BEER: Monteith Doppelbock

This special winter release aims to emulate the rich, dark ‘double Bock’ German dark ale style, which, considering my love of Bock, is immediately attractive. I think the attraction revolves around its rich malty warmth and alcohol kick (6% or so for this one) making for a beer that will never qualify as ‘sessionable’, but is such a satisfying, who-really-cares-whats-happening-outside-I’m-staying-here, ‘quiet ale’ beer of intensity and flavour.

On the palate, this is dry and warming, without obvious sweetness. After drinking a fair bit of the Harviestoun, which is much more of a stout style, this seemed quite lean and nowhere near as luxurious, but after bottle number two I think I had this figured out. It’s actually lighter, less smoky and chocolatey than a more classic stout style, with more bitterness and a drier finish making it slightly more refreshing and a little bit more amicable than the Harviestoun, though also a little less satisfying.

In the end, this is a finely made ‘big bottling’ brew, with much to like in flavour and style, even if I was wanting just a little bit more