Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel - Klosterbrauerei Andechs

pauljmccain

Missouri

4.85/5  rDev +11%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had from the barrel at Kloster Andechs. Great place.

A: A nice dark red that is clear, not hazy. Nice thick head, slightly off-white.

S: Wonderful malty aroma. Not quite what I expected; very light smell, and quite sweet.

T: Amazing taste. Full body of sweet, malty, goodness, balanced well with a bitter taste. Slight hints of fruits.

M: Great mouthfeel. Good body, but I would have preferred it a bit fuller. A good level of carbonation.

D: Excellent drinkability, especially for a doppelbock. Went through 2 liter glasses quite quickly. Possibly my favorite beer.

Serving type: cask

07-04-2010 20:12:42 | More by pauljmccain

jmhart

Georgia

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

Tasted this from the barrel at Kloster Andechs.

Deep amber-brown in color with no residual sediment. A nice almond colored head filled the last 5-10% of the glass and hung around for a minute or two, not too long, not too short.

Highly aromatic, clearly illuminating the roasted malty aroma. Sweet on the nose, but not in a repulsive way. Subtle hints of smoke.

Strong taste of caramel but balanced well with hoppy bitterness. Full bodied with low acidity.

Mildly carbonated but lacks the full bodied texture I would have expected which leaves a little something missing.

While overall my impression was diminished slightly by the less than full body of the texture, that point actually increases the drinkability of this beer.

Overall a good beer that I would drink again.

Serving type: cask

05-03-2010 21:51:23 | More by jmhart

Atricapilla

Pennsylvania

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

A nice example of a Doppelbock:

The beer is a nice mahogany in color with some distinct reddish overtones. The head is relatively small for a dark bier but has a slight creaminess to it. The aroma smeels nicely of grain, both fresh and toasted. The taste is very malty, with again, a lot of fresh and toasted grain flavors. These balance nicely with the sweetness. This was my bier of choice at the Kloster in Andechs.

Serving type: cask

06-03-2007 18:40:55 | More by Atricapilla

DoubleJ

California

4.18/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Ah, the legendary Andechser Doppelbock. I got my chance to try it on-tap at Andechser am Dom in Munich and was excited to have the chance. On to the beer:

This doppelbock is ruby brown in color with red and orange hues which add an extra texture to the appearance. That's not to ignore the good amount of lace which whip around the glass. The nose makes me think of a meal in a glass, a strong dark sweet bread note, but trailing it is a kiss of chocolate. The flavor provided is big in quantity; it's toasty, bready, a little bit sweet, and has a breath of alcohol whicc compliments rather than disturbs the chemistry of the beer. It's medium full bodied, which is fitting, though perhaps not as warming as I expected given the talk of this beer. Make no mistake, this is good stuff that I would recommend you taste when you come to Bavaria.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2013 16:58:43 | More by DoubleJ

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.44/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served from a 16.9oz (0.5L) bottle into a Guinness 250th anniversary Imperial Pint. Fridge temp.

Grabbed by a coworker for me while he was in Germany.

Appearance- Relatively clear amber/brown with one finger of bubbly white head that didn't last long leaving a pleasant ring around the beer.

Smell- Caramel malts, mild hop earthy aroma, metalicy smells, maybe some dark stone fruit. Not too impressive. Mostly just roasted malts.

Taste- Caramel, toffee, cherry, plum, light roasty coffee, and a heavily roasted malt backbone. On the sweeter side, but not cloying by any means.Perfect example of a Dopplebock. Alcohol is hidden as well.

Mouthfeel- Smooth and rich (but not too viscous) with moderate carbonation. No booze burn at all. Very creamy throughout.

