Duck-Rabbit Duck-Rabbator - The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery

orsulacp

Pennsylvania

2.83/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I had this on tap expecting an awesome doppelbock, but got something else. It looked good, nice deep amber color, good off white head. The smell was ok, malty, a little whiff of pepper. The taste was off, it was way too sweet, and not malty sweet, it was cherry sweet, no bitterness. I took a drink of water to make sure it wasn't something else, nope same thing. It was thick and chewy, low carbonation. I am bummed by this, I love a good doppelbock.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2012 01:05:36 | More by orsulacp

elgiacomo

Georgia

2.9/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Re-review of 2012 batch. First bottle was an infected mess. 2nd bottle is definitely better. Score will be an average of the two as I'm sure there are other infected bottles floating around out there, and infections have become so common for these guys that one pretty much has to expect it going in to any of their beers.

Similar color/clarity, but the head retains much better and leaves more lacing.

Aroma is roasted malts, hints of dark fruit, chocolate, toffee, molasses, grains, bread, a touch smoky. Moderate to good strength.

Flavor is dark malts, somewhat roasted, dark fruits, cherries, raisins, chocolate, caramel, toffee, molasses, some astringent malt bitterness, moderate sweetness for the style, grains, some herbal hops, bit of alcohol, tinge funky.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, sticky, creamy, moderate carbonation.

Much better this time around. Hopefully the infection is isolated, but I'd definitely recommend drinking these now in case it starts getting worse...

Score 3.43: Appearance 4.0, Smell 3.0, Taste 3.5, Feel 3.5, Overall 3.5

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Original review: Score 1.9: Appearance 2.0, Smell 1.5, Taste 2.0, Feel 2.0, Overall 2.0.

12oz bottle, best by May 2013. Served at around 55F.

Pours clear brown with red highlights and a one finger brown head that leaves no lacing and recedes to a just a small ring and eventually nothing at all.

Aroma is sour fruit, sweaty gym socks, funky, cardboard, infected mess. Goddammit Duck-Rabbit.

Flavor is sweet dark malts, dark fruit, sour notes. Not as funky as the aroma, but the signs of infection are here. This is only gonna get worse with time. Definitely got that Duck-Rabbit "wang" goin’ on.

Mouthfeel is light/medium bodied, sticky, very little carbonation.

Maybe I just got a bad bottle, as the reviews are generally positive for this one, but it’s got all the Infected Duck-Rabbit characteristics going on aside from the gigantic head...in fact this one is nearly flat after the initial pour. Aroma in particular reminds me a lot of their 2012 Barleywine disaster. Never had a sour or funky Doppelbock before, so I’ve got to assume this is not what the brewer was shooting for. In an effort to be fair, I will try one more bottle just in case this one was an anomaly and will adjust my review accordingly if needed. As it stands right now, this is a terrible Doppelbock. Fought through half the glass, but the rest is going down the drain...

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 02:57:32 | More by elgiacomo

BeerImmediately

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle. Approx 9 mo's old, so maybe too old for proper review (is that possible for this style?)

Pours very nicely, with about 1F of tan/brown head over a very dark, almost opaque amber body. Great lacing.

Aromas are timid. Wet cardboard up front, then molasses in the back with pencil lead. Touch of faint English hops, if I pull really hard.

Flavors and mouthfeel are dull / muted / dirty. Lots of mineral water, with molasses, cherry, oak, and earthy herbal quality giving the flavor. Somewhat disappointing (given the hype), but not necessarily "bad".

Mouthfeel is pretty thin for the style. Dull, tangy, and leaves a film on the tongue (not unusual for the style). Could've used more body.

I really should've reviewed some of the earlier Doppelbocks I had from this mixed case, as maybe I've left it in the cellar too long, given the discrepancy between my experience and the overall BA community.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 03:51:34 | More by BeerImmediately

rangerred

Tennessee

3.03/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

12oz bottle into a snifter. Not sure of the age on this but I know it has been in my fridge for a year or so.

Pours a clear dark brown with a slight reddish tint. A very small light brown head is quick to fade leaving a thin ring around the top of the beer.

Aroma is full of brown sugar, caramel, and toffee. There is a slight metallic note which seems a little off to me. There are also some faint grassy aromas. Overall it is pretty weak.

This weakness carries over into the taste which is really quite underwhelming. Plenty of caramel and brown sugar but there is a strong vegetal character which becomes a little off-puting after awhile. It is very DMS like and I almost wonder if this is an unintended flaw. It isn't bad for awhile but it does start to limit drinkability. Alcohol is well-hidden but the mouthfeel is on the watery side.

