Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock - Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying

MaineBeerMan

Maine

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

Super dark brown color with a big brownish head, held to light reveals ruby red color. Head settled to a ring that left surprisingly little lace.
Unbelievable aroma with lots of caramel maltiness, raisins, figs and molasses smells. One of the best smelling beers I have ever tried.
Big malt flavor, plenty of toasty caramel sweetness, some dark chocolate and light notes of raisins and fig, all balanced out with a nice hop bitterness. Big mouthfeel that matches the flavor, this is a very rich beer that I don't think I could drink a lot of at once.
Finishes rather dry, but even at the end some of the malt sweetness comes through.
A great beer, and I can see why it's currently #1 although it's not my personal ideal beer. This would be a great dessert beer, but it seemed too rich (and too expensive) for everyday drinking.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2002 13:43:56 | More by MaineBeerMan

boblinneman

Pennsylvania

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

I was expecting a sweeter brew while I watched the cascade. Great head! Smell was apparent immediately, although rather one dimentional. Loved the hoppy flavor that followed the initial malty/caramelness. Silky smooth with crispy carbonation. Very drinkable O very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2002 15:25:31 | More by boblinneman

hyuga

North Carolina

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

Very dark brown with a nice tan head topping it off. The head subsides to a thin ring after a while. Huge sweet raisin and plum aroma with a hint of spiciness. Kind of bready. Fig is also present with the other fruits. A taste brings even more pleasure. Hops are noticeable, but stand back and let the malt rush in, which is, again, very sweet and spicy. Massive caramel, slightly toasted, and subtle hopping. Spicy dried fruit in the middle, reminds me a bit of a dubbel. Nice full body. Smooth yet prickly mouthfeel. A bit more than mildly acidic. A slightly metallic flavor in the background, but that fades as it warms. A grain-malty, but surprisingly dry finish. This doppelbock is spicier than its competitors, which I believe is one of the things that makes it better than a lot of them. An excellent brew, one of the kings of its style.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2002 01:01:15 | More by hyuga

mzwolinski

California

4.88/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

What a huge beer. This is what to give your friends if they think lagers are for sissies.

The beer is black, with just a hint of ruby when backlit. Thick, tan, creamy head.

Wonderful aroma -- reminiscent of bitter dark chocolate, with hints of toffee and fruit -- prunes and fig.

This is a very full-bodied beer. Heavy, sweet malty flavor with more fruit esters and a hint of baked bread. The finish is superb -- slightly hoppy and dry, with a nice aftertaste from the residual sugars.

Really a terrific beer. Best bock I've ever had. The bottle even comes with a little goat toy for the kids. Something for everyone!

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2002 20:20:09 | More by mzwolinski

cokes

Wisconsin

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

$16.00 per six pack. I'd buy it again tomorrow.
Pours as deep a ruby-orange as possible. Basically black. Large tan head sit royally atop. Glorious.
Heavy bready and dark fruit aromas. Akin to toasted raisins.
Taste starts off somewhat roasted. Almost stout-like. This instantly subsides with the incoming fruity brigade. Figs, grapes, raisins, plums...it is all here. Quite complex. Turns more bready towards the middle, with fresh-baked sweet bread notes. Finish is dried out with a touch of spicy hops...extremely subtle, but very effective.
Moderately thick in the mouth. Not as huge as some, but quite solid, and oh-so-smooth.
Everything besides the price points to drinking this in bulk.
Go ahead and treat yourself to some euphoria.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2002 21:26:16 | More by cokes

beernut7

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I drained the local liquor store of every other brand and style of beer so I figured I'g give this brew a swing and see what the hype was all about. Pours a deep black with a foamy thick tan head. Aromas of bready and dark German malts. Light chocolate and heavy sweet malt is the initial flavor with a clean syrupy finish. I am not usually a big fan of the style and this bock doesn't really change my opinion. Not bad, but not impressive for the hefty price tag.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2002 16:45:58 | More by beernut7

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

Dogbrick

Ohio

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

Somehow I managed to find this beer on draught here in Columbus (at the Refectory). There simply cannot be a beer that I will enjoy more than this.

