yet very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2010 12:47:33 | More by leecschmidt

OneDropSoup

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at 6 & Save in New Kensington, PA.

Poured in a Gulden Draak tulip, a dark brown, near black with lots of ruby highlights throughout. Thin wisp of head, mild lacing.

Smell is great: bold caramel & toffee, like a Sugar Daddy. Stand-out.

Taste is greater, as it carries that smell up front, then builds in complexity with a tingue of bitterness midway, combined with slight heat from booze. Finishes the mouthfull with a grape & peach-like fruity tartness, & then steps up again with the caramel & toffee int he aftertaste. Gains a barley-wine like toasty intensity with some warmth. Sweet & very complex, love it!

Mouthfeel start moderate with a little bite to keep it from being a flat dessert drink. Builds & gets creamy.

KA-BOOM! This is awesome. So great to get a flavorful, malty brew that goes through so many movements & is complex enough to stay interesting til the end. My first exposure to this was years ago, was an eye-opening experience at the time, & it's wonderful to see it's held up so well over time. Definitely my favorite representation of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2010 23:35:08 | More by OneDropSoup

jampics2

Ohio

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

On tap at the Beer Engine. By far the best beer of the evening :)

A perfect ring of foam dissipates leaving a plum colored liquid. If this was Seinfeld and this beer sneezed, I'd say "You are so good lookin'".

Smell is awesome. Plum, figs, bread crust, caramel, brown sugar - it's all there.

Taste is exceptional. The classic to end the style - german malt, sweet baked bread, prunes, awesome.

Mouthfeel is the best. Classic. Perfect thickness and perfect carb. Creamy and sharp. Exceptional.

Drinkability? Ask me after the next one.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2009 16:21:11 | More by jampics2

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Brauhaus Schmitdz

A: Clear carmel in color. Some ruby highlights. Quick plume of head, diminishing into nothing with little lacing.

S: Dark roasted malts, sweet dark carmel, some dark fruits.

T: Dark roasted malts, sweet carmel malt ending. touch of dark fruits.

M: Medium body, low carbonation. Decent coating and nice roasted aftertaste.

D: Excllent version of the Doppelbock. The malts are top notch and the ingrediants blended to perfection.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2009 20:30:10 | More by rfgetz

Kendo

New York

4.22/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First review from 7/21/09:

A: Frothy off-white head over dark brown (almost black, actually) body that when held up against the light displays ruby highlights.

S: Toasty malt; slightly burnt scent.

T: Malty flavors dominant -- sweet, toasted bread. Also burnt charcoal or smoke. Very little in the way of hoppy flavors.

M: Medium-to-full-bodied. Slightly over-carbonated.

D: OK.

Second review, entered 6/27/11 after getting it on tap at Wolff's Biergarten in Albany on 6/24/11 and adjusting the scores accordingly:

A: Poured into a tall, thin glass - doesn't taper like a pilsner glass, but it's wider than a stange. Body is dark brown with a nice 1-finger light-brown head.

S: Toasted bread, chocolate malt.

T: Sweet malt - toasted bread, chocolate malt - and dark fruits. Notwithstanding that malty sweetness, it finishes fairly dry.

M: Medium in heft, nice and creamy in feel.

O: Very nice. Much better than the last time I had this on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2009 18:26:53 | More by Kendo

HopBacchus

Massachusetts

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

A: Pours a beautiful dark dark brown color practically black beautiful to behold. A medium sized toffee colored head that lasted for a long time. Lacing is excellent.

S: Roasted malts and Carmel fill my nostrils along with chocolate.

T: Roasted malts and chocolate an almost cogniac like taste a strong aftertaste of bitter hoppes.

M: Excellent carbonation keeps flavors changing and interesting a pleasant medium body follows a slightly watery initial feel.

D: Eh, flavors are certainly pleasant and a medium body lets you know you aren't drinking just any lager however the bitter hoppe finish makes this brew filling and hard to swallow

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2009 02:47:24 | More by HopBacchus

plaid75

New York

4.47/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at The Lark in East Northport, New York.

Poured a deep brown hue with a thin white cap. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a heavy cereal grain, nuts, caramel and pumpernickle.

The taste consisted of layer upon layer of multi grain goodness. Doughy and crusty pumpernickle bread came to mind with a lingering, yet dry, caramel.