Overall, I am very unimpressed with this offering from Duck Rabbit. There is just an overall lack of everything from the aroma to the flavor to the mouthfeel. Way too much DMS and a lack of much malt or hops. Maybe this has improved since the batch I got but I really can't recommend.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 02:23:29 | More by rangerred

KajII

North Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

[Best served in a Dimpled mug]

Poured a dark brown with a huge frothy off-white head that lasted throughout and had excellent lacing. The aroma was of roasted dark bread malts, a sweet leathery yeast with hints of coffee, chocolate, toffee, raisons and a mild alcohol scent. It tasted lightly sweet with a mild coffee overtone at first and ended with a chocolate-coffee flavor with notes of raisons and had a slightly bitter finish. Mouthfeel was medium in body and kind of watery in texture and had a flat carbonation.Overall a tasty brew but not too exciting.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 17:37:38 | More by KajII

ChadQuest

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

pours a deep dark amber that light onyl passes through when its held up to one. Aroma has a maple syrup and mollasses sweetness to it.
The roasted malt is the first thing you notice, but there's lots going on all over the place. I noticed some chocolate and some faint dark fruits that complemented the general roastiness well. Also some alcohol presence, but it's well melded into the overall flavor profile.
Slightly viscous for the style with a low carbination level. Not best enjoyed quickly, this one is better slow and with a good read.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2010 01:23:19 | More by ChadQuest

Jesse13713

Ohio

3.23/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearaence – For awhile, I wondered, “Why do they call themselves Duck-Rabbit when there’s just a picture of a rabbit on the bottle?” And THEN I saw the duck. Anyways. This beer pours a deep ghastly brown with a hint of mahogany to it. A few fingers of head disappear very quickly. The film that’s left on top of the beer is actually putting on some kind of show as it pops around like twinkling stars.

Smell – Definitely smells like a doppelbock. It’s been awhile since I’ve had a good one so I am excited. Deep, dark fruits and malt. A bit of a plum/cocoa mix to it as well. Very light chocolate.

Taste – A surprisingly different doppelbock. A very light and tart cranberry note grabs my attention first. Then, we get more of the darker fruits such as plum and dark cherry. The beer itself remains lightly tart throughout. Very faint hints of caramel and cocoa.

Mouthfeel and Overall – The tartness and oddity of the weight can get to you a bit, but it’s pretty solid other than that. You can definitely feel the alcohol burn during breaks. Overall, a pleasantly tart doppelbock without the heavy malt.

EDIT: Wow. So that alcoholic tartness definitely gets to you further down in the beer. I had to lower my score a bit.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2011 17:32:59 | More by Jesse13713

oregonskibum

Oregon

3.28/5  rDev -19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Color is a dark, almost dull brown with some red tints. Pours will a fizzy, 3/4 light tan head that quickly dissipates.

S: Sweet, slightly roasted caramel malts with some dark fruits (prune, raisin). Molassis, brown sugar, with a little spice.

T: Deeply roasted or dark malts, sweet caramel. Some faint dark fruit flavors, but overall a little less complex than anticipated from the smell. Has a slightly bitter finish, although not from hops.

M: Medium body, although it definitely coats the tongue. Carbonization seems lively up front, but it drops to medium-low after the beer has sat out for a bit.

D: About average. It was interesting, not un-pleasant, but not necessarily something I would hunt out again.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2010 02:04:14 | More by oregonskibum

pvo

Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I was curious about this one, so I picked up a bottle earlier today. Glad I tried it, but I don't think this merits a 6-pack as Duck Rabbit's Schwarzbier or Hoppy Bunny do.

It's a bit too sweet- the sweetness overpowers the delicate flavors that I would otherwise expect in a lager. I feel like I'm missing something, but I'm not getting that much out of this. Sad, because I have liked many of their other offerings, and want to keep supporting someone focused on dark beers. I guess I'll be doing it with their other beers.

Mainly, considering the $14/6-pack it costs, I'd prefer to buy a fair amount of other things for $10. So I'm glad I tried it, but also glad I got a single bottle for $3.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 23:40:40 | More by pvo

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a bottle into a Dogfish snifter

A- pours a very dark brown with a half finger tan head. The head fades quickly and isn't very dense, but it's solid all the way across the glass. Very dark for a dopplebock.

