Instigator
Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.

InstigatorInstigator
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.
 
British Columbia, Canada
Style:
Doppelbock
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.79 | pDev: 13.72%
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
24
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 10, 2017
Added:
Dec 26, 2005
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
Doppelbocks were the orignal liquid bread, intended to sustain monks through their fasts of advent and lent. The Instigator has a complex character with toasted flavours, rich aromas, a deep hue and a full body. This time when you open your big mouth, you'll be able to finish what you started!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ritzkiss:
Photo of ritzkiss
Reviewed by ritzkiss from Canada (ON)

4.19/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
First doppelbock.

22oz pours a slightly reddish caramel color with little head (despite an aggressive pour), which quickly dissipates and leaves no lacing.

Smell is lots of caramel malts, some rich fruit notes (think fruitcake).

The taste is less aggressive and more complex. Lots of malt, more fruitcake, caramel, brown sugar. Eases into a smooth, slightly light body. Quite light carbonation.

This is a slick drinker. Nice flavors, no hint of the alcohol. Easy going, would gladly drink this on most occasions. Definitely need to go back and find another bottle of this one.
Mar 01, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by Tivlavrie from Canada (AB)

Dec 10, 2017
Photo of Svingjo
Reviewed by Svingjo from Canada (BC)

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This poured a nice orange colour with a thin head. Nice malty nose with a hint of dried fruit. Definite toffee/caramel taste and toasted almost burnt malt taste. The alcohol (8.5%ABV) was pretty well hidden. A nice beverage.
Dec 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by harpus from Alabama

Mar 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.34 by ZachT from Canada (BC)

Dec 25, 2013
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
341ml bottle, denoted the '2013 Holiday Edition', day 3 of the Phillips Snowcase gift pack, and a verily appropriate offering for this 'advent' season, beer or otherwise. Great name for a doppelbock, especially for a Canadian brewery using the -ator grammar, though in this case, it looks like that beefy goat is instigating an all-around bender!

This beer pours a clear, medium copper amber hue, with one finger of tight, densely foamy ecru head, which leaves some limestone shell lace around the glass as it evenly subsides.

It smells of biscuity caramel malt, toasted dark bread, dried black fruit - raisins and prunes, mostly - black tea leaves, singed brown sugar, and an indistinct warming spiciness. The taste is more of the same - toasted biscuit and caramel malt, dry fruitcake, bread pudding, Canadian Breakfast tea, gritty brown sugar, and weak earthy holiday spices. No sign whatsoever of the 17-proof booze.

The bubbles are there, in a subdued, but well supportive role, the body a heady medium-heavy weight, and simple in its workaday smoothness. It finishes still nice and biscuity in its malt-forward manner, the fruit and spice fading to black.

A pretty solid rendition of the style, nice and warm, without knocking you over the tastebuds about it, and more concentrated on the complex malt than the other essences. Glad to have finally got a chance to try it, in this weird packaging vector - maybe I'll get to enjoy it again on its own come Lent.
Dec 04, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Kmat10 from Canada (AB)

May 22, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by KalanM from Canada (BC)

Jan 10, 2013
Photo of CookstLiquor
Reviewed by CookstLiquor from Canada (BC)

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 650ml bottle. Pours a golden orangey brown colour with a thin head, indicating a high alcohol content for a doppelbock. The smell offers honey, nutty, malty and floral aromas. Not super traditional. The mouthfeel is creamy, but for such a big beer, it feels a little thin. It's sweet, a bit fruity, with the nutty caramel flavours dominating. Good bit of bitterness on the finish. Interesting take on the doppelbock style. Might need some time in the bottle to integrate.
Dec 27, 2012
Photo of OF001
Reviewed by OF001 from Canada (BC)

3.21/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
650 mL btl served at 8C into a chalice.

Clear, full filtered ruby pour with a 2 finger head that falls to a thin film with an ample ring and surprisingly complete lacing.

Smells of cleaned toasty malt; sweet toffee and light molasses coating. Seems artificial, engineered and filtered. Not a plus. Browned fruit and notes of cocoa nibs. Seems fake.

Roasty, toasty malt with a medium level of sweetness. Mild nuttiness with a CO2 dry finish. Some citrus and dried fruits. Clean, simple, flat and very engineered.

Mouth feel is smooth and foamy, not quite creamy. Somewhat thin considering they style. (compared to the Germans I've had in the last while) The finish is long, clingy and slightly dry.

