Day 21: Winter-Böckle

Winter-Böckle

Origin: Fürst Wallerstein Brauhaus (Wallerstein, Germany)

Style: Doppelbock

ABV: 7.5%

IBU: Not Listed

Description: There’s something about a doppelbock that I find so satisfying. I have always been a fan of the style, but my appreciation took a complete turn once I discovered the history of this beer style. German Monastic monks, the stand-up citizens of civilization hundreds of years ago, had several periods throughout a year that required them to fast for holy reasons. The longest of these periods was Lent, during which the monks would fast for 46 days, from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. Throughout this time, no solid food would be consumed. However, they did believe that liquids purified the body and the soul. As such, they developed a beer that had a filling, bready quality to it to nourish their bodies.

In other words, they would spend a period of over a month ingesting nothing but beer while adhering to strict religious doctrine. These are guys I could really get along with.

Enough with the history lesson. As for this particular doppelbock, the overall quality is there to hold itself up with some pretty famous brews. The pour is a dark, rich, striking amber with a quickly fading yellow beige head of large bubbles. Particularly beautiful in the glass, I spent a few minutes admiring the colour tones themselves.

The nose brings many wonderful scents, including red currants, cranberries, plum and raisin. Distinctive toffee sweetness is at the forefront of palate at first sip, which slowly fades to a mouthfeel akin to chewing bread. That fades to a light spice kick towards the end, while a bit of sweetness remains on the tongue in a very satisfying manner.

All in all, a fine beer. Doppelbocks are not really meant to be paired with food. They are meant as a replacement for a meal, and really stand as a dessert in themselves. But if you were to have one with food, I would suggest tapas of some sort. Rich seafood, such as mussels in a thai curry sauce or oysters in sambal would work well. Pick up an Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock, held high as the original and best of all doppelbocks, stocked year around on Legacy Liquor Store shelves, and experience one for yourself. You won’t be disappointed. -C.L.