Why we picked it: Highly rated and recommended.
About Ayinger's Celebrator: A beer that has a dominant malty taste. This beer’s origins in a monk’s recipe are reflected in its heartiness. The Pope of Beers, Conrad Seidl, describes it as: “Almost black with a very slight red tone, a sensational, festive foam and truly extraordinary fragrance that at first summons up visions of greaves lard. The first taste is of mild fullness with an accompanying coffee tone, which becomes more dominant with the aftertaste. There is very little of the sweetness that is frequently to be tasted with doppelbock beer.” The Ayinger Celebrator has been ranked among the best beers of the world by the Chicago Testing Institute several times and has won numerous platinum medals.
Celebrator has a creamy head of tight bubbles contrasting beautifully with its profound dark robe. It is full-bodied and velvety from half a year’s aging. Although it is strong, it is not overpowering. There is a wonderful and complex balance between the various malts, the alcohol and the subtle hops. A complex fruitiness of roasted malt and whole hop flowers make Celebrator great as a party drink with friends and family at celebrations. Despite its richness, it has a faintly smoky dryness in the finish.
The History of Celebrator Doppelbock - Doppelbocks ("double bocks") were probably first brewed in the 17th century by monks in Bavaria - a stronger version of bock beers that originated in Einbeck, Germany. Doppelbocks are usually rich, malty lagers; usually dark-colored; the names often end with the suffix "-ator." Ayinger Celebrator is probably little changed from the doppelbock first brewed at Ayinger in 1878; Ayinger's doppelbock was once called "Fortunator" but this global classic is called "Celebrator" around the world now.
Taste - A rich, dark elixir with cascading layers of malt complexity balanced by elegant hops. Notes of toffee, caramel, graceful dark-malt roastiness, and the essence of barley. Lager fermentation leads to clean flavors and pinpoint conditioning. Semi-dry finish.
Serving Suggestion - Pastries and desserts, roast goose, cured ham, smoked duck, wild turkey, filet with Dijon sauce, chanterelles, Tournedos Rossini, Châteaubriand. Enjoy with a fine cigar after dinner. Serve in stemmed tumbler at 50 °F.
Beer Advocate Score: 96 and 100
OG: 1.074
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, hops, yeast.
ABV: 6.7%
IBU: 24
Case Cost: $75 ($14 for a 4 pack)
*website: http://en.ayinger-bier.de/?pid=118&par=82
Never had a bad Ayinger and this here is no exception. Poured this sucker out and got juiced up over the pitch black color. Had to adjust the angle about 5 times to get the real color a deep dark reddish brown. Had a nice aroma that smelled sweeter than it tasted. The hops take a backseat to the roasted malt taste.
ReplyDeleteGot absolutely nothing bad to say about this beer. It's the perfect Sunday beer to do whatever, I could have 3 or 4 of these throughout the day and be the happiest mofo alive. It's a excellent counterpoint to yesterday. A!
Well said, just down right tasty. Giants lose making the nfc east race to 7 wins even more interesting
DeleteCelebrator seems appropriate as I watch the Seahawks roll the Vikings. This is a definite improvement over last night's dopplebock with better balance and less sweetness. Not sure I'd order again, it's enjoyable. Plus I get an ornament! 2 out of 5.
ReplyDeleteBut more importantly, there's a Pope of Beer? What sort of powers does he have? What happens when he dies? Can I run for Pope of Beer?
Enjoyed the Ayinger with grilled turkey and cheese sammie for lunch today. Yum! Agree that everything Ayinger does is amazing...possibly the best marzen (octoberfest) in the world. Def grab a sixer of that if ya ever see it.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy scotch ales for thanksgiving...it's kinda a tradition. This brew makes me think that I should add this to the menu next thanksgiving.
This doppelbock is fantastic...great color and flavor. It's the paradigm of what great german lagers should be and a great example of the style.
I'll snag a sixer of this next time I see it.
Since I'm lazy, Get me 6 while you're at it
DeleteI love this beer. Its definitely one of my top 20 beers and one of few that I give 5 stars on via untappd. Any beer with a goat on it (see Sam Adams Double Bock - so awesome they don't have the Patriot's picture on it) rules. Oh, this is also 1 of the 2 on this list that I had before - so thanks for giving me 22 new ones to try!
ReplyDelete"Refills all around"
ReplyDeleteNot as boozy or strong as yesterday, a more traditional dopplebock. Classic malty sweetness, awesome color, nice head on the pour and smooth going down. Nice choice for the season, but probably not a summer taster!
