Abita Andygator Review

Brewery: Abita Brewing Co. | Beer: Andygator
Style: Doppelbock | ABV: 8.0% | IBUs: 25
Serving Method: 22 oz. bottle poured into Pilsener glass

So far, the Abita brews reviewed here on PintLog have been from the Harvest series—mildish beers spotlighting a fresh Louisianan ingredient. While they've been pleasant enough, I decided to skip to something with a little more bite. Enter their Big Beer series, two eight percent beers with a more artisanal slant than the rest of their beers.

First up is Andygator, what Abita describe as a Helles Doppelbock. It's built with pale malt, hopped with German Perles, and brought alive by German lager yeast. Here's how they describe the finished product:

Unlike other high-gravity brews, Andygator is fermented to a dry finish with a slightly sweet flavor and subtle fruit aroma.

Just as a side note, it's worth noting that Andygator is presented in an absolutely gorgeous bottle—one of the nicest I've ever seen. Let's see if the contents are equally impressive.

Appearance: A crystal-clear, golden body with a large and sudsy off-white head that burns out quickly and leaves little lace.

Aroma: A rich and grainy malt body accompanied by a nice dose of earthy hops and some fruitiness. Somewhat Doppelbock-like, but clearly something different.

Taste: Not much to report over what was represented in the nose; dry, earthy hops over a sweet cereal-like malt backbone with lots of dark fruit and nutty notes in the mix. The aftertaste is grainy with just a hint of booze.

Mouthfeel: A smooth, medium body with good carbonation and a dry finish.

Drinkability: Perfectly quaffable, just watch the eight percent alcohol content.

Verdict: Basically a souped-up Helles, Andygator may not be a true Doppelbock, but it is a serviceable and solid enough brew. An interesting hybrid style, I'd like to see some other brewers have a shot at it.

Grade: B-

Samuel Adams Double Bock (Imperial Series) Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Double Bock (Imperial Series Version)
Style: Doppelbock | ABV: 9.5% | IBUs: 25
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into tulip glass

A few weeks back, I reported the exciting news that Sam Adams was adding an Imperial series to their lineup. Well, I was able to secure a pack of each of the three varieties and I'm ready to start reporting my findings. First up, I decided to review the established member of the team.

This is the only beer in Sam Adams' new Imperial Series that isn't totally new. There has been Sam Adams Double Bock for 20 years now, it was actually their first seasonal offering. However, this isn't just a relabeled old timer, the recipe has been revised heavily, with almost a full percent of alcohol added in the process. I never had a chance to try the old version, it would have been interesting to see how it's changed.

The label reads "Enjoy this beer now or age to develop unique flavors" and has a message from Jim Koch:

Samuel Adams Double Bock is brewed with a half pound of malt in each bottle, almost enough for a loaf of bread. This intense, rich lager reveals a deep mahogany color and velvety smooth flavor. Samuel Adams Double Bock is one of our most sought after brews. Enjoy!

On a bit of a tangent, the label also reads "Lager (Ale in TX)." What is is about out state lines here that can magically change the classification of a beer once you cross them? We really need to repeal a lot of the arcane liquor laws around here. Anyway, enough ranting about the wacky world of Texas law, how's the beer?

Appearance: A clear, dark red-brown body with a finger of caramel-tinged head that leaves spotty lacing.

Aroma: Lots of caramel malt dripping with sweetness and booze. No hops to be found here.

Taste: Sweet caramel malt with dark fruit, smoke, chocolate, and Scotch notes. Pleasant alcohol in the back, playing a perfect supporting role. Certainly one of the most complex Sam Adams beers I've tried. The aftertaste is malty and boozy.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and velvety smooth with moderate carbonation. Coats well, but never too syrupy. A lovely subtle burn in the throat.

Drinkability: Above average for a beer with this level of alcohol, but still very much a slower beer. Great for savoring after a meal.

Verdict: This is just about what I expected when I first head "Sam Adams" and "Imperial Series" in the same sentence. A solid, though not earth-shaking, beer that's head-and-shoulders above the rest of the Sam Adams line. The Imperial version of Double Bock is a complex and satisfying beer, and a great companion for after-dinner contemplation.

Grade: A

Shiner 100 Commemorator Review

Brewery: Spoetzl Brewery | Beer: Shiner 100 Commemorator
Style: Doppelbock | ABV: 6.8%
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

As of this year, the Spoetzl Brewery (producer of Shiner beers), has been in business for 100 years. Since 2005, they have brewed a special anniversary beer each year as part of a countdown to the century mark. I don't know if it was planned or not, but each beer so far has been a member of the Lager family.

The first in the series was Shiner 96, a Märzen (or Oktoberfest) style beer, that I regret dearly that I missed my chance to try. Shiner 97, a Schwarzbier (and my favorite so far), was popular enough to earn a spot in the regular Shiner line-up as Bohemian Black Lager. 2007 saw the release of Shiner 98, a Vienna Lager and the most successful of the collection yet. Last year we got Shiner 99, a bright Munich Helles Lager. I still have a few bottles of 97, 98, & 99 in my collection. I might review these later as cellared versions, I know that the 97 is holding up well.

This year, for their centennial, they've brewed up a Doppelbock named Commemorator. Makes sense when their flagship beer is Shiner Bock. Shiner say that Commemorator is "brewed in the robust classic German 'stark' style and it embodies the Old World heritage and tradition Shiner had proudly stood for since 1909." There's been quite a build up to this, let's hope it can live up.

Appearance: Reddish brown crystal clear body. Bubbly off-white finger high head that disappears quickly, leaving hardly any lace. Looks very much like the flagship, Shiner Bock.

Aroma: Not particularly intense. There's some sweet malt, with weird metallic tones.

Taste: Sweet, slightly caramelized malt is the bulk of the flavor profile. I'm still getting some of that weird metallic taste, but that's almost expected in a darker Shiner beer at this point. There's really nothing from the hops to speak of. Everything is just a little on the thin side, but it's not a major concern. The aftertaste is of rich malt and notes of booze.

Mouthfeel: Medium-body with lots of carbonation. Boozy in the finish, but not dry.

Drinkability: Solid enough with a mild profile and the near seven percent alcohol hidden well.

Verdict: I have to say I'm a little disappointed with this as the big finale. While Commemorator is a good beer, it's not really anything special compared to the rest of the anniversary collection. Perhaps my expectations were a little high, but we have been building up to this beer for five years now. Shiner 97 is still, by leaps and bounds, my favorite of the Shiner anniversary brews. Here's hoping for 101!

Grade: B-