Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock - Bottom Fermented Dark Double Buck Bier (2011)

Brewed and Bottled by Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer, Aying. Germany.

Year Round Beer.

11.2 fl. oz. / $1.89 USD / 6.7% ABV

About: "Bottom-fermented, dark double buck bier A beer that has a dominant malty taste. This beer’s origins in a monk’s recipe are reflected in its heartiness. Celebrator has a creamy head of tight bubbles contrasting beautifully with its profound dark robe. It is full-bodied and velvety from half a year's aging. Although it is strong, it is not overpowering. There is a wonderful and complex balance between the various malts, the alcohol and the subtle hops. A complex fruitiness of roasted malt and whole hop flowers make Celebrator great as a party drink with friends and family at celebrations. Despite its richness, it has a faintly smoky dryness in the finish."

Thoughts: Celebrator poured a dark amber brown that settled into a deep brown with shades of ruby red, and a one inch tan head that later faded into a small puddle of mud.

This beer smells absolutely brilliant. Starts off with a bit of roasted coffee, then chocolate malts and heavy cream. Slight spices creep up the nose, and everything is very very sweet.

Starts off malty with a sweet foam that slowly lowers into a coffee flavored brandy taste and then retreats into a slight tingle of hops. Little bit of a fruity sensation around the middle of this one. A very light snap of that alcohol and bitterness. Caramel coating down the throat. Like an M&M and raisin muffin dipped in beer.

Thicker than usual medium and a bit frothy. I could tell this one was going to be a bit silky and syrupy as I poured it. It just has that look.

I'm not really a Bock kind of guy. Stouts and Bocks are cool from time to time, but not something I'll ever drink on a regular basis. This double bock however, is the best bock I've ever had. It's quality stuff, and quite superb. This is my second brew from Ayinger and I've got to say that they're doing quite a fine job at making beers that please all my senses so far.

Samuel Adams and Weihenstephan Infinium

Samuel Adams and Weihenstephan Infinium (2011)
Brewed and Bottled by The Boston Beer Co., in Boston MA and Hammondsport, NY. USA.

Limited Release (Yearly - December)

25.4 fl. oz. / $18.99 USD / 10.3% ABV

About: "Our brewers worked for two years with the world’s oldest brewery, Germany’s Weihenstephan, to create this unique new beer style. A groundbreaking brew, made with only the four traditional ingredients: malted barley, hops, water and yeast. Infinium is dry-hopped with Bavarian Noble hops for a light citrus flavor. Its then bottle-conditioned with a traditional Belgian yeast and fermented in the champagne-method to add another layer of flavor complexity, a bright clarity, and a fine carbonation to the beer. Malt Varieties: Custom blend of two-row malted barley, malted spring white wheat, and malted oats / Hop Varieties: Hallertau Mittlefrueh, Spalt Spalter, Tettnang Tettnanger and Hersbrucker Noble Hops / Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams ale yeast, Belgian yeast."

Thoughts: Major smoke as I popped the double-logo printed cork. Poured a pale light straw yellow that settled into an orange hue, with a huge white puffy head full of small rotating bubbles. Lots of carbonation coming up from my Sam Adams glass. It's quite a beautiful looking beer.

Getting some nice malts and hops mingling together. It's a bit yeasty too. There most surely is going to be a yeast snap in this one. Overall the scent is fruity and sweet. Like soft apples, sweet green apples or white grapes.

First taste note is very fruity. Spices come through afterwards and tickle the tongue. Low alcohol zing around the end while breathing in. This is a well balanced beer with that zesty yeast just almost creeping in a little too much but it falls back accordingly. Flavors seem to roll around in circles, and overall the taste is quite nice. A little heavy on the yeast side still, but not as bad as some of the other brews I've reviewed. It's not overdone. For this beer, I think that they stopped and bottled it at just the right time.

Frothy, bubbly, with a little bit of bite.