This was delicious, just enough holiday in it, without being over the top. Might be the new leader , with the added benefit of following yesterday's train wreck
ReplyDeleteSo am I the only one that spent 5 minutes trying to figure out if the ornamental goat was a bottle opener and ended up failing to open the bottle and breaking the tail off the goat? Anyway, once I get this open, it was pretty awesome. I'm more of a hops than a malt guy but I respect a good malty beer after walking the dog in the dark at 5 pm on a cool December evening. I fear my opinion of this beer is artificially inflated after yesterday's horrendous Samichlaus experience but this is so much better. So much better. Would definitely drink this again. Possibly now. Solid day. Woke up still alive after drinking a Samichlaus, blasted a 5K, drank two free beers before noon, watched the Hawks until the game got too out of reach for FOX to handle, and now a tasty evening beer. Would probably taste a lot better if I hadn't been signed up to pick up my mother-in-law at BWI at 8 pm. Doh.
ReplyDeleteYour prowess for drinking, running and weighing less than 150 makes me dislike you, which is a shame since you're otherwise a great guy!
DeleteWeighing less than 150? Less than 150 kilograms.....
DeleteSo this is the bottle that I first noticed when I opened my case of 24 DoB beers (after checking out the corked and caged grand finale bottle), due to the beer charm (?) hanging on the neck. I think that’s pretty cool for a holiday beer. The rest of the label doesn’t necessarily appeal to me, but it’s not bad. This beer is the real deal. It’s very well executed. Very balanced and the components work great together. Unlike last night’s ultra-extreme version, this one is not overboard in any one area. I would get this one again if I came across it on a holiday outing. Another winner.
ReplyDeleteFor those that are scratching your head and saying 'what beer charm'...apologies, as some went missing during the repackaging
DeleteA ten mile bike ride on a sunny Sunday afternoon followed by a hot shower and this beer. Priceless. Really perfectly balanced. Creamy mouthfeel. Malts are not intrusive and the hops introduce just a little bite. Nice lingering sweetness. And it comes with a toy! Love it. I think I might serve this one with dinner on Christmas Eve.
ReplyDeleteOh, and the tree went up straight this year. I credit the beverage.
DeleteWhy is everyone exercising? You and bill make me sick and err kinda depressed
DeleteMuch better then yesterday. Plus it came with a Christmas tree ornament the wife didn't think that was too funny
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a not heavily alcoholic double bock. Yesterday's was a bit much. They were even generous enough to give us an ornament. Another good one in the books.
ReplyDeleteThe ornament seems to be a big hit. Next year we'll skip the beer and do 24 ornaments
DeleteI had the Samichlaus earlier today and I am enjoying this tonight. I like this better than the Samichlaus. Compared to the Samichlaus this tastes non-alcoholic. I think it's a solid beer, but this style of beer is not one of my favorites. Grade 8.5 of 10, B+
ReplyDeleteYes! Joe Likey! Nice aroma, nice head, nice taste, and no bitterness or shitty after taste. Delightful
ReplyDeletePlaying catch up tonight since I missed last night's beer. First up the Samichlaus, which I drank sitting get atop a ladder hanging outdoor lights. At 14% ABV, it could have defiantly ended with a Griswold like ending. It was really strong and I could/should only have onever but I have tonight's beer waiting for me inside. Celebrator was a really good beer. I dont think I've ever been disappointed with a beer made by a monk. Wish I had another.
ReplyDeleteOne of my fave Doppelbocks of all time. Sweet, malty and complex. Velvety smooth with a breadcrust undertones. Aying is one of my fave breweries, they've never failed to deliver a solid beer imo.
ReplyDeleteI'm a day late and a beer short but that just means I get to drink two beers today. Lucky me. This is really good. I don't usually go for doppelbocks but I might now.
ReplyDeleteWanting to feel more like a monk, I dressed in a stylish robe to down this tasty brew. Those monks sure know how to brew a great beer and their fashion style is not to be messed with. Goats, monks and beer--nothing really better than that, eh? This was a great, malty doppel. Dark enough to know you aren't drinking a typical beer, but nothing overwhelming, which I really like. The roasty caramel overtones made this a good departure from my normal wheat beers. Interestingly, this has a relative low ABV for a doppel, but it succeeds. All this means is that I will be partying with goats more often.
ReplyDeleteHad this once before and it was sweeter than I remember. Not bad but I was fine with one. I'll give it a B-.
ReplyDeleteGetting caught up and this was my fave beer so far. Normally like Ayinger beers and this also delivered....nice treat after a pretty terrible day at work
ReplyDeleteReally nice beer! I'm getting caught up from being away this weekend. This was a welcome taste after the malt liquor!
ReplyDeleteB-