Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock - Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying

Higravity

Michigan

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

What do you do when you find this bad boy on tap around the corner from your house. That's right you stop by to have a glass in the correct glassware for $3 during happy hour on your way home from work.

Looks like winter's bane robust red-brown darkness with a fluffy boiling fudge cream head. The smell is terrific damn near like boiling wort with lots of over done sweetness without being cloy. Terrific taste if only dampened by the slightly thinish body. While the body makes it more condusive to drinking more it leaves a little to be desired. Whatever, still one of my fav's anyday and I will have some just about everyday until the keg is kicked.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2006 13:38:24 | More by Higravity

chOAKbarrell

Maryland

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

I've had a good bit of this beer lately, and as far as I'm concerned, it is the picture-perfect, model doppelbock. There's been a good bit of talk about Sam Adams double bock lately, but Celebrator completely puts Sammy to shame.

The flavor is wonderfully complex. There's a fantastic slightly-burnt quality to this beer. Rich maple syrup tones as well. Chewy and roasty and full bodied. Lovely mocha head and a deep dark body. I found myself craving this out of nowhere in the middle of the day at work today, and I'm going to have to go back to my local bar for more.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2006 03:41:50 | More by chOAKbarrell

cubedbee

Maryland

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

On tap in a Celebrator glass,this is a dark ruby brown with a finger of off-white head that sticks around for a while, some moderate spotty lacing. Nose is sweet and malty--molasses, raisins, figs, caramel, coffee. Taste is more of the same, sweet malt, raisins, figs, brown sugar, molasses,rum soaked cherries,dark bread, very nice tasting, not cloying at all, just a slight note of alcohol in the finish. Medium/full bodied with a medium carbonatin level, slightly syrupy. This is a really nice doppelbock, excellent drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2006 13:26:01 | More by cubedbee

weeare138

Pennsylvania

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

On tap at the Drafting Room...
Appears a mahogany color with a lush, light tan head. The head refuses to fall and it leaves lots of streaky lacing around the glass.
Smell is of a malt lover's paradise. Fruity cake, caramel, cocoa, raisins, coffee, and anise.
Taste is of the same wonderful aromas that come through along with some mild smokiness and nice German hop additions.
Mouthfeel is smooth, medium bodied, and rich with a perfect amount of carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2006 02:06:02 | More by weeare138

Gavage

New Jersey

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

Appearance: the color was dark brown with ruby highlights. 1/2" head fell to a surface foam in a few minutes.

Smell: the aroma was sweet, as caramel and hints of chocolate were detectable.

Taste: The flavor was very malty and softly sweeet. Caramel, chocolate, molasses, and prunes are balanced with a mild bitterness. Alcohol level is barely noticable on the tongue.

Mouthfeel: smooth at the start. The finish was also smooth, and the flavors lingered on the tongue for while after swallowing.

Drinkability: Nicely drinkable, and this is a great version of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2005 13:12:04 | More by Gavage

SteveO1231

Connecticut

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

Looked nice, dark, brown with hi lights of red.Nice thick tan colored head.
Very nice sweet, malty scent.
Very smooth malt flavor accompanied by a sweet fruit and spice flavor.
I enjoyed the richness of the beer.
Pretty filling stuff great beer for "Celebrating" Oktoberfest.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2005 21:40:14 | More by SteveO1231

soulfly967

Pennsylvania

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

I had this on tap at the Sharp Edge Creek House. Served in a Celebrator Glass... sweet.

Looked like Pepsi in my glass, but with a nice thick head that fell not long after arriving. The smell was slightly nutty, with hints of caramel and roasty malts and some sort of sweetness that I can't quite put my finger on. The taste was bready, with some, but not much, sweetness and roasted malty goodness. The mouthfeel was creamy, mildly carbonated, and very smooth. This was so good that I had to have another! Excellent beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-30-2005 13:48:22 | More by soulfly967

twelvsies

Maine

3.95/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had heard a lot about this beer and never got around to trying it until last night at the Moan and Dove. Good, but not quite what I expected. Nice poofy head on top of a dark brown ale, with bubbles. Smell was really nice; malty and roasty and with a nice milky character. In the taste that milky creamy characteristic was really the only thing that made it stand out. Yeah, the nice roasted toasted chocolaty coffee taste was nice, but nothing I haven't come across before, in a variety of styles. It seemed like this beer didn't really know if it was a brown ale or a dopplebock or a stout. The mouthfeel didn't match up with the taste, it was a little thin and too carbonated in my opinion. This is tasty for sure, but I was expecting something more along the lines of a real dopplebock, like Aventius or something. But then again, everyone else on the site seems to think this stuff is the cream of the crop, so to each his own.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2005 16:04:39 | More by twelvsies

IceAce

California

3.53/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours pale orange with a thin, wispy collar of foam and a malt-n-vinegar nose.

