Thomas Hooker Liberator Doppelbock - Thomas Hooker Brewing Company

PEBKAC

New York

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Before all the ugly shit that happened in the Hooker vs. The People of Connecticut ordeal, this was probably my favorite beer for a spell. My first real BA excursion in '06 exposed me to its sublime qualities. I continued with one liter bottles while they where available, eventually moving on once the 500ml fliptops went from $5.99 to 8.99(the last of the bottled stuff around here), & they started concentrating more on things like... watermelon beer.

Nothing ever lasts, but I spotted some on tap for growlers at my favorite spot(New Beer) recently, so I just had to have a taste. Something like less then $12 for a 64oz fill. Wow, when did that price slash happen? There was actually a little tasting going on at the store that day. The Helles they had was kind of disappointing, but this, besides seeming a little more roasty then I remembered, was my go to sample of the afternoon. Anyway, on to the jug.

Poured into my fat Ommegang flute. Brown on black body. Ruby edged/hued. Toasted oatmeal/sandy head, thin & eager to leave.

Smell is of maple wood, sticky malt, macerated prunes & newspaper ink. Decent pine & smoke notes that I don't recall. More then casual roast, dark fruit is more intense then I expected. I just have a bad memory is all. Alcohol is quiet till it warms up.

Taste is syrupy sweet & pecan-ish upfront. Somewhat creamy & chewy. Fruit acidity & coffee bitterness come into play halfway through. Don't like that. A little bitter char, but more so, a bigger note of pine tar & newspaper. Finish is quite bitter for a bock. It's rindy back here too. Quieter(& preferred) when a bit chilled, but basically flat once warm.

Carbonation struggles, but lines up front to back for the most part. Good, sturdy body. Feel is strangely fluffy. Alcohol hinders some.

I feel numb enough to forgive, but it just isn't as good as I remember. The new guy fucked with it, but a little duct tape here & there might be able to help keep it together. Whatever. Connecticut...

Serving type: growler

07-28-2009 09:59:01 | More by PEBKAC

Lexluthor33

New York

4.53/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I got a chance to purchase a growler without any idea of what it would be like. I also met the Brewer whose name as I recall was Elizabeth.
Upon pouring I could see a respectable head which settled to a thin, bubbly lace. A dark brown color with a slight reddish tint.
The aroma mainly indicated bread,malt heavy and hints of dough and caramel.
The taste was bread notes with a deep malt base and following the nose there was some caramel on taste.
The feel was full body medium carbonation. Smooth and creamy. A really dry finish,but the balance is outstanding.
Some warmth in the finish as well yet although I guessed 9% ABV it is actually 8%. Either way it was too easy to drink.

Notes: A really exceptional example of the style. As intended this was brewed to have more of a bread taste and balance was the ultimate goal. I say thank you.

Serving type: growler

06-27-2009 19:31:41 | More by Lexluthor33

Deus1138

Georgia

4.78/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Didn't know what to expect from my first Dopplebock.

Poured a very deep, dark brown, almost black. Lots of little bubbles of carbonation clinging to the side of the glass. About 1/4 inch of light, creamy head.

Smell is mostly roasted malts. Not too strong.

Taste. Mmmm Delicious. Roasted malts, caramel, creamy, a little sweet, and a little bitter at the end.

Mouthfeel. It's a little heavy, but creamy and smooth.

Drinkability. One of the best beers I've ever had. Just the right amount of everything: roasted maltiness, caramel sweetness, bitterness, and smooth creaminess. An excellent brew.