Overall- One of the best Dopplebocks I've had. Truly a fantastic example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 16:07:00 | More by Seanniek91

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4.09/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brownish ruby colour, ring of off white head, light lace on the glass as well. Smell is a nice mix of malt and dark fruits, comes off quite jammy with some nutty/almond like points, but great aromas of malts and fruit all the way through. Taste isn't quite as nice as the nose but retains the flavours of malts and nutty dark fruit, a bit jammy as well, plums and a bit of chocolate mid palate into the finish, more dark fruits in the aftertaste. Medium carbonation, medium bodied with a nice feel. A really good doppelbock but not as good as Celebrator, still really nice to be able to try this though.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 19:34:35 | More by peensteen

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.26/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Shared by Pino, 500ml into a tulip.

Dark brown with mahogany hues, beige head with great retention and good lace. Nose is bready, jam and dark fruit notes, nuts and toffee. Taste has mroe bready flavours, dark fruits, toasted grains, a sweeter 'jammy' flavour pervades but dries out in the finish. Medium full, real smooth lower carbonation without any alcohol. An excellent doppel, would doppel again.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 14:14:08 | More by liamt07

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.85/5  rDev -34.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Served in a Sweetwater mini-snifter.

Goin' after some big fish here, the current top-rated doppelbock. Let's dance: It pours a dark-ish sienna topped by a finger of sandy khaki foam. The nose comprises dry toffee and lightly-toasted biscuit. The taste brings in more of the same, along with some light vanilla bean and watered-down cocoa. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda drying finish. Overall, this stuff is about as painfully average as you can get. Something tells me it's all about unattainability here: Because this stuff requires at least an overseas trade or a vacation or a lucky hookup, it's perceived as better than it really is. (I call it Westy syndrome.) Sometimes, it's still good, but it's never nearly as good as reputations hold it to be. Huge case-in-point here.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 21:38:14 | More by TMoney2591

homebrew311

Illinois

2.88/5  rDev -34.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Deep reddish amber appearance with a layer of beige head. Nose is very malty with hints of smoke, cereal grains, a bit of vegetal character and some notes of corn. I get some aroma of dry dog food as well... Ehhh... Not so good. Taste has a one dimensional fruity sweetness with notes of grape. A bit of a tart turn at the end. Taste is a bit sloppy. Mouthfeel is moderate with light carbonation. Overall, not a huge fan.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 23:06:26 | More by homebrew311

supermeniscus

Netherlands

4.6/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle bought in the Hague. Since i'm becoming a fan of this style i thought i would give this one a try. Well, i never thought i would drink a German beer that was so complex. It's definitely got that extra something that only the best beers in the world possess. Drink it!

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 22:17:31 | More by supermeniscus

MattSweatshirt

Texas

4.05/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The main beer I wanted on my one night stopover in München.
On tap at Andechser am Dom.

What is basically a pint glass is laid before me holding a beer with a thick tan head and a transparent dark bodied brown beer with orange and red highlights.
The nose brings forth aromas of dark fruit with a big bready presence.
The aroma translates well into the taste. The dark fruit and breadyness are there with some added grape.
The beer is a little sweet and sticky with a smooth medium body.
Goes well with the their interesting Spätzle dish.

Serving type: on-tap

12-25-2012 07:18:51 | More by MattSweatshirt

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500ml Bottle received in trade with Phyl21ca - thanks!

Appearance - Reddish brown colour with an average size fizzy beige head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing and there is some fairly good lacing. The head lasted for 2-3 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Malts, dark fruits, butterscotch, an earthiness

Taste & Mouth - There is a below average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts and some butterscotch. There is also some raisin and herbal notes and a bit of a earthy/smokey/roasted flavour. It ends with a malty dark fruit aftertaste with a touch of bitterness.

Overall - I've been wanting to try this one for a while due to the high reviews. It's a good beer.. but nothing mind blowing. My bottle is best before September 2012, but still.. it can't have changed all that much.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 00:49:56 | More by spinrsx

kojevergas

California

3.63/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on-draught into a .5 litre Andechs glass in Germany. Reviewed from notes taken June 2010.

A: Pours a 2.5 finger head of lovely cream and thickness. Great retention. Colour is a dark ruby. Nontransparent.

Sm: Dark fruit, caramel, chocolate, and pleasant dark esters.

