Spaten Optimator

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

Serve in Dimpled mug, Stein, Stem glass

Bottle - not much head, dark amber/brown color, sweet malty flavor

Nicely perfumed aroma with a yeasty undertone, and some metal in there also. Nicely balanced, pretty easy DB. The yeast shows in the flavor, and there is caramel in the finish. It is a good brew, but a littler overrated. I bet it would be better fresh.

A deep chestnut brown- it’s on the darker side for the style, but I like that (dark like the Korbinian, my favorite). Aroma is equal parts pilsnery grass, lager yeast byproduct (sulfur..?), and caramel of medium darkness. This beer was served a bit too cold so I suspect caramel will grow to dominate as it warms, but right now it’s quite a bit restrained for the style. Medium bodied, moderate coarse carbonation in the mouthfeel. Yeah, the caramel isn’t dominating the flavor either, its moderate and balanced with a considerable amount of easy-going noble hop flavor and bitterness. Hmmm. It’s good, but it doesn’t have the character of a great doppelbock. It tries to make up for a lack of malt complexity with extra hops I think.

Pours dark reddish brown with big creamy off white head. Aroma is roasted malt and earthy hops. Taste is sweet caramel with some roasted character. Not the best doppelbock but ok.

What an awesome German doppelbock!! Once poured I knew I was in for a treat when I gazed upon that deep, DEEP dark brown/near black delicious body! Taste and smell are dazzled by a grand balance between malt and hops; not too bitter and not too sweet. The body is good and thick; I like to tease folks by saying it’s “thick but not too chewy!” I think it’s time to go back and enjoy a few more!

Tap pours garnet like black, smell is porter like with fruit and roastiness. It is sweet with a punch of fruit, red grapes and some red apple with others. A touch of earthy spices from hops add a little balance. It does not hide strength but goes down pretty easy. Enjoyable for the style for sure.

Pours a small white quickly diminishing head aroma is of malt chocolate walnuts ,taste is smooth and highly drinkable with a clean finish would buy again thumbs up!!

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into clear mug. Appearance: Dark chestnut brown with nice root beer float head at first, which dies down. Aroma: Cherry, noble hops, caramel and chocolate. Taste: Semi-sweet at first with cherry, caramel, molasses, soy sauce and chocolate. Turns drier and spicier at the end from a decent level of noble hops. Palate: Moderate carbonation, medium-full body, nice dry finish. No cloyingly sweet at the finish like so many Doppelbocks. Overall: Great example of a Doppelbock that manages to have a sweet malty taste while also maintaining a fairly dry and spicy palate. Not quite top tier, but well above average.