Serving type: growler

01-07-2008 00:21:03 | More by Deus1138

battlekow

Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Shared my growler of Liberator with murrayswine, who got the surprise of his life when he opened the bottle and the beer exploded all over him and his counter. It was...very carbonated. Thus: big, BIG head, half the pint glass. The other half was a thick, syrupy dark brown color. Toxic beer sludge goodness that smelled and tasted very complex. There was sweet chocolate and caramel, toasted malts, some nuttiness, butter and toffee. Lots of toffee in the finish, along with a huge helping of bitterness. The more I drank, the more it tasted like chocolate. Overall, I would say that Thomas Hooker Liberator Doppelbock is an excellent liquid version of a Snickers bar. Nice, thick mouthfeel too. Warm and loving, Liberator keeps giving and giving until you realize it's 8 PM and your girlfriend is, somewhere, very angry with you.

Serving type: growler

08-31-2005 02:21:15 | More by battlekow

murrayswine

Arizona

4.55/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Split a growler with a fellow Milwaukee BA, Battlekow.

When we opened it, this thing erupted with a caramel colored foam, wanted to towel it up and wring it into my glass, it smelled so good.

On pouring I was greeted with a solid 3 inch head that took a good 30 seconds to sink back to around an inch of head.

The body is like coffee with a hint of cream, just a meer hint only, with a burnt sienna halo around the outside.

The smell is strong with coffee, chocolate, and unsweetened butter.

The taste delivers with buttery chocolate, english toffee, cashews, and a creamy finish, it almost gets even better as it warms up.

The mouthfeel is slightly bitter, with a light tang. Mild carbonation rounds it out.

Over all, this beer is fuckin amazing!

Serving type: growler

08-31-2005 02:21:00 | More by murrayswine

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to beersndrums for this one!

12 oz bottle poured into a mug at cellar temperature.

L – Ruby brown color with a 1.5-finger bubbly, tan head that fades fairly rapidly into a ring of bubbles that hangs around for a while.

S – A blast of malty aromas including caramel, molasses, dark fruits like plums and currants, and a touch of chocolate. This has everything you could want in a doppelbock.

T – Just like the aroma, the taste is brimming with maltiness. It’s sweet all the way through with bready, caramel, molasses, milk chocolate, and juicy dark fruits. There may be just a touch of earthy, spicy, and mildly bitter hops at the finish that pair well with the rich dark fruits. Man, this is tasty.

F – Medium-bodied with good carbonation, a sticky and creamy mouthfeel, and a sweet, dry finish. Sweet malt flavors linger along with a mild throat-warming sensation from the alcohol.

O – This is an awesome beer and a fantastic doppelbock. It’s just loaded with brilliant malty aromas and flavors, is extraordinarily tasty, and is frighteningly drinkable for clocking in at 8.5% ABV. Jared, thank you so much for giving me the chance to try this!

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 02:39:14 | More by BlackBelt5112203

sommersb

Tennessee

3.51/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tasted On: 02-01-2013
Freshness: Bottled on 10-04-2012
Packaging: 22 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Willi Becher
Purchased: Received in a trade

A: Pours a dark brown, nearly black beer, with ruby highlight colors. Retention is fair with a good lace.

S: Dark, bready malts in the nose, plus a smoky quality. Other aromas are of earthy/woody hops.

T: Tastes of heavily roasted grains, with a bitterness like you get in a dark coffee. Just as in the aromas, I taste woody and smoky flavors, which gives it an unpleasant astringent character.

M: Medium-bodied with an average amount of carbonation. Finishes with roasted grain bitterness and woody flavors, plus a slight smoked presence. More astringency as well.

O: The aromas and flavors are not what I expected for this dopplebock, with the dominance of the wood and smoke characteristics. I don't think this is intentional so perhaps this bottle has some quality issues? I have some more bottles in the fridge so I'm curious to see how they fare.

Thanks to davey101 for this one!

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 05:03:19 | More by sommersb

diddly

New York

4.09/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip glass.

Color is a dark brown, with hints of red. Tan, thin head.

Smells sweet and roasty, with hints of wood from aging.

Tastes fairly sweet, but more roasted. Little to no bittnerness, but some dark fruitiness for a well-balanced flavor. Slight warmth from alcohol.