Served at a perfect temperature. Unbelievably easy to drink, with a light smooth malty flavor that was not too sweet. Balanced perfectly by the alcohol ratio. Just a whisper of chocolate in the aroma and flavor as well. Very dark with a medium thick beige head that diminished rather quickly, but who cares, because it was between me and this amazing beer. Now I am working on getting the Celebrator glasses from the restaurant after the beer is out of rotation.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2002 08:28:04 | More by Dogbrick

allboutbierge

Austria

4.88/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is the ambrosia of the gods. I picture myself sitting on Mt. Olympus with Zeus himself after a long day's work. If this beer was a woman, I would consume it like I desire Aphrodite. It is filling, while at the same time satisfying every sense of taste one possesses. While one might desire another, the filling qualities of this brew makes the second one their last.


5KD approved.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2002 20:23:20 | More by allboutbierge

beerguy101

California

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

Dark brown color, large head.. Very pronounced sweet malts. Rich very full taste, expansive. Full bodied. Mouthfeel is smooth, creamy and rich. Hop taste is very subtle, nicely offsets the intense malts. Nearly syrupy. Finish is dry. Aftertaste is malty and rich. Exceptional. Sensational beer. Hall of Fame!!

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2002 17:07:05 | More by beerguy101

Mick

New Jersey

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

This is the Mercedes Benz of Dopplebocks. Truly an outstanding beer. An alluring brown/tan/mocha color that invites the upper lip to investigate it a little further. A noseful of the caramel/cocoa aroma that these types are lusted for. Great taste that is synonymous with the scent, only amplified. It holds a bold presence as its body commands and navigates it's way past you palate and around your tongue.
Superb!

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2002 12:26:46 | More by Mick

putnam

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

What an intense noseful of beer! Classic "American" roast coffee with great beans to start with. Some really slow-ripening, high-elevation little coffee cherries roasted to dark tan perfection...still with all of their plant flavors: fruit, tartness and caramel...and that's the nose. The flavors are very sound, if a somewhat compressed version of what the nose offers. Sweet horse manure appears on the the re-whiff. Chamise texture. Pillowy and light. The finish is medium in length and simplifies as it goes. A beer to contemplate.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2002 15:46:13 | More by putnam

proc

Michigan

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

Excellent. The aroma alone with its scent of choclolate and coffee is outstanding. This beer truly has a mouthfeel to it. It not quite right to describe it as "thick", but it has a substantial presence. A wonderful beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2002 06:21:39 | More by proc

Jdiddy

Rhode Island

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

This baby is dark, dark, dark! It has the appearance of molasses. Initial taste of malt with a hint of spice. I definitely could not drink too many but this would be great on a cold winters night.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2002 05:18:10 | More by Jdiddy

bditty187

Nebraska

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

Lively black hue, opaque with a foamy tan head, fair retention, no lace. The nose is complex, spicy alcohol was noticeable as was sweet chocolate, licorice, and roasted malt. Rather powerful. Warm on the tongue with lovely intricate flavors that matches the aroma... plenty of licorice and roasted malts, the alcohol is noticeable as well. It is a very smooth drink, low carbonation, full-bodied. A hearty delight!

This is the best Doppelbock... I’d highly recommend enjoying one of these... it's Fantastic!!

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2002 09:36:29 | More by bditty187

ryanocerus

Iowa

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

I thought this was a very drinkable beer. It poured a very dark brown with very thick head, which ups the appearance. The chocolate malt aroma carried through into the flavor. An excellent doppelbock.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2002 09:59:10 | More by ryanocerus

jreitman

California

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

Really dark brown with a tan head. Very interesting and complex aroma profile. Malty with no significant trace of bitterness. Caramel and chocolate flavors are the most pronounced with a subtle roasted coffee flavor lying underneath. Very good mouthfeel with a pretty complex flavor profile. Truly a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2002 18:39:37 | More by jreitman

BitteBier

Indiana

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

Pours with uniform darkness and compact head that lingers longer than expected, though not for too long. Smell (toffee et al.) is exceptional and complex, and the taste is even more complex. Flavors are numerous but well-balanced. While this is a characteristically heavy beer, I found myself saying "one more drink" (over and over) just to decode what is so wonderful about it. To date, this is my single favorite beer. One more drink...

