Bavarian Heller Doppelbock - Brauerei Michael Plank

putnam

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3

"Ingredients: water, malted barley, hops"

Yellow turning tawny orange. Not eager to summon a froth on top. Candied cherries and grapes in syrup aromas. Buttery sweet muffin tops with nuts. Nutmeg. Sweet alcohol flavors infused with iron bitterness barely framed with baked sweet bread flavors. The bitterness is a little oppressive on the finish, like cooked kale, and it lingers too long. As the buzz settles in (and quickly!) this aspect becomes more tolerable. This beer seems to be built patiently from quality ingredients. Is it aimed at the demands of blog drinking and competition? If so it should be a smashing success. I don't see it satisfying realistic standards of drinking pleasure quite as well.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2007 17:00:27 | More by putnam

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From: Binny's, Downer's Grove, IL
Date: None on bottle
Glass: Ayinger bock glass

Brauerei Michael Plank has another solid beer in its portfolio with its medium-dark doppelbock. The beer is a solid representation of the style, with its own unique emphasis on figs and dessert-like breads. The only drawback is the somewhat steep $6 price for a 16oz bottle.

Pours a 2cm head of fairly small, dense bubbles. Head color is off-white or very light tan, diminishing to a very fine cap atop the glass, but leaving little lacing while doing so. Body is a dark copper color when out of the light, and when held up to a lamp, presents a lighter copper with orange-yellow highlights. Body is somewhat hazy with noticeable particulate matter at the bottom of the glass. Carbonation is still visible and appears to be quite active.

Aroma of sweet, fairly intense caramel and lightly toasted malts alongside a perfect replica of dried fig scent. I also detect, secondarily, dates, pureed raisins, and pleasant fruit-bread scents, a bit like whole wheat bread with a bit of banana and cinnamon to it. This sets things up for what should be a pleasant, sweet-style doppelbock.

Taste is of heavy maltiness, emphasis on caramel and lightly toasted malts giving this a sweet, caramel, dessert bread flavor. Obvious tastes pointing to dried figs, dates, and a few raisins. No chocolate or blackened flavors, as this is a lighter, sweeter doppelbock. Slight bit of ethanol on the back of the tongue, a bit surprising for a 7.8% beer that's also loaded with malt.

The beer is medium-heavy bodied, with enough carbonation to make this pleasurably foam up on the palate, yielding a pillowy mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 04:23:44 | More by falloutsnow

brheuer

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -18%

03-24-2013 16:21:06 | More by brheuer

Antnyd82

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

11-26-2012 22:53:02 | More by Antnyd82

Ego

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

eyes...
sizzle audio, crackling embers fade, a near jail break of carbo races up from the bottom like cabbage patch buyers on xmas in days of old, the head, once robust, now fades into typical beer male pattern hair loss, a light and clean chestnut hue, easily peered through, nothing about this grabs the bull by the shorts, and it is not as bad as that weird old aunt who always had to kiss you on the lips, in translation it is quite plain.

nose...
stale-ish/dry euro hops (a description, not a detriment mind you), bready caramel tones from the malt, slight (ever so) hints of roasty-ness are creeping around the edges like a peeping myspace tom, like the look this does not wow or hurt, right down the middle she goes...

taste etc...
dopplebock .. light? I can see why the hyphen name is there, it really is a blend, you get initial notes of DB roast and then it finishes like a sweeter helles, the body is medium so it does not betray the styles involved in this coitus of beer-us, after a minute the dry euro hops settle in with almost a twinge of ash flavor, it coats the tongue well and drinks very smooth, the carbonation is spot on carrying this well into the well that is my belly, the ABV just brushes by your shoulder with a whisper, this is pretty good, not a stunner

verdict?
not bad, an interesting take on the style but not a great take, a solidly brewed beer but just not the shizniziest of shizzness

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 04:32:54 | More by Ego

Kahlerbock

Kansas

2.5/5  rDev -31.7%

01-31-2012 15:39:17 | More by Kahlerbock

whartontallboy

New York

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

01-06-2012 05:04:09 | More by whartontallboy

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours deep orange with a cream/tan head. Some sticky lace. Lots of floaties in this one, even some chill haze. Note: Bottle on this one is heavy -- I like this.