T: Dark fruit, caramel, layered beautiful yet minimal hops. Brilliant shining esters (but not berry) on the climax. The full-bodied barley body is subtle and well malted. Very well balanced and built. No alcohol comes through. Perhaps a touch too sweet, but I quite like it.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Complements the flavours nciely. Maybe a bit syrupy, but it's forgivable; this style demands thickness and presence.

Dr: Very easy to drink, even refreshing. A fantastic Doppelbock - definitely one of the best I've ever had. Give her a spin; you won't be disappointed. I'd have to have a side by side, but I think I prefer this to Celebrator.

B

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2012 19:38:11 | More by kojevergas

writerLJBerg

Oregon

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

500ml courtesy of Don. Thanks! Tulip.

A: Plum and brown color with a quarter inch lasting head. Decent legs.

N: Clove, brown sugar, malt, soy sauce, prune. Has a deep appreciable sweetness that never ventures to cloying.

T: Complex. Brown sugar, some earthy hop bitterness. A hint of smokiness and some soy sauce, but not as a flaw. Incredibly balanced. Clove again. Cola. Breadiness like a dark rye loaf.

M: Rich and full. Very clean.

O: A rewarding beer. A veritable loaf of bread in a glass. Extremely glad t have tried this, and a beer I will revisit whenever I get the chance.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 17:30:16 | More by writerLJBerg

JeffreyJDavis

North Carolina

4.26/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Have had this a few times on draft and finally picked up a 0.5L bottle at the local Trinkmarkt. Let me start by saying that I'm not a huge Doppelbock fan, but that I enjoyed this beer a lot.

A: Pours a dark dark brown with some red tint to it. Clear, no turbidity. One or two fingers of head which formed quickly and dissipated equally quickly with almost no lacing.

N: It's nice, of course, mostly malty earthiness with some sweet toffee smells. I get some combo sweet and salty aroma like teriyaki or butterscotch cookies with sea salt. Smells better than I make it sound.

T: Not as sweet as I would have guessed from the nose, more toasty than it smelled. Nutty malty breadiness, with molasses and maybe a cola flavor. Sweet dark fruits, but not overpowering at all. I don't get much alcohol, 7.1% is tucked away nicely. Slightest bit of hop in the finish.

MF: I like the mouthfeel on this, coats the tongue well with good, balanced carbonation. A little too lingering maybe, a little creamy and oily at the end.

Overall this is a great beer and worthy of being highly ranked as (one of) the best in it's style. This is more subdued and balanced than some of the American Craft takes on doppelbock. It's in the same league as Ayinger Celebrator in my book.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 20:25:47 | More by JeffreyJDavis

MasterSki

Illinois

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

I've had this beer a few times, but haven't gotten around to reviewing it. This bottle was from Etre Gourmet and was nearly a year old. Served in some sort of tulip at Tom's place.

A - Light tan foam settles to a thin collar and wispy patches, leaving minimal lacework. Transparent dark almond brown body.

S - A nice collection of toasted malts, cocoa powder, toffees, honey-dipped cake, and a bit of malted milk chocolate (i.e. Whoppers). Perhaps a hint of roast in there as well. It's also got that clean lager feel to it.

T - The taste isn't quite as sweet as the aroma suggests, with more hearty bread and nuts and less of the sweet and sugary flavors. Think banana bread with a dash of dark fruits and toffee and you'd be pretty close. No alcohol, which is appreciated even though this is on the low end of the Doppelbock ABVs scale. Clean and surprisingly refreshing finish.

M - Medium-full bodied, with a bit of roast dryness to the texture. Otherwise chewy and creamy, with medium-low carbonation an a hint of alcohol warmth. Quite easy to drink in comparison to some weightier beers of the style.