S- very metallic aroma. Common among many of the Duck Rabbit beers I've had. Light bit of sweetness. Not pleasant at all

T- sweet tasting. Very malty. Maybe a little bit of honey coming through. Candi sugar also there. No heat at all

M- body is reasonably thick, but isn't syrupy. As I just said, no heat. Definitely a sipper

O- not much of a dopplebock guy, but this isn't bad. A little too malty and sweet for my tastes, but definitely enjoyable over the course of time

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 00:28:27 | More by bigfnjoe

kbutler1

Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottle. Poured into the duck rabbit snifter, score! Pours a dark brown color with a reddish hue. Slight tan head that collars around the glass. The aroma is a sweet malty caramel with some slight vanilla. Wow, this has an almost butterscotch flavor with a bit of carmelization and roast. Some dark fruits as well. Medium mouthfeel. The ending is slightly bitter that lingers on for a while. No lace at all. Overall, not bad but not outstanding either.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2010 23:23:25 | More by kbutler1

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Well overcarbonated, this dark concoction (with little head) attacked my palate and did not go. Heavy, a rich chocolate, pepper, tabbacco. I was OK with it, but got more than my fill of beer today from it. For this style, turn it down, less is more, and closer to the target.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2010 00:06:41 | More by northyorksammy

starrdogg

District of Columbia

3.58/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Michael for the gift of Duck Rabbit for my 30th birthday. The week of birthday beers continues.

A: Pours a dark, hazy reddish brown with a bit of a white head and almost no lacing.

S: Smells of coffee and dark fruits and a good amount of dark malt. Smell is somewhat subtle.

T: First impression is that this is a lot roastier than I expected it to be, and the roast/coffee is definitely the predominant flavor, though it doesn't come in until the end. Up front it's got a sweet caramel malt, but the flavors don't seem to complement each other as well as I'd like. It's almost like drinking two different beers as the roast comes out of nowhere to overwhelm your palate halfway through.

M: Mouthfeel is the most disappointing thing about this beer. I think if it was a little more robust, it would work really well with this beer, but instead it's rather thin with medium carbonation. The thinness of it makes this an odd drinking experience.

O: I was really looking forward to this one, but it fell a bit short of expectations. It's not a bad beer by any stretch, but it's a bit pricey and I'm not sure I'll be seeking it out again. I think a change in the body of this beer would do wonders for it.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 03:09:29 | More by starrdogg

smakawhat

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured on tap into a snifter glass at Churchkey.

A dark red brown body with no head given barely, but a very large soapy bubbled collar of tan. Love this body color.

Nose is a little boozy of alcohol and small toffee, with mild licorice. Licorice notes come forward more often after time.

Taste and body is a little thin. Light bodied and a bit wet missing stickiness. Licorice taste comes out a bit which is interesting to say the least.

Overall, aside from unexpected licorice this is kind of disappointing. Too watery for my tastes.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2011 21:57:40 | More by smakawhat

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured out as a really deep brown color with a thin fizzy light tan colored head on top. The smell of the beer has a light peppery note to me followed up by some big malt aromas. The taste of the beer was pretty good, I feel that I've had better tasting Doppelbocks before. This one just didn't seem like it was all there. The mouthfeel of this beer is well carbonated and leaves a caramely sweet feeling in the mouth. Overall it's a good brew to try but I don't think I'll buy it again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2011 19:21:44 | More by Knapp85

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours very dark chocolate brown, with an odd magenta hue with light behind it. Light tan head, about one finger, fades pretty fast. A little lacing.

Smell is heavy dark fruits, nutty chocolate, with a hint of smoke. Ripe plums, some brown sugar, and a light red-grape background. More roasty than a typical doppelbock. Nicely rounded. Deep, though I would like a little more complexity.

Taste is a little funny. It brings those same fruits and nuts and chocolate that are in the smell, but it has a strange lightness drifting around the mouth, with a hint of bitter alcohol pinch on the back of the tongue.

Mouthfeel is a bit light for the style - it's chewy enough, but I wish the carbonation were lower. I want to feel the weight, and the bubbles lift it up off my tongue when I want that sweet goodness to sit there. I do get a bit of alcohol burn.

Good, but definitely not your typical doppelbock. Malts are the centerpiece, but they're quite roasty and slightly smoky. Smell is the highlight. I think the best qualities of the taste are pulled down by that odd alcohol bite. And the mouthfeel is just too bubbly.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 04:04:09 | More by zeledonia

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep dark amber/chestnut brown color that is very cloudy and completely opaque with only slight ruby/mahogany edges when held to a light. Half finger light beige head that immediately fades into a thin ring. Minimal spots of lace left behind.

Sweet malt aroma that is slightly spicy with hints of zesty pepper, cinnamon, brown sugar and dark fruit. Hints of fig, plum and raisin. As it warms, the malt notes become more prominent with lots of caramel, toffee, chocolate and hazelnut.

Medium bodied with a nice combination of sweet malt, roast, dark fruit, zesty spice, chocolate and sweet alcohol. Soft carbonation up front which is complimented by the peppery spice notes. Zesty with hints of cinnamon and brown sugar that are nicely complimented by the dark fruit notes. Pretty sweet with hints of raisin, date, fig, grape and plum balanced by a slightly roasted malt character that gives of notes of caramel, toffee, hazelnut and chocolate. The high ABV is decently masked with little to no heat but there is some boozy sweetness toward the end of the palate.