Mouthfeel is very smooth from sweetness.

Overall pretty good, but it doesn't seem superb. The 4-pack I bought was about 11 months old, so that could certainly play a part. Very rich, and seemingly thick, but it doesn't feel it as you're drinking.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 03:44:13 | More by diddly

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Marked down to 2 bucks at my local House of 1,000 beers.

A - Must be a tad old but still gave me a 1/2 inch of opaque colored head. Beer is a very dark shade of Oak brown, very clear at the base.

S - Smells of deep caramel malt, touch of oak and some raisin/plum, very typical for the style. Very deep and very heavy smelling.

T - Has a bit of sour cherry thing going on as others described as a "sour grape". Must be the clash of lager yeasts and caramel malts. Other than that I am just getting sweet malts and a touch of bread.

M - Despite the high ABV it drinks with a medium body.

Overall it's more of a lager than a dopplebock yet it is very drinkable. Worth the price of admission.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 01:55:37 | More by DrDemento456

oberon

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a deep mahogany with sticky 1/2 finger off white head atop,aromas of dark fruit and molasses,a little alcohol is present as well,just very rich and inviting.Flavors start off with the dark fruit notes dipped in alcohol,deep molasses flavors really take over but never get to sweet,the alcohol is always there but never to much so.I finally got to try this beer and I was not dissapointed,worthy of high marks.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 22:52:48 | More by oberon

acceptmj

Connecticut

4.98/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Got this in a bottle finally for my birthday

A: Pours a white head which disappears quickly. Color is a very dark roasted ruby red. when held up to a light you can barely see through it.

S: The smell is amazing. Very malty with hints of a wine characteristic and also figs or plums. You can smell a hint of the alcohol but not much due to the amount of malted barley that they use.

T: This beer has a subtle sweetness all around from start to finish. You recieve all of the malt flavors and just a hint of bitterness to balance it out. In the after taste you get some raisin or plum again.

M: With all the 8 different malts they use in this recipe it is not filling at all. It is a full bodied beer which coats your mouth completely. But you can drink 2 or 3 of these and still feel like another one if not for the alcohol content.

O: This is the best Doppelbock i have had. I love how even though it is a thick and heavy beer after you finish a bottle you dont feel full or "sluggish". This is a great beer to start expanding your palate with.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 01:07:53 | More by acceptmj

slim2043

Connecticut

4.8/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from bottle into a DFH pint glass. Been meaning to try this from my local Hooker brewery. My first doppelbock besides Spaten but have read the style notes.

A: pours a deep brown w a ruby red hue. Nice off white head w some retention

S: malty sweet smell w grape notes kind of smells like wine or raisins

T: a sweet raisiny grapey taste w nice bitter and sweet notes. Pretty big malt profile. Warming alcohol presence is subtle.

M: very slick and smooth pretty full bodied but easy to drink

O: makes me want to explore doppelbocks (hence the high rating) a strong beer w beautifully strong flavors. A showcase for this style.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 03:12:06 | More by slim2043

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into NB globe. Pours a nice deep brown color and red hue, with a good amount of off white head. Aromas of sweet malts, with a small bit of dried fruit/date. Taste is malty, with hints of slight hop and dried fruit notes. Its a bit bitter, but mellow. Alcohol is present, again; mellow.
Its a bit macro or ordinary, but it had some good finishing qualities. Overall, a pretty good doppelbock.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 23:42:50 | More by DrinkSlurm

B967ierhunter177

Pennsylvania

1.2/5  rDev -71.7%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

This beer pours a very dark brown with no head or lacing. It's aroma is of coffee and burnt toast with a hint of anise. The flavor is coffee with notes of black licorice and cough syrup. There is a long lasting dark roasted malt aftertaste. The mouthfeel is thick and syrup-like. Thomas Hooker Liberator Doppelbock is a bit of a disappointment. Not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 23:42:36 | More by B967ierhunter177

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This a good tasting beer bitty not a doppelbock. Had on tap at the ginger man- pours a pretty clear blades brown color with a one finger carmel color head. No lacing.

