Monteiths Doppelbock Winter Ale

(Bottle 33 cl) Clear, dark, orangey brown with a small, rough, beige head. Aroma of roasted malts and some alcohol - a fairly authentic "German" aroma.. Solid body with a fine base of roasted malt, caramel and some nuts - a lightly burned accents also. The finish is dry with both some bitterness and some alcohol. In spite of the confusion about the contradictionary name "Doppelbock Ale", this clearly is a Doppelbock - even a good one. 200208

Too thin for a Doppelbock - this is a sweet dunkel, IMHO. Lots of malt. No hops. I liked it, frankly. But it’s no Optimator.

Pours a dark brown with a modest vanilla head showing medium retention. Brown sugar, toffee, bread crusts, and fruitcake are all in here, but just not in great abundance. Nice flavour, but a little on the thin side, needs more body.

Bottle: Poured a clear brown color ale with a large foamy head with good retention but no lacing. Aroma contains loads of caramel malt. Taste is also dominated by some caramel malt with some subtle notes of toffee but none of the banana or cloves notes usually contained in the style and that I usually appreciate. Medium creamy body with some good carbonation.

Bottle (shared in the fine company of yalnikim), poured a clear deep brown colour with a large bubbly off white head. The aroma carried an unfortunate metallic hoppiness. Quite an effervescent palate, a chocolate malt flavour with a tangy hoppiness.

Pours a clear brown with a beige foamy head. Sweet with a little bitter dryness. Lots of caramelaromas with a hint of molasses and toasted malts. Medium to full bodied with a creamy mouthfeel. High cqrbonation. Dry slightly metqllic finish. Gave me saltkringle burps.

On special at the local Vintage Cellars. I thought I would take a puint and pay the $45 for a case and to be honest I am still not sure after having half the case. I like the rich colour and creamy head. There is enough malt here to please and the balance is good but a little off in favour of the malt. Not a lot of bad news I suppose if it to be true to style. I enjoyed the nutty caramel flavour and am surprised that the alcohol does not dominate. Perhaps I am getting a little impervious to the ABV. Definitely not a waste of money and a good sipper on the coller days that we may still endure.

Malty, chocolatey, with a decent backbone and balance, but fairly straight forward and lacking great depth. Still very drinkable.