Deep sugary raisin-like aroma. This screams doppelbock.

Brown sugar,, sweet fruit with some booze. I almost get a maple-like depth to this. This is incredibly smooth beer. A level of sweetness that lingers beyond the malt that is incredible. Turns toffee-like with some alcohol and fruit and buttered sugar.

Medium-full bodied, Ok carbonation.

Overall, I liked this the more I drank it. The sugars and complexity of sweetness, malt, fruit, sugar, malt, etc. make this a fine example of the style. A smooth complex beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2011 01:25:01 | More by OtherShoe2

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.03/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

eh, what is this beer? Not sure what to expect, so I'll just drink it--quite an idea.

Pours light gold, or orange, or dark yellow. Not really pinning this down. Off white head, some lacing, but mostly slick.

Sweet aroma, almost syrupy. Honey dipped raisins, maybe. A bit spicy. Toasted malt. Not quick a Maibock, definitely not a Doppel

while the flavors aren't bad, they don't really commit to anything. Semi sweet, some spice, some toasted biscuit. Raisin and honey, sweet grass. They just kind of mill around like a bunch of lolligaggers.

Not a bad beer, just lacks commitment. More hops would help. Or more roasting...more something

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 04:05:40 | More by Mebuzzard

zeff80

Missouri

3.78/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a slightly hazy, burgundy color with a one-finger, egg-shell white head of foam. It had okay retention and left minimal lacing.

S - Aroma is almost nothing. Some mild maltiness and some floral notes.

T - It tasted of sweet malt, caramel and clove. There was a mild yeasty character, too.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light to medium bodied ale that finishes quite dry.

D - This is a very interesting maibock. Not much aroma but it tasted pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 04:16:57 | More by zeff80

GilGarp

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served cold into a imperial pint glass.

Even allowing the beer to settle, upon popping the cap, the sediment immediately rises into suspension. So it has a hazy redish color with creamy white head. The cap lasts a long time and leaves some lacing behind.

Aroma is bready, yeasty and fruity. Pleasant overall and suitable for the style.

Flavor is more of the same - nice malt base with mild hops. Caramel apples and toasted wheat bread.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low to moderate carbonation. The alcohol is present but not as strong as 7.8% would suggest.

Overall a decent version but not the best.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2010 03:25:25 | More by GilGarp

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this 0.5l bottle a few weeks back at Half Time. Cost was $4.99, plus the usual added costs...

I poured this into a half-litre stange, save for about 2oz of sediment-infused liquid. It was an orangey, apricot hued bier, with some light haze. Being termed a "Heller Doppelbock" seems like an oxymoron. Either a Hellbock or a Doppel, eh? Color seems to be more of a Hellbock, as most Doppels I've had are chestnut/mahogany in color, or darker. Styled here as a Mai/Hellbock, despite the labels proclamation of being a DBock. In the end? Macht nichts! Some of the yeasties have already slipped past the guards at the door, and sit in suspension within the bier. Head is a fine layer of white bubbles, most of which sit at the rim. Nose finds some bready malts hanging with a bit of floral hoppage. Body is solidly entrenched in the middle, with a fairly smooth tongue-passage for the brew.

Taste has some light sweetness, with bready malts being right there. Some honey flavors are present, along with light fruits, like apple and pear. Hops are there, too, with lightly floral characteristics showing up at the finish, which is a bit dry. Pretty good, all-in-all, and one I could drink for the duration of an evening. Zum Wohl!!