The mouthfeel was toward the fuller side of the style with a relatively dry finish.

Overall an incredibly enjoyable dopplebock. World class, but you already knew that.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2009 20:33:13 | More by plaid75

jbertsch

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at a local German restaurant with a delicious wurst plate complete with sauerkraut and potato pancakes.

Served in an stemmed stange Ayinger glass.

Appearance: Head was small, but the brew looked fantastic. Its primary color was a very dark brown on the interior, but with light coffee brown edges as the light hit it.

Smell: Malty-molasses goodness. Smokey, plus notes of coffee.

Taste: Roasted malty awesomeness. A little bit of dark fruit and nuts. You still taste some hops. What I love about it is how it's a complex beer without tasting cluttered.

Mouthfeel: I was afraid it would be too thick for its own good. But the mouthfeel is solid. It could have a bit more carbonation, but that was minor.

Drinkability: I didn't taste any alcohol so this goes down real easy. Well done.

Honest, well crafted, comprehensive, with a sense of history without at all tasting busy. Grab this when you can.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2009 02:03:19 | More by jbertsch

FloppyDog

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap at the Flying Saucer in Raleigh, NC.

This beer was poured into a stemmed beer glass. It had a deep brown color and minimal off white head.

Initially the aroma was solely of subdued malt, but as it warmed and was swirled in the glass, I picked up raisin/prune notes along with a pleasantly subdued alcohol aroma as well.

The taste began with slight burnt (but not astrigent) malt followed by some toffee and hints of sweetness that lingered for a few seconds. The beer was medium-bodied and very enjoyable.

Overall, very rich in malt character, and a good representation of a doppelbock.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2009 04:42:04 | More by FloppyDog

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Rich brown body. Dense looking. Khaki foam on top maintains nice levels and consistent lacing

S: Roasted malts. Black strap molasses. Rich fresh baked bread. Sweetness.

T: The black strap molasses character dominates with subtle undertones of caramel, bread, biscuits, roasted malts and a dash of cream. A tiny bit of alcohol as the beer warmed.

M: Smooth. Silky. Lower carbonation levels work well here. Nice finish.

D: The overwhelming sweetness becomes cloying... by the end of this glass I was done with this... however... i'd return to one in another session for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2009 04:39:12 | More by callmemickey

BigIrishman

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into oversized wine glass

Had this at Porter's in Easton, PA. Poured pitch black with a one fingered head, no lacing. Smells of yeasty bread with dried fruits. Taste is very nice, very bread like with dried fruits in background and really nice finish. Mouthfeel is pretty thick, very nice for a doppel. This is a heavy beer I can have a few of, very smooth without the smallest scent of alcohol.

Overall my favorite doppelbock, absolutely outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2009 03:45:13 | More by BigIrishman

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

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

10 oz. - $4.75 at The Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta, Georgia.

Appearance: Clear, dark brownish-red body with a thin, very thin, white head.

Smell: Sweet-smelling, raisin-packed aroma full of heavy caramel overtones. Slighter hints of fresh grain and unsweetened chocolate.

Taste: Sweet, caramel-covered grains followed by tons of raisin fruitiness. Minor chocolate hint. A few gingerbread crumbs. Light spicy hops and bitterness. More alcohol than you'd expect from 6.7% creeps into the semi-sweet, fruity finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-plus carbonation. Sticky mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Ayinger's Celebrator Doppelbock, while we've had some wonderful times together, isn't exactly my favorite d-bock out there. I feel this way no matter how many little plastic goats it gives me.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2009 21:03:01 | More by ChainGangGuy

LennyV

New York

3.83/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Purchased a mini growler from Halftime. Pours a dark mahogany into my La Fin Du Monde tulip. Little tan head wih no lacing.

Smells malty sweet.

Tastes as it smells malty and sweet with a smoky dry finish.

Feels wonderful in the mouth. Perfect mix of carbnonation and body.

I could drink this brew all night. It is sooo smooth.

Serving type: growler

12-09-2008 03:43:21 | More by LennyV

glid02

Georgia

4.7/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Finally revisited this bad boy at the Brick Store in Atlanta.

Pours a clear dark brown color with dark ruby highlights. The head is two-fingers of cocoa-colored foamy goodness that slowly recedes into a wispy layer of bubbles on top and a medium-sized ring around the glass. Lacing is decent.