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2002 19:39:25 | More by BitteBier

Pegasus

Texas

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

Stunning visual appearance with a sable color and a thick tan head and lots of lace. Beer roils briefly when properly poured, providing a spectacular introduction. Wonderful aromas of caramel, coffee, hops, and alcohol. Tasting yields flavors of caramel and toasted malts, hops, slight dark fruits. Finishes cleanly with very little residual hoppiness and slight bittersweet chocolate flavors.

Without a doubt Celebrator Doppelbock is one of the finest beers in the world.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2002 08:23:14 | More by Pegasus

BeerBob

Nebraska

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

The bottle label says it all... “Finest Bavarian Double Bock Beer”. Commanding and assertive, this is one double bock not to miss.
Bittersweet chocolate, toffee, licorice and very dark blackish red, if there is such a colour.

"alc 6.7% vol." was read from the back of the 330 ml bottle.

This beer is almost better then sex... almost...

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2002 18:00:57 | More by BeerBob

aracauna

Georgia

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

Very dark beer. In fact if you just saw it sitting in the glass you'd probably mistake it for a porter as light only gets through around the edges (when it does, it gives a nice red wine color). The head is a thick, lumpy foam that's a medium tan color. Unfortunately, mine seemed a bit skunky, but I could pick up some good malt aromas with the slightest hint of hops. The aroma was big, but not as big as the appearance would suggest. Caramel, bitterness from the dark-colored malts and some fruitiness I can't place my finger on. This was all followed up by a bit of grassy hops. I also picked up a little black pepper, but it was faint enough, I'm not sure if I was just tasting things.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2002 18:38:59 | More by aracauna

Wildman

Ohio

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

Okay, I am a fan of dark beers and I have to agree with alot of other people that this is the best doppelbock out there. It has a wonderful dark color and lovely aroma to it. The body is great and the taste is wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2002 16:02:08 | More by Wildman

marc77

California

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

Deep ruby hue and very clear. The tan head is thick and well retained. The rich malt aroma is comprised of sweet buttery toffee, nutty peanut brittle, vanilla notes and mild toasty dark Munich malt. The malt profile is luscious-- heavily caramelized sugars are combined w/ roasted grain notes that are above the norm for style. It's lighter in body than Spatens or Paulaners, but the depth of malt character surpasses either of those. There's more roasted grain and chocolate flavors in this brew and less residual sweetness. The hop bitterness, although subdued, complements the light roasted grain bitterness to balance the malt sweetness. It finishes surprisingly dry and roasty for a doppelbock. Celebrator is delicious, flavorful, yet highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2002 18:36:48 | More by marc77

stoutman

Michigan

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

Great caramel and toasted malt aroma with the complex fruitiness of roasted malt in the middle and a faintly smoky dryness in the finish. Serve around 50° in a stemmed glass with wild mushrooms, smoked meats, or prime beef dinners. This is one tastie beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2002 13:11:08 | More by stoutman

DarthMalt

Virginia

2.65/5  rDev -39.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I was not very impressed by this beer. Being a big fan of
d-bocks, I was ready to be taken away, but instead, I just sort of sat there, looking at the beer, wondering what all the fuss was about. Instead of a masterpiece in comlexity and depth, this beer had the sort of 2D, flavor-by-numbers that you often get with domestic brewpub styles. It was dark and smoky like a stout, and boozy like a double bock.

There is this "classic" double bock flavor which I have come to expect now from any d-bock. I don't know if this quintessential flavor lies in the type of malt used, the hops, some sort of decoction mashing, or what, but the one thing I do know is that, I know it when I taste it. Sadly, Celebrator does not have it. Neither does Sam Adams, btw.

The only six I have had, so far, which exude the "classic" double bock flavor are:

Allgauer Cambonator
Tucher Bajuvator
St. Martin Dunkler
Paulaner Slavator
Spaten Optimator
Augustiner Maximator

----

PS - I also thought the little billy goats dangling around the bottlenecks--while cute--were a little hokey.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2002 12:12:22 | More by DarthMalt