Entry shows subdued carbonation on the tongue and sweet malt in the back of the mouth. Midtaste features biscuity notes and a nice malt follow-through. Finish has a hop note followed by a slow malt fade.

Mouthfeel is acceptable...and this beer would be best served with an order of Bangers or fish and chips.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2005 15:21:35 | More by IceAce

Jacobob10

New Jersey

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

On-tap @ Anam Cara in Brookline, MA.

Wow, what a treat to find this one on-tap! Props to AC.

Served in it's proper Celebrator glass, it was dark-brown colored. The head had great retention all the way through its short lifespan. Nothing too crazy going on with the aroma, just a nice, enjoyable nutty scent. Great nutty, roasted malt flavor as well. Nice and smooth on the palate. Exceptional drinkability. I couldn't believe how fast I was drinking it, but I couldn't stop!

What more can be said about this brew that hasn't been said already? One of the best and deserves its classic status.

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2005 00:39:33 | More by Jacobob10

altctrlsdelete

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Once upon a time, this would be considered the yardstick against which doppelbocks were to be measured. However, having recently had a Smuttynose S'muttonator, I must say that I was disappointed in having this, despite its advantage of being on draft, versus the Smutty in the bottle. Altogether, what I would expect of a doublebock, albeit less than the Smutty. A great beer, but I want more...

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2005 02:56:28 | More by altctrlsdelete

carln26

Missouri

4.28/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I’d had this beer in St. Louis at Cicero’s over Christmas, and while it was good, experience told me I was drinking from an old, untended keg. When this showed fresh at Anam Cara today, I didn’t hesitate to order, and I was not disappointed.
Deep brown to black color with ruby highlights and a thin tan head. Wonderful roast malt aroma with mild chocolate and caramel hints. A candy lovers dream! The light roast aroma develops into a milder roast flavor with an amazing sweetness and a mild alcohol warming. Nummy! Smooth mouth feel very drinkable despite the alcohol. This is truly the signature beer of this style.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2005 20:58:19 | More by carln26

crookedhalo

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a deep cola brown color with a nice, light brown colored head. Bready, grainy aromas, some dark caramel and molasses-type aromas with a light fruitiness, too. Mostly a malty assault on the palate, molasses and treacle comes through pretty nicely. There's some hops in there, too, just overpowered with the malt. A little bit vinous and lightly astringent, helping to balance the deep, dark malt assault. I haven't had a Celebrator in about 10 months, and, maybe it's the right time of year now that it's getting chilly, but it is just hitting the spot. It's a slow sipper that seems to develop finer characteristics as it warms. Nice velvety mouthfeel. Some might say this is too roasty for a traditional doppelbock. I think it is quite righteous for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2004 07:51:23 | More by crookedhalo

PorterLambic

Florida

4.4/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This wonderful beer pours out a deep ruby red with a big head that disappears almost completely in 2 minutes.
Smell sweet, malty, with scents of plums and raspberry (or maybe cherry) in the background.
Taste is delicious. Roasted malt, licorice, coffee, chocolate, wonderfully complex.
A smooth, full-bodied brew without any cloying aftertaste or bitterness. Very drinkable, although the perceived alcohol content might slow you down more than the actual ABV.
I like doppelbocks and this is a fine example.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2004 02:49:29 | More by PorterLambic

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

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

Hmm, I don't think I was as bowled over as some by this one, but it certainly wasn't awful or anything. Had at Anam Cara, served in lovely Celebrator glass. Pour was opaque dark amber, I found the aroma to come across as slightly roasted, and slightly plumey. Taste is a bit lean and smooth, I thought, mostly of roasted malt and a bit of alcohol hinting around. I will have to try this again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2004 01:16:39 | More by PatandDavid

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

Bierguy5

Ohio

4/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From the tap this pours a very deep dark brown ruby red color. Wonderful off-white head. Great thing about it was that it is being served to me in proper glass. Smells of dark bread. Tastes like a very dark, roasted almost burnt malt, however it is so smooth. How can this be? Looking at it you would expect bitter and harsh, but this is not true. Good mouthfeel. This is a very good beer, but it really isn't my style. I can and will respect this for what it is, a great dopplebock. I couldn't drink many of these, but if it is on tap, I am compelled to have one, if nothing else, than for the glass.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2004 15:29:08 | More by Bierguy5

beergeek279

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a nonic pint glass, at the Sharp Edge Creekhouse. The color was black, with a wispy beige head. The smell was slightly malt sweet. The taste was a very well-balanced sweet malt, with no alcohol present in the taste. Mouthfeel was nice and thick. Drinkability-wise, I could definitely have quite a few of these.

