Capital Blonde Doppelbock

Brewed by Capital Brewery
Style: Doppelbock
Middleton, Wisconsin USA

Perhaps this one just isn’t for me. It probably is what it claims as a blonde doppelbock, but I just didn’t expect the bock character to come out so strongly. This is a mouthful and connected to blonde I guess I was just surprised. I can see how others would like it...not for me.

Rich and hearty malt backbone. Sweet sugar cookie malt tones with a full caramel malt flavor. Vanilla and sweet dark fruits are evident along with soft hop spice and slight pepper.

12 oz bottle Archer Liquors. Clear brown color with a stiff light brown head. Sweet malty aromas. I could detect the alcohol. Nice flavor - sweet with a mild bitterness in the aftertaste. You can taste the alcohol and dark brown sugar with a thin crisp finish. Nice.

12-oz. Pours bright medium coppery amber. Platinum blonde, nice and creamy and dense, and really sticks around. Loose stringy lace. Aluminum, CO2, and a bit of sour wet grass on the nose. Creamy medium body with tons of sparkling carb. A little over-sweet, kind of a sweet and sour thing happening on the mid-palate. Lots of caramel, dark old leaves, some butterscotch on the mid-palate. Not quite coherent, and a bit too sweet.

Amber-copper in color, sparkling body with tight bubbles. A foamy head and splotchy lacing, looks very common. Doughy malt aroma reminiscent of crackers followed by a sugary apple scent. Malty and fairly sweet, it’s a sturdy brew with a faint bite. Airy and malty with flavors of sweetened bread and light caramel. Green hops help add some balance, finishes a touch grassy.

12oz bottle. Hazy, translucent brown-orange. Frothy head, that fades away after a few minutes. Big, rich, and malty. This is a pretty well done, would hold it’s own in Bavaria..well maybe. Big sweet malt is well balanced by some soapy hops. Full bodied enough to let you know its strong, but never harsh. Interesting fruity pungency. OK.

From a 12oz Bottle. Purchased at Riley’s Wines of the World. Brilliantly clear, honey gold colored body with a two-finger head of fizzy white. Rich, melanoidin-laden malt aroma with notes of raisin, plum, vanilla, and treacle. Exceptionally clean, with a wonderful malt richness. No hop aroma. Medium-full bodied, moderately carbonated mouthfeel with a rich, malty texture. Wow, that’s a lot of Munich malt, but in a really good way. Clean and simple, with flavors of honey, vanilla, raisin, and a mild white pepper character from the lingering alcohol warmth. Low hop bitterness. Almost a hint of toast in the finish, but really more of a raisin skin flavor. This beer really showcases the flavor depth possible from a few simple high quality malts without the distraction of hops or yeast esters.

Sample at the Eurostash tasting on 04/30/09: The beer is a mostly clear golden-amber color with a medium off-white head that diminishes steadily. Thin rings of lacing on the glass. Caramel malt, yeast and fruit in the nose. Medium body that is almost syrupy at times. Flavors of malt, caramel and fruit with underlying yeast and very little hops. The finish is fruity with a toasty malt aftertaste. Decent overall.