D - This is a very good doppelbock, but I think the unavailability factor may drive up the scores a tiny bit. Still, it seems mellower than Ayinger Celebrator even though it's a bit higher in alcohol. I could easily drink a half-litre on my own and I'll make sure to do so next time I'm in Europe.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 15:02:31 | More by MasterSki

stakem

Pennsylvania

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

500ml bottle I got sometime ago. Noticed this was within a month of it's best by so I opened it up with the only person i know who is crazy about this style - BA smoked. The brew pours a clear mahogany with ruby hints through the body. This looks almost like a clarified sort of maple syrup with 2+ fingers of yellowish tan froth. Stringy fingers of lace stick to the glass. Flawless appearance.

The smell has a solid toasty grain scent that is strikingly fresh. If you have ever witness the sheer awesomeness that is the smell of mashing in to a grist composed heavily of chocolate/caramel malts, this is it encapsulated in a glass. Notes of molasses and toffee, burnt sugars, mild chocolate, coffee and caramel all swell up in the nose. Some herbal hops and modest alcohol inclusion break up the malt assault in your nostrils.

The taste includes flavors of molasses, chocolate and nutty grains on the sweet side. Contrasting is a modest herbal to citrus hops inclusion with minor carbonic quality mixed with minerals. The aftertaste is buttery toffee, raisins, molasses and some earthy to herbal hops along with that carbonic quality previously mentioned.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest to effervescent level of carbonation. It is crisp and somewhat lighter in the feel for 7+%. This is a solid integration of flavors with nice complexity. It has a lingering cling on the palate almost like butter which is my only gripe. Overall a really nice experience that was significantly better than I was expecting. No wonder this is #1 in the style. Get it.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 14:54:06 | More by stakem

NittanyBeerFan

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to treyrab for hooking me up with a bottle of this after he returned from a recent trip to Germany.

Ruby brown in color that glows in the presence of light, there is a light layer of coarse foam that forms upon the pour. There is no retention at all. No lacing appears either.

The aroma and flavor are both mild compared to the best American interpretations of the style, but also even to some of my favorite German versions. Light toffee, caramel, and a touch of cocoa. Earthy notes, some hints of dark fruity esters, and a very clean finish. Not bold, but like a great pilsner, it is very nuanced and balanced.

Smooth, not too heavy, and very enjoyable, this is definitely a top-notch doppelbock. Definitely unique, but hot damn I would love more of these.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 03:02:27 | More by NittanyBeerFan

Luk13

Quebec (Canada)

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

I've had this one on tap, served in a 1 liter glass directly at Andechs monastery. The trip and ambiance played certainly influence my perception and appreciation of this beer. Very nice dark roasted malts without being too sweet which makes it one of the most easy drinking doppelbock. Wish they would import bottles of this in Canada.

Serving type: on-tap

08-13-2012 03:29:17 | More by Luk13

PancakeMcWaffles

Germany

4.2/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Very dark brown/red-ish colour, thick tan white head that reduces to a small layer very fast, almost no lacing.

S: Strong and malty rather sweet smell, little fruit, some caramel , decent toasty aromas.

T: Very sweet, more toasty than the smell would suggest, less caramel than I would have expected, little hops in the end, but not too much, overall a very balanced toasty malty flavour profile.

M: Not much carbonation, still a very watery mouthfeel for a Bock

O: Decent Bock, very interesting taste and smell, balanced aromas, overall a good dark Doppelbock, but the mouthfeel is a little disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 13:18:11 | More by PancakeMcWaffles

FosterJM

California

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

1374th Review on BA
Bottle to Bock Glass
500ml

Best by: 20/11/12
Thanks to my inlaws for bringing this home from Germany

App- Deep & Rich copper mixed with brown. Fairly dense with some shinny yellow in the center. A good puck of a off white/beige head with a pond layer top.

Smell- A lot going on in this one. A bit small with aromatics of sweet sugar, caramel, wheat and raisins. Seemingly small quad, bock and wheat beer in one. No sign of 7% and just a touch creamy.

Taste- This is very tasty, rich and smooth and filling. More sweetness than I wouldve thought with a malty, raisiny flavor and a touch of creamy sweetness. Again like a small quad with rich flavors that are balanced and layered well.

Mouth- Med/med. creamy malty, liquid simple syrup with brown sugar and wheat.

