Gigantic Brewing Company Kiss the Goat (#39) Doppelbock at 8% ABV (C$12.95 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, best before 28-Jan-2017, acquired 28-May-2016, reviewed 3-Jun-2016)
Appearance: translucent amber-brown with deep amber margins, one finger of fizzy light beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: roasty grains, dry cocoa, caramel, liquorice, vinous red fruits. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium-light body, lively carbonation, off-dry bitter coffee finish. (4/5)
Uncaps with an emphatic pop but no subsequent foamy overflow, though lively carbonation remains throughout. Y’know, I seem to have gotten into the habit of automatically trying every new brew that Gigantic releases – and I see no reason to change that behaviour based on this one. Dopplebocks are not a style that I’ve tried a lot of – though I have had Ayinger Celebrator, and I think I actually got a Pauline Salvator at a gas station in Germany, years and years ago before I started this particular (and peculiar) habit of tracking what I drink. This… well, it isn’t them. For one thing, it’s much darker, although that’s a bit of a red (black?) herring, since that darkness doesn’t seem to translate through all that much into the aromas, taste, or body – it’s just dark, though there is a mild almost smoky roastiness that is slightly atypical for the style. Overall, though, this is a surprisingly light malty beer that finishes with a pleasant coffee-like bitterness. (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
