Korbinian Doppelbock - Weihenstephaner Review

Weihenstephaner has the label as the world’s oldest brewery, in operation since 1040. With a banner like that, a whole army of great beers follows. Arguably one of their most important beers is the Korbinian Doppelbock, named after Saint Korbinian, the founder of Weihenstephan monastery.

With a name like that, something special is expected, something complex and strong. And Korbinian is definitely strong, coming in at 7.4% ABV and a moderate 16 IBU. A beer to be sipped and savored.

When we think of a doppelbock, something dark, rich, malty, and ready for cold weather drinking comes to mind. It’s a bock, but doppel (double), which makes it all the more exciting. It’s also a variety that is popping up more and more on American craft brewing shelves, so why not take a step back in history and see how the oldest brewery in the world creates this long-standing beer.

First Impressions:

• On the Eyes--Deep copper in color (almost opaque), with a beige, tight-pored, and stable head. Rich and dark, as a doppelbock should be.

• On the Nose--Quite light in the aroma with crisp malt notes of chocolate and caramel and a touch of earthy fruit.

• On the Palate--Wow! A true piece of malt heaven. It’s dense, and sweet, and roasty. Korbinian’s complexity stair-steps from strong notes of chocolate and toffee to a spicy and earthy floral and fig flavor. The rich, full body is a comforting wave that rides right through the dry finish accompanied by a lingering roasted flavor. High ABV and low IBU makes Korbinian a malt-forward and sippable beer.

Food Pairings: Weihenstephaner suggests pairing Korbinian with smoked meats, smoked fish, and chocolate desserts.

Final Thoughts:

Well, as I’m sure is easily seen, I quite enjoyed this beer. When you see lines of beer standing in tall bottles over by the wine section, away from its craft brew buddies, it can be difficult to go over there and not be a little leery, especially when the prices start ticking up but the amount of beer goes down.

But I can say that Korbinian has one large problem: It’s made to be sipped but the challenge is not chugging it. It is very good, and very worth the money, especially if you find yourself more and more interested in the doppelbocks hitting shelves. Korbinian is strong and satisfying, and a great way to taste history and excellence in a glass.

Cheers!

Mr. Brew