Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu Optimator
What the brewers say
“Classic German Double Bock Beer. Bottom-fermented Dark Beer ‘Doppel Bock’ with a deep dark color and a rich roasted malt flavor.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Toasty, malty sweetness in the nose. Little to no hops aroma. Some mineral or sulfur character. Melanoidins, chocolate, and baked cookies. Aroma seems a bit muted.”
Flavor: “Crisp hops flavor competes with the malt, but malt wins in the aftertaste. Smooth malt offers caramel, toast, and toffee. Hops flavors are a bit distracting but flavor is ultimately about malt. Alcohol lightens the body and is not overly hot.”
Overall: “Well made with nice malt complexity. This is a well-crafted beer with more hops flavor than most. A little thin in the body but a great middle-of-the-road example of a doppelbock. Doesn’t take many chances but hits most of the stylistic marks.”
