Spaten Optimator

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

Serve in Dimpled mug, Stein, Stem glass

One of the better Dopplebock’s I have tried, but I am not a huge fan of the style. I had a six pack when I was in Florida and had one every day for dinner for a week. It does assault your palate after a while, but has a rich color and strong taste of bitter malt.

On tap at MJ Barleyhoppers on 6/21/08. Pours a dark mahogany color with a thin white-tan head. Aroma is malt, raisins, brown sugar, and spice. Flavor is sweet, malty, ripe grapes, raisins, and sugar plums with a nutty finish. Medium-bodied mouthfeel with a slightly bitter finish.

I was expecting something great. Not saying it sucked but didn’t meet expectations that I had hear. Got a nice on the sweeter side amber flavor. But doesn’t last on the palate.

2/19/08 notes: bottle from six pack. Aroma is of faint malts and brown sugar. Pours a solid brown color, not too thick. Initial flavor is mellow with faint hops and grass, but quickly develops into firm alcohol and sweet brown sugar base. Goes down dry and easy, one of the best dark session beers I’ve tried. This is my first doppelbock, and it was interesting. I recommend this beer.

16.9 oz. bottle. Pours a deep dark amber with nice fluffy light tan head that left moderate lacing. Aroms of malt, sweet brown sugar and earth. Flavor is of wheat and malt with notes of anise, caramel, and a little alcohol; and the finish was well balanced with the sweetness passing quickly fallowed by a nice flavorful linger. Medium to light on the palate with dry texture and soft carbonation with warm light alcohol finishing feel. An excellent doppelbock and I’m not that big on them, but I will have this one again. Hopefully on tap, say in Munich.

12oz bottle. Pours a deep mahogany color with a large decent lasting foamy light tan head. Nose is bananna, caramel, brown sugar, some clove. Great smelling and great looking beer. Taste is ok but lacking some of the characteristics of the better doppels like Aventinus or Celebrator. Strong wheat and clove taste with alot of light caramel and toffee notes. A bit of bananna but its barely noticable. This has a very dry finish, not bitter but it seems to have more of a bitterness than most doppels. Very full palate. Very solid doppel.

Pour is dark brown with an aroma of dark fruit, molasses, and alcohol. Flavor is filled with more dark fruit, roasted malt, and toffee characters. A slight bit of alcohol in the finish. Good brew. May buy again.

Awesome Doppelbock enjoyed on draft at Yard House in Las Vegas, Nevada. Malt underlying the sweet and yeasty body, finishes slightly alcohol and actually becomes more like a brandy as it warms.