I poured two glasses for the first time, but my girl couldn't get through five sips of the stuff so I got to drink all of it. And no, I didn't mind that at all. It reminds me of this old André Wine that I stole from my folks' cabinet when I was young, only not as drying. For me this one has a bit too much of an apple taste though. The strong alcohol is nice, as is the balance and even the yeast, but overall the taste isn't the most satisfying in terms of expectations. I guess I'm lucky that I got this for nineteen dollars as opposed to the one and two dollar jump-ups these bottles got just after I bought mine. It should be fifteen at the most but I'm not dwelling. It was an OK experience, but it's time to move on.

Spaten Oktoberfest

Spaten Oktoberfest - Ur-Märzen (2011)

Brewed by Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu in Munich, Germany.

12 fl oz. / $1.69 USD / 5.9% ABV

The Dreaded Green Bottle!!

Info: "Spaten Oktoberfest Beer is amber in color. This medium bodied beer has achieved its impeccable taste by balancing the roasted malt flavor with the perfect amount of hops. Having a rich textured palate with an underlying sweetness true to tradition."

Look: Poured an dark amber orange with a half inch white head that faded slowly. The bubbles were small and the carbonation was abundant at first but later died down.

Smell: Definitely getting some kind of grape wine, and it is strong. Smells a little funky and fruity like prunes or figs. Lightly bitter as well. It's got a bit of that skunk going on.

Taste: Like a light malt liquor with raisins. It's not bad. Not gonna say that it's necessarily good either. It tastes different than I had expected, but still has that German flair about it. Reminds me of Rolling Rock for some reason, and I'm not really into that beer. I know I may be a funky guy, but there's only so much I can take sometimes.

Mouth: Feels a little filmy, bubbly. Medium body that goes down alright.

Overall: Aftertaste is like I drank some grape juice that had gone bad. It's not really unpleasant, but that doesn't make it any better. The bottom line is that the taste didn't agree with me. I wouldn't really recommend this.

Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen

Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen Authentic Bavarian Festival Lager (2011)
Autumn Seasonal  - Brewed in March for Sept/Oct. (Limited Release)
Brewed  by Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying in Aying, Germany.
16.9  fl. oz /  $3.69 USD / 5.8% ABV 

Stats: Multiple Award Winner (Gold Medal Winner at the World Beer Championships 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006). "Soft dryness from long maturation. Serving Suggestion: Tellerfleisch (boiled beef), pretzels and radishes, goulash with dumplings, clam chowder, bock-wurst, weiner schnitzel, roasted chicken, pork, and sauerkraut. Traditionally served in tall earthenware or glass mugs."

The Bottle.

Bottle: This one wasn't on the shelves but rather in the middle of the entire micro-brews section, stacked upon cases. The 16.9 oz bottle size caught my eye first, then the gold foil shining in the florescent lights. But it was when I saw that cute and colorful little bottlecap there that I snatched it up. Take a look at that scene. I know what they're saying too: "It's not gay, when it's in a three way."

Appearance: Poured a light amber-orange with an off-white head that faded pretty fast. The bubbles are of varying size and there's low to moderate carbonation.

 

Aroma: Fruity tones, low level apple and tangerine... maybe some pitted, dried and sugared apricots. Malty too. Smells pretty much like a German Lager though.

The Bottlecap.

Taste: It's a bit sour. Tastes of some ripe banana. Very low levels of nutmeg and clove. It's kinda peppery throughout, and bitter towards the end. Little bits of cinnamon rolls or a spicy sourdough bread, and toffee bouncing around, but it's not too noticeable. Then a little bit of sweetness comes around and balances things out. Tastes pretty damn good actually with all those subtle bits of flavor. Nicely done.

Mouth-Feel: Medium and a tad lingering. Fizzy.

Finish and Thoughts: Crisp. Bitter. Not a heavy beer, but it's got a slight kick that dies down once swallowed. Though I haven't tried too many German beers, this would be the best of them so far. I never did really develop a taste for German brews (Löwenbräu was the only one I ever liked out of the few that I drank years ago), which is why I ended up passing them up for the most part. This beer though, had a very nice balance and tasted good enough to be a session lager or even to drink with dinner. I'm impressed.