4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

1228

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2010 21:42:42 | More by Bierman9

homebrewhawk

Kansas

3.85/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500ml bottle served in a Duvel tulip. Poured a slightly hazy gold with a finger of white head. Clean malty aroma with some noble hops. Body on the lighter side with a bready malt base. Nice crisp noble hop bite. Very drinkable. Dry finish. Nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2010 15:23:23 | More by homebrewhawk

GRPunk

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Half-liter bottle poured into a pilsener glass.

A- A conservative pour left a 3-finger, off-white head that settled to a pillowy, 1-1/2 fingers and leaves fluffy, sticky spots on the side of the glass. The body was a hazy, golden-orange with medium carbonation.

S- Initially, it gave the impression of floral hops and raw bread/pizza dough. With some warmth, it becomes sugary sweet. I'm thinking of something like that sweet, Hawaiian bread.

T- It's a good mix of bready malts and spicy hops at first sip. Things end up a little on the sweet side as the hops take a back seat with a little warmth. I might mistake it for a well-made Euro strong lager (minus any adjuncts) or an Imperial Pils.

M- It's a little chewy/grainy in the mouth. There's a slight bite from the carbonation and a hint of alcohol tickle that becomes more pronounced as the beer gets closer to room temp.

D- It's a tasty treat, but the alcohol will sneak up on you, especially in the larger bottle. I don't know that I could drink a second in a sitting, but I'd drink it again. It's decently priced, so it might hit the spot when looking for something with a bit of a kick.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2009 21:16:48 | More by GRPunk

sweemzander

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

1 pint sized bottle poured into an imperial pint. No bottled date.

(A)- Pours a cloudy golden orange color that produced an ample white bubbly head that has good retention.

(S)- Very malty; sweet with a spicy apple breadiness. A little lemon.

(T)- Malty; extremely malty with a spicy note combined with a caramel & toffee sweetness. Finishes slightly dry.

(M)- Great carbonation level & balance. Sweet, but not overly so. Rather crisp.

(D)- Man, this is really filling! It really sticks to your bones. However, it is a solid bock with everything where it should be.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2009 23:13:30 | More by sweemzander

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice somewhat hazy (from sediment or something - not bothersome) amber with a fairly thick and persistent white head. Crisp aroma is mainly malty with an undertone of fruit. Flavor is richly malty with hints of apple and banana and just a touch of caramel. Texture is sharp, tingly and fizzy.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2009 03:36:42 | More by Cyberkedi

rtepiak

Poland

4.13/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a wonderful german blend of beer that makes for a excellent euro strong lager. golden reddish with a smaller head... nose of apple caramel, booze, honey. palate of bright fruit with a mild leather smokey sour quality. and caramel sweet bitter finish. not particularly acidic. mellow but bread with an effort to be quite rich... probably even better aged about a year or two which seems sort of unconventional.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2009 10:00:05 | More by rtepiak

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A heavily smeared glow of dulled golden hay capped by a small lop of white foam that stays put fairly well. Not much lacing sticks, just a few specks and spots.

Aroma is of what a solid Maibock usually places on the nose with a sweet breadyness coated with a slight grassy edge and toasty cereal backing.

Taste is just as solid, nice tender sweetness of lightly sugared bread, partial lemon tone way underneath, grassy notes edge it well as does some floral hints, very dull toastyness rounds it out with a tiny push into some sweetened bitterness of grasses.

Body is quite rounded in a solid malty sense and tone while keeping a tenderly chewy carbonation and creamyish bread laden center. And there's a crisp side to it, as is a crunchy light bite. Nice complexity to its overall play on the palate in the mouthfeel department. Nice toasty/grassy play inbetween the sweetness wonders about the mid ranges and finishing with just a nudge of bitterness to grass and lemon; or, i.e. lemongrass?

A solid Maibock and quite drinkable. Something I would get again.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2009 01:50:36 | More by tavernjef

tlinner

New York

4.53/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Received as a B-Day present from a family friend. Thanks, Paul!

Anyway, this one sure doesn't look like a doppelbock, as it's much more of an amber than a dark brown. Copious head, but little lace.