Smells like coffee too strongly for a doppelbock. Strong dark malt character.

Tastes also like a mocha porter- coffee and chocolate and dark malt come through pretty clearly.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Good stuff- not a doppelbock.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2012 03:56:05 | More by Hopdaemon39

celticfutblclub

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into celebrator glass

A - dark brown body with a thin wisp of a head. whats there stays there all the way down with some great lacing as well.

S - lots of dark fruit in there as well as some hints of cherry as well. molasses and sweet malty goodness sit behind the fruit.

T - dark fruit again plum raisins some tartness (raspberries but faint) molasses brown sugar ride out behind.

M - medium to full bodied with a good amount of carbonation. as mentioned there is some tartness in there as well as a tiny bit of a hop bite.

O - a superb take on the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 00:28:25 | More by celticfutblclub

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.65/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance - generally opaque, but shows some turbid reddish brown around the edges with some good backlighting. Sustains a light mocha head for a good duration before stalling out with a partial cover and solid collar.

Aroma - powdery, roasty grain, a hint of sweetened cocoa. A little more presence, and some added woodiness, with warming but stays on the lighter side.

Taste - rich caramel malt, sweet with some chocolate. Some substantial hop bite on the swallow, bitter but not much character beyond that. Still, it's a great balancer. A light fruitiness combines with the abv for a mildly sweet, roasty, and warm finish. Complex, full-flavored, and entertaining for the tastebuds in a number of areas. A most complete doppelbock.

Mouthfeel - smooth with a lower than average carbonation. A full body, very nice.

Drinkability - a superb doppelbock. Sweet, roasty up front; some bite, heat, and more roastiness at the end. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 03:56:48 | More by brewdlyhooked13

nickthegun12

Alabama

4.6/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

wow!...now this is a beer!!!

dark as any lager that i've ever seen! low profile head that fades fast with splotchy lacing

the smell gets stronger as the beer warms up....when cold not much smell, maybe some mild dark fruits....

the taste is incredible!...it hits you with dark malts....and a malty overload!....but somehow its pretty balanced...i would imagine the BU's aren't very high...this is a man's beer right here, this is the dark and high percentage alcohol beer that people who don't know anything about beer think about a dark beer being

the feel is dry and typical lager style

overall this isn't my favorite style, but i know a damn good doppelbock when i see one....thumbs way up on this one!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 03:46:24 | More by nickthegun12

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

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

Appearance: very dark with faint red highlights. Head is soda like on the pour and recedes to a ring and some wispy remnants.
Smell: deep yeasty, almost bread like, bread with just the right amount of stank on it. Add some dark fruitiness.
Taste: not as rich as the nose projects but very nice. An interesting nutty finish.
Overall: My second Thomas hooker, the first being the imperial porter. If all their beers are this good, I want more.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 00:43:53 | More by cindyjeffsmith

Gavage

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: pours a brown color with a one finger head that falls to some larger bubbles on the glass sides.

Smell: caramel, bread, and a mild alcohol nose.

Taste: caramel, milk chocolate, prunes, moderate bitterness, and a bit of alcohol warming. A nice bready feel here too.

Mouthfeel: medium-heavy in body. Smooth from the start through to the finish.

Overall: a full flavored doppelbock that really hits the spot when looking for the style. Worthy of trying this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 19:35:29 | More by Gavage

JayS2629

Alabama

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Grade it for its enjoyability and not for its style. It strays from the strict maltiness of a dopplebock style but in a good way. It stops short of the traditional super malty sweet beer and balances with a good dose of earthy and grassy hops. I grade this on great balance.

It pours a dark semi-ruby/brown beer with a descent white head that sticks around a good bit and leaves nice lacing.

