The newest release for Boulevard Brewery's Smokestack Series hits store shelves this week. I snagged a bottle of Seeyoulator Doppelbock at the Berbiglia Wine & Spirits on 75th Street (it arrived Monday) and uncorked it last night with a few friends.
The higher alcohol content and price tag on the Smokestack Series beers make you want to share them with someone as you might a bottle of wine. A bock is a German lager, which is usually fairly strong. Bock translates to "goat" in English; doppelbocks, or "double goats," first brewed more than three centuries ago by Bavarian monks, are said to have twice the kick.
By the numbers
8.5 percent alcohol
25.4 ounces in the bottle (equivalent to 750 ml -- the standard size for wine bottles)
$9.15 with tax
In the glass
The label description suggested a "heady, estery banana," but the aroma
was mild with hints of banana when first poured. The "medium amber" color was there; the
lager is even slightly opaque -- you can barely see your fingers through
the sides.
As my friend Charlie noted, the beer had excellent head retention -- something that's not always true of beers with a high alcohol content. The head was thick and foamy for well over a minute, and that was in belled glasses that had been hanging out in the wine bar too long.
You can taste the hops immediately. Charlie tasted bits of caramel and anise, while I found the beer to be extremely even tasting. The doppelbock has a medium to medium-well mouthfeel and isn't overly sugary. The cedar aging gives it a crisp finish, not harsh at all.
As we let the beer sit over the course of an hour, the taste of alcohol became a bit stronger and the finish was dryer. I also felt the double kick of the double goat -- my stomach had the same warming sensation one gets from a belt of brandy or whiskey. These are the hallmarks of doppelbocks.
Ultimately this beer delivers on the intention of the brewers -- to "bid a fond aufwiedersehen to tradition" while still remaining in the family. It is a very drinkable beer, particularly well-balanced in light of the fact that it's the first batch to market. The right lager to usher in fall's arrival.
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