Drink- Just a fine example of a wonderful style. Wonderfully layered, sweet, savory and rich. Glad I have more!

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 19:33:46 | More by FosterJM

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Thirsybird for bringing this back from Germany. 500ml bottle. 6/9/12 indicated on the label. Pours the color of mahogany with a translucent clarity and a loose, quarter inch, tan-colored head that dissipates into soapy swirl. Nose is somewhat dull and doesn't really reveal all that much - just a suggestion of sweetness. Taste is malty, albeit not overly sweet, and somewhat subdued on the backend. There's also a hint of prunes and a faint, German yeast character. Mouthfeel is medium-light with a lively carbonation and a semi-dry finish. Overall, a very solid and drinkable doppelbock; however, definitely lower in alcohol than many of the other representations of the style that I've tried. That said, not a beer I would recommend for extended cellaring.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 14:28:58 | More by Jwale73

parris

Massachusetts

4.73/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Brown hazy color, yeast sediment, thin head, maybe I poured yeast that I shouldn't have.

Armoa is tons of maple syrup, and caramel, smells like you're about to eat a maple syrup hard candy.

Mild taste, very balanced, toasty and sweet

Medium bodied, very satisfying carbonation

This beer starts out as "pretty damn good" then finishes with "crap, it's gone." Very great overall.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 23:20:11 | More by parris

mdaschaf

Washington

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

A: Pours a dark purple/brown color with a large egg-white head on top, rather foamy. Decent retention that slowly reduces to a thin cap on top. Thin, soapy lacing forms around the entire glass.

S: Sweet aroma with some caramel, dark fruit, plum, raisins, a little bit of chocolate, and brown sugar.

T: Some more dark fruit, dates, plums, and a little raisin. There is some brown sugar, caramel, and toffee, and a little bit of cola. Hint of red apple on the finish.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Incredibly smooth and creamy. No hint of alcohol at all. Slightly dry finish.

O: Very impressed. Great flavor profile and extremely easy drinking. Mouthfeel is superb.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 02:43:32 | More by mdaschaf

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from World Wide Spirits
Best by 2012-09-20
Poured into a Celebrator doppelbock glass

Finally able to try the celebrated Andechser doppelbock, I find myself generally disappointed with this bottle's qualities. While I'm not sure as to how the bottle itself was stored at WWS, the date indicates that it should still be fresh enough to be interesting. The maltiness of the beer was mildly complex, but nothing above standard for a doppelbock, and the flavors and aromas were, in general, not robust enough. I'm not sure what this means as far as brewing techniques go, and while I'd give this another chance on tap at the brewery, I don't think I'd go to the same extent for another bottle, given that Celebrator and/or Maximator are usually easily available and more delicious for me.

Pours a modest 2cm head of dense foam, small bubbles, light tan in color. Had has average retention and leaves some modest lacing along sides of glass as it reduces to a thin ring around the glass. Body is a transparent red-brown amber color with visible, though sluggish, carbonation.

Aroma of prunes, dates, and very dark bread, slight yeast, and caramel. Pleasant, but not particularly bold: subtle and subdued. Not what I was expecting after reading reviews and the high status of the beer.

Tasting opens with sweetness, almost cordial-like with some tones of cherries. Dark, dried fruit esters are abundant throughout. Mid-palate ads in brown sugar, dried figs, and dates, with a bit of a sage+chocolate flavor that is rather noticeable and at times actually a bit unpleasant. Not sure if the bottle I had was exposed or had some other defect. Closes with drying, slightly spicy phenols and malt sweetness. Aftertaste is largely bready and sweet, with a bit of light brown sugar. Overall, though there are many flavors, none of them are as bold or expressive as I would expect a top doppelbock to be, and I'm left rather disappointed.

Beer is medium bodied with moderate carbonation, creating a smooth mouthfeel that's a bit pillowy and creamy. Slightly warming from ethanol, but this is expected. Finishes dry with some stickiness on the lips.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 17:45:00 | More by falloutsnow