A fantastic dopplebock, and between this and Salvator, the best examples of the style out there. I'm just sorry that I missed it this long, but now that I'm in the know, I'll certainly have this one again!

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2004 06:54:16 | More by beergeek279

beerman599

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

had this on tap at DELANEY'S tap room in new haven ct and it was great i have had this many times before but never on tap. less carbonated than the bottle but just as rich, malty and flavorful with a smooth mallow finish that made me have a second one

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2003 01:29:48 | More by beerman599

BeefyMee

Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev -13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was super-psyched to see this on tap when I walked into the bar. As can be expected, expectation is the mother of all disappointments. While it was still very good, I definitely liked it better out of the bottle. Drafts alway have that certain intangible that bottled beers can't replicate, but it wasn't enough in this case. It just didn't wow me like the bottled version did. The beer still had a nice malty flavor, but there was an absent nuttiness. I would get this over most of the other beers at any bar; I just wish I could go back and not expect the world from it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2003 09:33:59 | More by BeefyMee

fuchebu

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I tend to find myself at Ludwig's Garten quite often for those German draught beers. The Celebrator is one that they rotate often. They had it last week when I made my last visit. The bartender brought me my half litre. The dark copper hue was apparent as enough daylight poured through the window of the bar.

There is a bit of butteriness in the nose. It has a sweetish caramel aroma that entices the drinker. I slowly take a few sips and notice a better than expected balance to the beer. The malts give it a sweet nuance but the hops are also noticable. The beer is full bodied but not too heavy as to discourage consumption. It would be easy to drink a few of these guys. I don't like this as much as Salvator or Maximator but it's still a treat whenever I find it on draft.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2003 19:01:29 | More by fuchebu

oberon

North Carolina

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

Pours a nice deep brown with some red hints thru out nice medium slight off white head,aroma sweet and nutty.Many flavors from this beer starts out a little smokey with some nuttiness,it's finish is a little dry.Not nearly as sweet as some of the style to, wich is a good thing.This is a classic worthy of the high ratings it gets.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2003 21:26:31 | More by oberon

Scooter77

Ohio

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

I can see why this brew is so highly rated, it’s great. Pours a deep brown almost black color with a slight ruby tint. A thick tan head arose, but quickly died down leaving a thin lace. The aromas were quite complex with dark malts, caramel, chocolate, and raisins. The taste is equally complex there were hints of nuttiness mixed with raisins and caramel, I swear that I could taste some licorice, too. Alcohol taste was quite apparent, but it wasn’t overpowering so it mixed well with the other flavors. A mild alcohol and malt aftertaste was left in my mouth. This is a very complex and balanced brew; it’s absolutely exceptional.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2003 05:00:52 | More by Scooter77

mickstepp

Ohio

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

Couldn't believe my good fortune at finding this on tap at a local watering hole. And my timing was fortuitous as the bartender told me it is to be replaced shortly with something more mainstream. Celebrator is a very dark and opaque beer (the lights in the bar were dim so I didn't get as good a look at it as I would have liked) with a thick tawny head. Rich caramel notes in the nose. The taste starts a little sweet but evolves to a dry, nutty, earthy finish as it passes over the tonque. Medium bodied and nicely carbonated. Very creamy and yummy. It is highly regarded by my fellow B.A.'s and deservedly so.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2003 08:05:37 | More by mickstepp

WVbeergeek

Ohio

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

Well, what can I say in comparison to Salvator, Sam Adams, and Moretti this Doppelbock was superior according to my taste buds. The deep amber tint of the beer shines through when the darkness of it when held up to the light. Aroma of this beer fulfilling by itself, but after tasting this malty treat I was truly fulfilled with pleasure. For the mouthful that each sip delivers it presents a heavy caramel, sweet plum, at the same time a pleasant driness if that makes sense. A very complex, but at the same time extraordinary offering that stands up to all standards of a great double bock. After how drinkable it was on tap, I can't wait to try it in a bottle to compare.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2002 22:09:41 | More by WVbeergeek