Paulaner Salvator

Alla spina al Kapuziner di Arquata Scrivia. Curiosa - e, a quanto pare, storica - doppelbock della Paulaner, colore rossiccio intenso (ma al pub era buio), aroma abbastanza intenso, sapore pronunciato, non una birra da mandare giù come un acqua frizzante di culo. Però è buonina e non fa dispiacere se la bevi col tagliere. Sono ciucco.

Bottle date of June 2006, Sampled August 2007
Hugely aromatic, with amplified malt character leaping from the glass as I pour this brew. Caramelization, Maillard components, toffee, hints of light molasses, toasted malt, browned-rustically-crusty bread and even something like a concentrated fruitiness (though not the kind contributed by ale yeast). The beer is topped by a frothy, initially two-finger thick tan colored head that sits on top of a brilliantly clear, cranberry hued, dark amber colored beer. I don’t know why, but the malt focused aroma of this beer, at this moment in time, is hugely satisfying. Complex in its malt focus, it makes me seriously think that this is still a decoction mash, or at least they fake it quite well. The malt aromas are just so concentrated and enticing, it is almost pavlovian in the instinctual response that it generates in the olfactory portion of my brain.

Sweet, though not cloying; rich though not syrupy. Above all it still has that deep, rich, malt character that I was really craving. Flavors of caramelized brown sugar, and somehow a fruit character that has been unsweetened, yet still reminds me of dried figs and prunes. This beer is clearly all about the malt character, though there is a touch of hop here, noticeable as a trace of bitterness and perhaps an ephemeral phantasm of herbal notes. I really like how this beer is somehow not too sweet or cloying, despite clearly having a hefty level of residual malt sugars; chalk that up to the malt / mash / boil character.

I probably prefer the aroma over the flavor as it was just about perfect to me in this moment. This is still quite tasty & over all this is just a great Doppel Bock. I have had this beer a few times over the years and I don’t remember it being so striking, but such is the nature of beer, sometimes you just have to be in the right situation for a beer and this happens to be one of those. This really captures that meaty malt character that I really like to find in a Doppelbock.

First rating
(Bottle served into a "Stein" at Paulaner Nockherberger "Keller" in München)
Since it was served into a stein it was difficult to tell the color, though it had a tan head. After a while when the head settled the look of the beer is rather dark. Malty, grainy sweet scent. Huge sweet grainy and alcohol taste, also some chocolate and husks. Full mouthfeel, medium bitterness. Fresh aftertaste.
7/3/7/4/14=3.5

Rerate
(50 cl bottle brought home from Germany by a friend)
BB 11.08
On September 21, 2008
Clear pale copper color, fluffy cream-colored head. Sweet malty, lactic and alcohol scent. Sweet, malty, roasted, lactic, alcohol, nutty taste. Medium mouthfeel, medium bitterness. Metallic, nutty and alcohol aftertaste.
6/4/6/3/12=3.1

Bottle -- Ruby brown with a smallish, dense off-white head with not much retention or lacing. Aroma is sweet malt. Flavour is all about malty sweetness with the tiniest hint of bitterness, supported by a too blatant alcohol warmth. A very good beer just the same.

Very good beer. I didn’t like it at first taste but it quickly grew on me. It has an interesting cherry smell to it. Definitely worth a try.

Rated 8/4/07. Fairly clear, dark amber, cider-like color. Starts out with a cream colored head with unique orangey highlights, but it recedes quickly leaving nothing behind. Aromas are sweet caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, and cherries. Flavor is dominated by the caramel malts, but everything else in the aroma is detectable on the tongue. I also picked up some peppery spiciness on the finish, and maybe a little dark rum as well. Very little hop character, as is to be expected. Sugary and sweet. Not my favorite style, but pretty decent nonetheless.

500ml bottle. Middling brown with a long-lasting, off-white head. Aroma of toffee and preserved fruit. Flavour began with sweet caramel. This beer tailed-off severely: there was a nasty-metallic edge and the alcohol was a bit harsh. Unbalanced.

Bottle. Caramel aroma for this one. Amber body if held to light and biege head not much of a head ok thin. Vanilla chocolate flavor with some carbinated cola in the mix. Smooth and one of the better doppelbocks I’ve had in a while.