Ayinger - Celebrator Doppelbock Review
Not many beers get the distinction of making nearly every ‘Best Beer’ list, but Ayinger’s Celebrator is one of them. Since 1878, Ayinger has gifted us with some great beers, but Celebrator has eluded me for some years. It can be difficult to find where I’m at, and once found, hard to pull the trigger on a $17 four pack.
But I thought you were a dedicated beer reviewer, Mr. Brew? Well, I am, but I was a cheap ass long before I started reviewing beer. Yet fate has brought this delicacy into my life, and I’m finally prepared to review it after graduating from Bocks to Doppelbocks after years of hard study.
Now the time has come to enjoy this classic to which all others are compared. Doppelbocks are known for complex flavors, deep malt, and richness beyond belief, so let’s see how this 6.7% ABV and 24 IBU Doppelbock spars.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Double deep copper with just a tinge of ruby coming through when held up to the light. Topped with a milk-chocolate head that maintains well with an aggressive pour.
On the Nose--Toffee, caramel, dried fruit, and really complex with a roasted and clean backbone. The mouth is watering.
On the Palate--An immediate rich roastiness gives way to the finer points of the aroma from toffee to dried fruit and on to a fleeting caramel and hoppiness into a semi-dry finish achieved with lager fermentation. Roasted malt and that core barley flavor linger in the finish, mellowing out the complexities. Celebrator is full-bodied and smooth beyond belief, and really quite balanced for such a malt-forward beer.
Food Pairings: The beauty of such complex beers is that they go with decadent, rich, and diverse foods. Ayinger suggests pairing Celebrator with desserts and pastries, roast goose, cured ham, smoked duck, turkey, filet with Dijon sauce, mushrooms, or with a fine cigar.
Final Thoughts:
Doppelbocks are challenging—probably most of all styles of beer—and I wouldn’t suggest any beginners to dive right into them (start with Doppelbock's little, delicious brother: the Bock), but when you’ve developed your palate, these beers are phenomenal. Sadly, many brewers believe Doppelbocks are all ingredients and no finesse. The result is an over-sweet mess that brewers try to cover up with hops. The truth is, they learned nothing from their priors at Ayinger.
Celebrator is a complex and strong sipper redolent with tradition and wonderfully curated ingredients with bloodlines as deep as Ayinger itself. From the look, to the aroma, and onto the first sip, this beer tempts for what’s ahead, a sweet, malty, roasted, and not-too-dry lager that satisfies from top to bottom and is balanced so expertly with the drop of hops. This is a masterfully crafted beer, and one that will teach a drinker and brewer much about deep and intricate elixirs. It’s a great sipper made for winter and spring, but it’s also interesting and reassuring—there is still exceptional beer out there!
Often considered one of the world's best beers, this Doppelbock is worth your time and money. And if you’re looking to up your beer game and challenge your palate, grab this beer… at least once.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew
Looking for another old world Doppelbock? You can’t go wrong with Korbinian by Weihenstephaner.
And if you’re like me and always in your Bock phase, try Hill Country Bock by Real Ale, a Texas favorite.