Doppel-Hirsch Bavarian Doppelbock

Looking for something a little more robust than the schwarzbier I just polished off, I turned to my trusty fridge and selected an interesting looking bottle of Doppelbock - the Doppel-Hirsch from Privatbrauerei Höss, with a cheeky pair of stags on it’s appealing label. For some reason this bottle immediately put me in mind of autumn, my favourite time of the year, with sunlit misty mornings and crisp frosty walks through the woods with my faithful hound by my side. I probably want a wood fire and a big plate of peppery mushrooms to go with it. And some lederhosen.

None of those are to be though, at least not today. What I do have is a flip-top bottle with a half-liter of hyper-pure double bock… soon to be consumed. A deep-brown crystal-clear pour, a noseful of hops, and a thick, creamy texture help this slip down pretty easy.

On the (very slight) downside however, it’s sweet and slightly sticky, and although I really like it, I don’t think it’s quite up there with the rest of the double bocks I’ve had in the past. Not far off, but not quite there. I’ll definitely try it again, though, just to make sure

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Köstritzer Schwarzbier

Well, look at this…

Billed as “Germany’s Black Lager”, Kostritzer Schwarzbier is a dark and peaty pint that pours smooth, full and strong, and offers up a bountiful creamy-brown head that promises to waft you off to some beery heaven. The looks are not deceiving, either. With a relatively mild, malty aroma this drinks very very well indeed. As I slowly worked my way down the glass the rich, smokey, roasted flavour became more pronounced and enjoyable, leaving a refreshing memory at the end.

As the Kostritzer Schwarzbierbrauerei have been knocking this out since 1543, it’s obviously a classic; and one that comes highly recommended.

JBB6 Rating: For The Win

Spaten Optimator

After a long absence, today brought happy news to the Home of Po in the shapely form of a pint bottle containing fine and tasty double bock - a bottle of Spaten Optimator, to be precise. The more double bock I drink, the more I like it, and clearly I’m not alone. Spaten have been knocking out beer “since 1397″, according to the label. And no, that’s not a typo - man, they really know their stuff.

Optimator is a deep brown glassful of fairly heavy malty goodness, brewed (but of course) with the nothing but the purest ingredients. It’s tasty, too - molasses, malt, something sugary and burnt at the back of my mind - it’s all good, and very easy to drink. A little too easy, considering it’s over seven percent abv… oops! No wonder their web site spends a while extolling the health virtues of beer. Did you know, for example, this:

A scientific study undertaken at the Technical University of Munich concluded that the collection of minerals and trace elements in beer have a favorable effect on nerves and muscle strength, electrolyte usage, enzyme activation and hormone levels.

Probably not! But now you do - and there’s more facts over there that prove that beer’s not just nice, it’s actually really good for you. If it was all as good as this, I’d probably believe them.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

Another day older, another day wiser, and hurray! Another bottle of doppelbock to knock back. Like this one - dark chocolate liquid swirls nicely into the glass, producing a hefty but short-lived malty head and a comfortingly sweet aroma that reminds me (in nothing but a good way) of homebrew.

Must have been doing something right, back in the day when I made my own, for this is good stuff. As I’m sipping this one, there’s little hints of malt, and nuts, and a rich complex brown-ness that reminds you Germans really do know how to make kick-ass beer.

 

Also, I really really like the goats on the label.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen

I’m sure you’re really meant to enjoy this beer in some golden Bavarian biergarten on a crisp late autumn afternoon, as the sun sets and a chill  full moon rises into a clear starlit sky. The smell of bratwurst and sauerkraut wafts across the open tables, a brass band plays in the distance, and as you tug your woollen jacket around your ample belly, one raised eyebrow summons forth a gloriously statuesque blonde waitress and a brimming armful of frothing steins. Filled, as God intended, with Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen.

 

If your lederhosen are a little bit on the tight side (like mine) and you can’t make it to Munich any time soon, then a bottle or two of this mighty fine amber ale from our monkish friends in Europe will do you proud any day of the week. This is a good-to-great honest brew that makes for a brilliant session beer.

Drinking this reminded me so much of my old buddies Ralf, Fritz (really), Mikael, Ritz, Wombat and some unbelievably fine nights on the town in southern Germany, that I had to have another one. Gentlemen, I salute you, wherever you are.

Once again, QFC will have a few bottles waiting for you - head on up there and grab ‘em.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Paulaner Salvator

Munich. One of the world’s greatest beer cities, and a place I’ve been fortunate enough to spend a significant part of my life, for which I am eternally grateful. Paulaner. One of my favourite breweries, bar none. For 350-plus years, those old monks have been knocking out some beer that’ll knock your socks off. To get me into a fairly pain-free state, I thought this bottle of Salvator (the Saviour, no less!) would make for a decent start to the day. At 7.9% ABV, it’s certainly got some balls.

This is clearly one of the classic Bock-style lagers of Germany - a deep, rich brown pint with a wickedly malty aroma and taste. From the first pour it looks great, and the high alcohol content is obvious from the off. As you raise your glass, breathe deep - it smells amazing.

Sip, gently sip. You don’t want to rush something this good, and I doubt you’d feel too great if you did. Beer like this needs time, and respect, and an appreciative tongue. Give it that, and it’ll reward you well. Quite simply one of the best pints I’ve had in a long time.

 

 QFC has one waiting just for you. Pick it up.

JBB6 Rating: JustBeer Blog Hall of Fame