The smell is malty like a doppel, with strong notes of honey and hops.

Tastes wonderful. Strong malt presence with a subtle hoppiness. Goes down easy. Slight citrusy taste.

Overall, a great beer and one I was pleasantly surprised to receive. Not the greatest example of the style, but certainly no slouch.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2009 21:25:22 | More by tlinner

KarlHungus

Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a cloudy dusty orange color. The head is one inch in height, and recedes quickly into a small cap of lacing. The aroma is of caramel, toffee, toast, and a hint of noble hops. The taste is a little less malty than the aroma. The is some decent complexity, but it lacks any real pizazz. The mouthfeel is medium-full bodied with carbonation that is a little too low for the style. Overall, I love maibocks, but this one just doesn't do it for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2009 23:48:26 | More by KarlHungus

nick76

Florida

3.53/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

The aroma is very good with citrus and herbal hops that don't seem too strong. The aroma also has adjunct like malts. The appearance is orange gold with a large head. The flavor is like the aroma with a citrus finish. The palate is thin. Overall this is good.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2009 05:31:17 | More by nick76

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.55/5  rDev -3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Was happy to see this at Goebbels in in Wichita, I have really enjoyed all their other offerings!

Pours amber/copper colored with 2 fingers of cream colored head. below average head retention & minmal lacing

S: Herbal & metallic hops, plus breadyness once warm

T: Leafy hops, breadyness, dryness and grainy up front. Grassy hops dominate as this warms along with some grapefruitty bitterness, plus grainy breadyness. Finishes grainy with leafy hops & honey malt, almost pulled a 4.0, got better once warm

MF: Grainy & creamy at the same time, low carbonation

Drinks pretty easy for the ABV, but this one fell short IMO. I will try again if I know its fresh, not too sure about this one

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2009 23:08:37 | More by russpowell

tmoneyba

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle at HopCat.

Poured hazy brown color with an average frothy off-white head that mostly lasted with excellent lacing. Good caramel toasted malt and yeast aroma. Medium to full body with a smooth texture and soft carbonation. Good balanced bittersweet malty flavor with a moderate smooth balanced finish of moderate to long duration.

Standout doppelbock.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2009 02:24:29 | More by tmoneyba

51mmz0rz

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Duvel tulip from a 500mL bottle.

A: Small slightly off white head with decent retention. Body is cloudy dark golden. Flecks of yeast are visible near the bottom.

S: Malty smell, like from the brew kettle. Rich, slightly sweet.

T: For a beer of such strength, I would expect a bit more in terms of flavor. Its not unpleasant, just a little too simple. Biggest flavor is the grain with a good balancing bitterness and alcohol warmth.

M: Again, not great, maybe a little thin and slightly sticky.

D: It does go down pretty easy.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2008 02:52:34 | More by 51mmz0rz

pokesbeerdude

Colorado

2.83/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I've had this one for a while, purchased at Wilbur's in Ft. Collins, CO. Not sure on the price, maybe $2-$3?

A: Orange/copper colored, crystal clear, dense white head that bubbled up to about and inch and a half. Very rocky. Excellent clinging lacing on the side.

S: toasted bread smells, hops are somewhat skunky, a little more towards the malt spectrum, some faint hints of fruit, definite mineral smells as well.

T: grainy and malty, off metallic taste, doesn't linger long in the mouth but its definitely there, and detracts from the taste, very sweet, almost has a corn flavor to it. not really sure on this one, but it isn't exactly great. almost no hop characteristic, what is there is spicy. slight alcohol in the end. metallic character is really off setting though.

M: this one has a little heat to it, goes down very warm from the alcohol, nicely carbonated though, somewhat thick in the mouth.

D: not very drinkable, too many offsetting metallic flavors in this one, they really cover up the other flavors in the beer. could be better, but the metal just throws everything out of order.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2008 00:58:12 | More by pokesbeerdude