Smooth, easy and non-offensive. Made for the masses. OK I guess, but there is no depth, no character and nothing.... some of the productions from phillips are great, but this is marginal at best.
Dec 27, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by schopenhauerale from Arizona

Dec 10, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by 4ster from Canada (ON)

Aug 19, 2012
 
Rated: 2 by EskimoDave from Canada (BC)

Nov 21, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by pudoo from Canada (BC)

Nov 19, 2011
Photo of brewymcgee
Reviewed by brewymcgee from Canada (BC)

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Opening (In June 2011) a 2008 bottle recently purchased while visiting the brewery.

Appearance: Pours a slightly cloudy reddish-brown with a head that all but dissapears. There is a slight amount of yeast on teh bottom of the galss.

Aroma: Very malty with dried fruits and chocolate.

Taste: Caramel, chocolate, rich dried fruits (raisins, prunes) and spice. There is just a hint of
almost orangy cirtus lifting it up at the end and a slight metallicness.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth and surprisingly not very heavy. I do like a richer feeling beer, but this just to the right side of thin to hold it's own. There is just a touch of heat from the alcohol.

Drinkability: I have to say that this has aged very well. It is, at this point, a beer to sip and savor, either on it's own or over a meal. One of the better "in-province" dark beers I've had. I am looking forward to opening the 2009 bottle soon as well!
Jun 04, 2011
Photo of michaeledoan
Reviewed by michaeledoan from Canada (BC)

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from bottle to glass.

Low head retention, fading quickly. Pours a reddy orange. Clean appearance.
Sweet and Malty to the nose, bready, though I did detect a bit of sourness.
Sour fruit flavour dominated my palate. Tastes of pineapple and guava. A big beer, though it hid the alcohol well.
A little unbalanced IMO. Hints of spice and hops were not enough.
Overall, a nice beer, and worth the $5 direct from the brewery's fridge! If you get a chance, the 2010 is more balanced than the 2009, possibly with the reduced hoppiness from the aging of the 2009.
Apr 22, 2011
Photo of ericj551
Reviewed by ericj551 from Canada (AB)

4.2/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This bottle has been hang out in the back of my fridge for a few months, finally it's time to give it a shot. The beer pours a bright red with hints of orange and a thin head that fades quickly. Sweet caramel and toasted malt dominate the aroma, with a nice breadiness and hints of fruit. The flavor is big and malty, but the sweetness isn't overpowering. There are tons of caramel, dark fruit and a hint of chocolatey roasted malt. The sweetness is nicely balanced by some earthy, slightly herbal hops, and a rounded bitterness. The finish is crisp, with a hint of alcohol and more of the nice toasted bread quality.
Apr 13, 2011
Photo of BDTyre
Reviewed by BDTyre from Canada (BC)

4.02/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
2010 release.

Cloudy, coppery mahogany colour with a nearly white head. In the light, this is a little more red than I expected; a distinct copper colouring. Sweet malts, burnt sugar and light spice and fruit in the noise. A bit creamy too.

Slightly more acrid taste, with spice and sour fruits initially followed by a mild sugariness. Dry, slightly woody aftertaste.

Good carbonation and a bit of alcohol warmth in this. A nice doppelbock, but a big beer to drink in one go.
Jan 07, 2011
Photo of mrmanning
Reviewed by mrmanning from Canada (ON)

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle courtesy of Gravelle. Deep hazed amber, with a frothy eggshell cap, leaves pretty lace. Toasty nose of lots of rye bread, a hint of molasses, burnt sugars, caramel, some spicy hops. Tastes of semi-sweet bready malts, molasses, bread crust, some plum, with bittering hops. Quite alcoholic on the finish, with a full body. Good. Thanks Jon!
Feb 09, 2010
Photo of CaptainPascoe
Reviewed by CaptainPascoe from Canada (BC)

4.45/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
A great seasonal offering from BC's Phillips Brewery. A Doppelbock style that seems to have a full, rich flavour but with a deft light touch.

The malty, rich aroma entices you further. The flavour is delicious! Rich caramelised and malty notes fill your mouth, but there is a crispness to it that stops any of the richer and sweeter notes become cloying. Surprisingly quaffable at such high alcohol (8.5%). This is an excellent New World version of the German Classic. It is a refreshing flavour that doesn't lose the character of the original style.
Jan 04, 2009
Instigator from Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 24 ratings