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Tommyknocker Butt Head Boc
Idaho Springs, Colorado
BJCP Category: 5C Doppelbock
Tommyknocker Brewery <visit site>
38
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[expand]Total Score: 36/50
Quite drinkable but the roast character and focus on alcohol took this beer out of the range of the best examples of the style. Just not as balanced as the classic examples. A good beer for Lent as it more >
[close]Total Score: 36/50
Aroma: All malt with hints of caramel, toast, roast malt and dark pit fruit melanoidins supported by substantial alcohol. No hop aroma. No DMS. No diacetyl. Very nice and on style. (10/12)
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Appearance: Dark amber color. Bright clarity. Thin, rapidly dissipating, tan, rocky head. Low carbonation. Head perhaps affected by high alcohol presence. (2/3)
Flavor: Roasted malt up front and a bit over the top. I’d prefer more melanoidins and some light toastiness. No hop flavor but hop bitterness there to balance. Alcohol is big and a bit hot, leaving harshness in the finish. No DMS. No diacetyl. Dark pit fruit (plums, prunes) character. The alcohol flavor is prominent and somewhat distracting, especially when perceived with the roast malt. Finished sweet but on the bitter side of malty. Balance was to alcohol and not to rich maltiness. (14/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium-full body but mouthfeel finished up thinnish. Low carbonation. Very warming alcohol. Some rough edges in mouthfeel from alcohol. (3/5)
Overall Impression: Quite drinkable but the roast character and focus on alcohol took this beer out of the range of the best examples of the style. Just not as balanced as the classic examples. A good beer for Lent as it is quite nourishing as the style originators intended. This worked very well with some aged, sharp cheddar cheese that I had on hand to enjoy with the remainder of the bottle. (7/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 42/50
Richly complex, moderately strong dopplebock, with lots of toasty chocolate, malted milk flavors that back up the intense prune and baked cherry fruitiness. more >
[close]Total Score: 42/50
Aroma: Intensely rich toasty caramel malt with equally intense notes of dried tree ripened prunes, with treacle and baked cherries. No hop aroma. Very clean yeast profile, with chocolate malted milk emerging as the beer sits a bit. (8/12)
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Appearance: Deep copper with burnished red highlights, brilliant clarity. Low head formation of creamy, light tan bubbles, falls to a mist on the surface. (3/3)
Flavor: Tree-ripened, sun-warmed prune flavors up front give way to caramel sweet maltiness. Hop bitterness is low compared to the intense stone fruit character, but just enough to give balance. No hop flavor. Main components are toasted stone fruit and rich melanoidin malts, yet the beer is clearly fully attenuated. Hint of acidity from darker malts adds complexity mid palate and in the finish. (18/20)
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderately low, softish carbonation; low alcohol warming midway. Creamy, warm texture with no astringency. Clean finish with a low, lingering warmth. (5/5)
Overall Impression: Richly complex, moderately strong dopplebock, with lots of toasty chocolate, malted milk flavors that back up the intense prune and baked cherry fruitiness. Satiating and comforting, this beer brings to mind the style origin as “liquid bread.” Alcoholic character is subdued by the richness, making a very drinkable, comforting and satisfying sip. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 39/50
The beer is very nice, although the aroma is not as clean as the best examples of the style. It’s a bit too fruity and the nose comes across more like an Old Ale or Winter Warmer. more >
[close]Total Score: 39/50
Aroma: Toasted malt at the forefront with raisins and plums in the background. The alcohol enhances the dark fruit character. The ester level is on the high side for this style, with a little solvent and tropical fruit character. The nose has great complexity, but would be more appropriate for an Old Ale than a lager. (7/12)
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Appearance: Copper color with mahogany highlights and a modest beige head. The head retention is appropriate given the alcohol level. Clarity is excellent. (3/3)
Flavor: The beer starts with a solid malt character, marked by toasted breadcrumbs, melanoidins and caramel. The dark fruits that were prevalent in the aroma are present, but more subdued. The initial sweetness carries through to the finish, where it is balanced by moderate hop bitterness and a low level of roasted malts. There are some pear esters (as opposed to tropical fruit) that are at an appropriate level for the style. The malt-hop-fermentation character balance is very good and really sells this beer. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: The moderate carbonation permits the malt to come through, and while there is some alcohol warmth, there is not excess hotness. The residual malt leaves some sugars on the lips. (5/5)
Overall Impression: The beer is very nice, although the aroma is not as clean as the best examples of the style. It’s a bit too fruity and the nose comes across more like an Old Ale or Winter Warmer. But the beer makes up a lot of ground with its complex and well-balanced flavor. Balance is a key for this style, and it’s well done in this interpretation. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 35/50
Needs additional lagering. The alcohol is too sharp and forward. The malt is rich and strong but has too much of a dark toast/light roast character. more >
[close]Total Score: 35/50
Aroma: Rich bready malt, some alcohol sharpness along with dried fruit esters. The malt is fairly deep in character with some dark toast notes. The alcohol is a little perfumy—a bit distracting. Seems fresh and clean, perhaps young. The alcohol and esters tend to overshadow the malt. No hops. (8/12)
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Appearance: Medium copper color. The low beige head settled quite fast. Clear. (2/3)
Flavor: Rich malt, deeply flavored, like heavily toasted bread crusts. Reminds me of dark Munich malt. Medium bitterness, some of it coming from alcohol; this is a bit too high, since it interferes with the malt flavor. Low hop flavor noted. Some raisin and prune esters are present. The malt is fairly nice with deep flavors but the heavy toast verges on roast/burnt. The dark malt overtones tend to overshadow the base malt richness. The esters and alcohol are a bit too much, although I think aging could help. Seems very clean and well fermented. As it warms, hints of milk chocolate emerge. (14/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Medium-high carbonation. Some alcohol hotness—too sharp. The alcohol level seems right—it’s just too forward and noticeable. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Needs additional lagering. The alcohol is too sharp and forward. The malt is rich and strong but has too much of a dark toast/light roast character. I would increase the Munich-type malts and cut back on the more roasted malts or dark crystal malts. The alcohol is adding extra bitterness, which hurts the overall balance. The clean fermentation character shows that it was well made. (7/10)