Overall, this beer is flavorful and easy to drink but it's a bit too one dimensional and sweet for my liking. Another solid offering from Duck Rabbit but nothing extraordinary.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2011 08:03:40 | More by corby112

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a dark brown color with a 1/2 inch head. smell is of malts, alcohol, caramel, some dark fruits. Taste is a bit boozy. Some dark fruit and malts, alcohol is prevelent. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is a solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 21:02:09 | More by tone77

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into duck rabbit snifter

Pours a light layer of khaki head. Color is a copper brown with a ruby hue to it.

Aroma: Smell is of cereal grain, toasted malts, caramel, and some dark fruits. Has some cherry and licorice with a bit of heat showing.

Taste: More cereal grains, cherries, and licorice. Has an odd fruit flavor in here, maybe plums. Very malty with roasted malts and caramel with a hint of chocolate.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy with some roastedness. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends really dry.

Overall, a decent dopplebock. Some heavy flavors here. Somewhat drinkable. I dig it.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2010 23:22:34 | More by mothman

nickd717

California

3.68/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Draft at City Beverage in Winston-Salem.

A - Cloudy dark brown with a medium off-white head that lasts.

S - Sweet caramel malt, dark fruits, brown sugar, and alcohol.

T - Flavor is very sweet and malty with caramel, raisin, chocolate, and brown sugar. Good, but becomes a little intense before too long.

M - Palate fairly full and syrupy.

D - Average for the style. Not incredibly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2009 17:41:22 | More by nickd717

meatyard

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Into a Celebrator glass.

Pours a pretty, clear, dark, ruby/mahogany with a 2-finger, light tan, head. Retention is decent and there is no lacing though there are many, lively carbonation streams.

The smell is sweet & roasted malt, some fruit (figs mostly) and a touch of alcohol rising out.

The taste is sweet & fruity with a touch of tobacco on the tongue that lingers.

Mouthfeel is medium leaning towards thick and the early carbonation has vanished.

Drinkability: It would be better if the sweetness was toned down some but I still enjoyed it. Even though it doesn't approach a couple of German doppelbocks like Celebrator, it's a nice beer and competes at the top with American doppelbocks.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2010 01:10:53 | More by meatyard

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.73/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle.

It pours a dark brownish read with a tan/offi-white head.

The smell is very perfumey, with a lot of alcohol, caramel, and dark fruit on the nose.

The flavor continues with the caramel. This is the most caramally flavored doppelbock I have had. Carmel covered fruits is the main flavor. It is a bit richer and sweeter than the average doppelbock.

Overall it is pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2010 02:31:46 | More by crossovert

jjboesen

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tried a bottle of this one at RFD in Washington, DC. Its' initial pour emits a razor-thin head crowning a body of dark brown. There is no lacing. The nose detects a faint hint of raisin tinted with molasses. The palate gets hit with an obvious blanket of cocoa powder. It does not overwhelm and finishes quickly with a well balanced mouthfeel - nice mix of hop and malt, with the malt having the smoother edge. The body is somewhat heavy, albeit one with intense carbonation and the obvious alcohol content that is common with the style. Certainly not the best of the style - and not the best from this fine brewer. Still, not a bad one.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 23:10:34 | More by jjboesen

kiddynamite920

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours out pretty fizzy, but not yellow and thin so we're good. Dark brown with some reddish highlights. Head is tan and sizzled down pretty quick into some large and small bubble clusters.

S: Oh, so malty. This is what a doppelbock should smell like. Dark cherries, plums and raisins. Some sweet figs and a bit of spice.

T: Taste is of some very dark malts, almost bitter in a way. Dark chocolate with some sour cherries. A bit of alcohol. The bitter chocolate is pretty strong with the cherry flavor backing it up. A little off in my opinion.

M: Good crisp lager mouthfeel, but this is not what I look for in a doppelbock. Was looking for a syrupy malt bomb. It has the malt bomb but not the heavy body.

D: Not sure what style to compare this to on a drinkability level. Almost drinks like a lighter scotch ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2010 23:32:31 | More by kiddynamite920

bigbluebeerguy

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Darker brown with pronounced red highlights, thick three-finger light tan head that recedes to a thin layer. Little lacing to speak of.

The nose is not overpowering-sweet malts, dark chocolate, ripe fruits such as figs, dates, and cherries.

The aromas play out a little stronger on the tongue. The sweetness of the malts is balanced pretty nicely by a toasted nut flavor, along with a touch of cherry tartness.

Maybe not as big in the body as I was expecting, but still pretty good. The tartness lingers a little longer than I would like, and the carbonation is sort of middle of the road.

Overall a good beer that I would purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 02:14:31 | More by bigbluebeerguy