Spaten Optimator

Brewed by Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu (InBev)
Style: Doppelbock
Munich, Germany

Serve in Dimpled mug, Stein, Stem glass

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Aroma is a little sweet but very slight. Color is brown-amber, with a thin, fizzy head. Fizziness carries through to the palate and gives the beer bite. Good balance of malt and hops, but definitely favors the malt. Toffee and roasted nuts at the front, slightly bitter finish from the hops. Overall, not enamored with this beer like its 96 score would suggest but then I don’t drink much dopplebock. Would drink in a pinch however.

Dark brown colour and thin, tan head. Nice, rich aroma. Medium body, slick mouthfeel with light fizziness. Tastes like malt. The taste not too strong so this beer is very easy to drink.

Tasty. never disappoints. so good I can take it for granted. what a shame. like a long suffering wife. Buy all the time.

Aromas amaderados, cebada y maltas tostadas y con ciertos finales acaramelados. Cerveza oscura con tonos pajizos y brillos rojos a la luz, cuerpo medio, ligera carbonatzación. corona de espuma media de absorción algo lenta la cual permanece hasta el final. En boca la pirmera sensación es dulce y un poco acaramelado. Al paladar se percibe un sabor complejo e interesante. Se caracteriza por notas de maltas tostadas y acarameladas, mismas que se perciben desde el aroma. Así mismo se encuentran sabores dulces y una carbonatación suave que resalta los finos sabores de la cerveza. En general una sabroza cerveza, con caracteristicas interesantes, sabores dulces y acaramelados, que se nivelan con las maltas tostadas. Una excelente representante aleman de este estilo.

A classic that I’ve had many times, but never rated. From green 6-pack bottle into MH’s Deutschland dimpled mug. Pours pretty dark brown with a tan, frothy, lingering head. Nice. Aroma is expected doppelbock profile: big malt, alcohol, and some fruitiness. Borders on reminiscent of ice beer or eisbock, but stays good. Flavor is all malt sweetness. Very syrupy-brown-sugary sweet. Definitely biased towards sweet, even for the style. Always a classic, though.

Bottle. Pours a clear mahogany brown body with a small fizzy beige head that fell to a wispy partial covering. The nose is slightly roasty with a good bit of caramel and light coffee. There’s a slight nuttiness that doesn’t fit real well for me. The flavor is a little grainier and nuttier than I remember this being, but then again, it’s been years since I’ve had it. Burnt caramel and a slight graininess on the finish. Medium bodied with a slight clinginess and fine fizzy carbonation. Ok, but not the classic it once was. I’ll stick with Celebrator.

Poured into a pint glass. Dark copper color with a tight, finger of off-white head. Could smell it in the pour; a malty smell. Then once in the glass; apple, pear and raisin. All malt, not a bit of bitterness coming through. Though, it is not "malty". The sweetness is restrained. There is molasses ending. Crisp and bubbly, light to medium bodied and chewy at the end. A very enjoyable drink.

Originally reviewed: 6/12/09. Had this on tap at the First St. Draught House in town on 6/19/09. Reviewed from notes. Came out a deep chocolate brown with an inch-sized tan head. Retention was pretty weak, but it left some moderate lacing on the glass. Smells of brown sugar, cocoa, cream, and big time caramel. Very nice. Mouthfeel was crisp, yet smooth. Easy drinker. Flavor was of sweet caramel, toffee, some coffee cake, fresh dark breads, and finished sweet as well. This is a very good Doppel, but may be too sweet for some. I, for one, enjoyed it.

Had this beer at the 4th Annual Casanova Beer Cave Festival. Pretty smooth, light scents and taste of coffee/chocolate.

UPDATED: MAY 17, 2012 Second ever doppelbock - tried this style again after a recommendation. Pours dark brown/red, chestnut even, with a nice head that disappears almost completely and leaves solid lacing. Smells malty and sweet, especially malty. Taste is amazing blend of malt and sweet - aftertaste in particularly is slurpy good. Bit of dried fruit and perhaps roasty brown sugar going on as well, but not syrupy or overly thick in the slightest. Amazing mouthfeel, actually. Great beer all-around.