The aroma is of malty, fresh baked breads, toffee, and caramel. Grassy, earthy, bright elements peek through to wake the senses. Nice malty backbone with a floral surface.

The flavor is full of bread, toffee, caramel, and a touch of cocoa on a stage of earth, grass, honeysuckle, and clover. Nice balance. Rich but not cloying. Clean, crisp finish.

Malty and sweet with a balance of clean, grassy hops and clean, crisp finish with afternotes more on the hop side than the malt.

Overall a very enjoyable, balanced beer that should be graded on its overall enjoyability and taste, not on how strict it follows the style guideline.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 01:25:44 | More by JayS2629

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: deep/cloudy brown shimmer of crimson,
khaki finger head,

S: floral, grapefruit, pine, mild nut

T: grapefruit, floral, grassy, mild
bitter finish

M: med/light body, sem-dry mouth

O: too hoppy for my taste
when it comes to doppelbocks.
I was so pumped to try this, but
was disappointed. Maybe I got
a bad bottle? I thought Doppelbocks
were supposed to be creamy/chewy/smooth
big malt?

OK, NOT MUST HAVE!

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 20:56:01 | More by BeerLover99

Jacobob10

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Deep brown color with a tan head that sticks to the side of the glass as it dissipates. Loads of carbonation gives way to decent head retention. The aroma is strong with roasted malts in the forefront. Flavor is bitter with notes of coffee, burnt malt, dark chocolate and a touch of alcohol. High carbonation leaves a fizzy sensation on the tongue and it gets a bit cloying after a while. However, it is very drinkable for such a strong brew.

I have had my eye on this beer for several years and finally saw it at a local liquor store. My expectations may have been a bit high, but overall a very nice brew and something I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 23:35:44 | More by Jacobob10

OneDropSoup

Pennsylvania

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

Poured into a shaker pint: Deep mahogany body with chestnut highlights all throughout. A finger of tan head that drops to a thin coating & leaving a few strands of lacing.

Smells of thick, caramel, syrupy sweetness that comes very close to tipping into a cherry pie filling, if that makes sense. Gains a rich toffee character & some breadiness. Very good.

Tight caramel up front in the taste, once the fizz subsides. Interestingly, a bigger sip starts & finishes a little dry & alcoholic, seltzer-like; a smaller sip is just a smooth, sweet, caramel, with notes like grape jelly & a nutty, bready character. Very tasty, if you know how to drink it.

Medium-full-bodied, with a lager smoothness, just slightly sticky. For as sweet as it is, it's relatively light, truth be told.

This is delicious. Reminds me much more of a Wee Heavy than a Doppelbock (especially American-made, which tend to be boozy messes), but I'll take it! Rich & satisfying.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 00:04:21 | More by OneDropSoup

abraxel

Michigan

3.28/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Very dark brown, with some reddish highlights. The head is super fizzy and disappears quickly. It looks (and sounds) a lot like cola.

S - Some nice fruitiness and dark malts. Not as tasty or as strong as I hoped. Maybe a touch of alcohol is noticeable.

T - Bready malts with no shortage of fruit notes. There's also a bit of almost solventy alcohol, though. It doesn't ruin the beer, but it does detract from it.

M - Smooth, with almost no carbonation (it looked like all of it fizzled out in the pour). A little thin.

Overall,I was looking forward to this beer based on the ratings and I have to say I'm a little disappointed. I've had many doppelbocks that were fantastic, but this is not one of them.

Upon perusing the other reviews, I can't help but wonder if this bottle came from a bad (or less-than-stellar) batch. Many reviewers noted the foamy and long-lasting head, in contrast to mine, where the head dropped to nothing almost as soon as I set down the bottle. A few recent reviewers seem to have described something similar to mine, which makes me think that, if it is a problem with the bottle I have, it's likely a recurring issue.

Anyway. I rated this beer as it deserved, but I suspect many other reviewers drank something better. C'est la vie.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 23:32:16 | More by abraxel