Smells of molasses with hints of chocolate and biscuity malts.

Tastes great. Molasses and sweet malts up front followed by more robust malt flavors, roasted and bready, ending with a hint of dark chocolate and a bit of bitterness. Very well balanced, very complex.

Mouthfeel is good. There's a good thickness that combines with a grainy carbonation that really goes down easily.

Drinkability is good. I polished off one of these in a hurry, and the complexity is such that I could have three of these and find something new in each one of them.

Overall there's not much more I can say. This is a very complex beer that is very well done.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2008 04:07:02 | More by glid02

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Draft at Teresa's in Wayne, PA

Pours a very dark brown with foamy tan head that forms a lacing that lasts throught the whole glass. Malty aroma with hints of chocolate, toffee and roasted coffee. Very quaffable, smooth and easy to drink with malty chocolate flavor, caramel, toffee, and roasted malt.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2008 23:04:19 | More by corby112

ThirstyBird

Germany

4.55/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured at Julians in Providence RI into a snifter
Appears super dark brown with a touch of amber when held to the light. Pretty light tan head lasts for a bit then eventually falls to a nice slim coat. Course lacing all the while.
Smells of dark fruit. It was a bit cold at serving so will get more as it warms. I smell a touch of vanilla as it warms.
Tastes of sweet dark fruit, toasted malt, liqueur, butterscotch. Delicious
Mouthfeel is medium, silky smooth. Low/medium carbonation with subtle bubbles.
Excellent drinkability for a dopplebock. It is so good in the colder months. A real treat to try on tap!

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2008 02:16:48 | More by ThirstyBird

bonbini26

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- It pours a very deep mahogany with a foamy tan head that holds well.

S- The nose displays a mild smokiness and some toasty breadiness that combines with a touch of alcohol to twist it into a more toffee-ish character.

T- The flavor offers a luxurious maltiness that's fairly complex with notes of molasses, deeply toasted honey-glazed bread, dried dark fruit, mild leafy hop, and a very subtle smokiness. Some lingering malty notes of caramel and subtle bitter & smoky notes add to it's richness.

M- A velvety mouthfeel is derived from a medium body and a very fine carbonation.

Overall, a smooth, rich, deceptively strong beer. I recently had this at a restaurant paired with duck and it was simply amazing

Serving type: on-tap

10-16-2008 18:34:36 | More by bonbini26

atsprings

North Carolina

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

Served in a chalice a not quite opaque black w/ ruby highlights . The beer is topped with a thin head that diminished to a thin layer and left spotty lacing. The aroma was a nice blend of brown malts, chocolate and roasted nuts. The taste was a wonderful array of malts with lingering espresso bitterness. The beer was medium bodied with warming alcohol and decent carbonation. This beer has always been very enjoyable, and it's even better on draft.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2008 17:46:41 | More by atsprings

ClavisAurea

New York

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

Consumed from the tap in a Celebrator glass.

Appearance: dark chestnut brown, slight head and very fine lace. It would have gotten higher marks if it had more head.

Smell: molasses, caramel, sweet, brown sugar and malt

Taste/Mouthfeel: spicy hop flavor profile, complex sweetness, molasses, smooth in the finish, lingering sweetness

Wow, like dark heaven in a glass. Can I have some more please. I was very impressed that I found it on tap. It was at Tizley's Euro Pub in downtown Poulsbo, WA.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2008 23:39:45 | More by ClavisAurea

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.78/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This comes out of the tap a deep, opaque sable, almost like a stout or porter rather than a bock. Rich, malty aroma has undertones of chocolate and roast coffee. Flavor is smooth and malty, with some hop bitterness and a mocha undertone. There are hints of sweet, nutty and caramel flavors as well. Texture is smooth and pleasing, making for one lip-smacking bock.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2008 00:09:52 | More by Cyberkedi

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.72/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

In the court of the prince of beers... Man, this is a bulwark of dopplebocks. One of the very best. This one is an interpretation that is earthier and a bit more scrappy. Perhaps even a little more drinkable than the original dopplebock. Poured wth a nice tan head, fine and a bit creamy. Dark almost opaque brown. A little crisper in the mouth with excellent carbonation. A nice smokey character. Just enough bittersweetness to make you want to have another swallow. Beer at its best!

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2008 20:18:22 | More by drpimento