beer_name: Great Lakes The Doppelrock
text: New Great Lakes seasonal, I think this is the best newer offering they've had recently. Live review from the bottle, but I have also had this on tap. (Actually did a side by side between this and Celebrator.) Pours with excellent clarity, a robust dark hardwood grain color. The head can be easily controlled with this beer. If you wish you can produce several fingers, I seem to prefer a more subdued pour after a half dozen of these this season. A tall pour seems to destroy much of the carbonation. With a clean glass I have been able to produce a true wall of lace which is quite exceptional. The smell is very warm and bready. Dark wheat and toasted grains. Lots of yeasty unbaked dough in there, as well as sweet fruits like fig and date. Compared to Celebrator this is not quite as sweet, and much more grainy. That said, it smells much more fresh to me, and very clean. Crisp and chewy malt goodness greets the palate. Doppelrock is full of flavor. Toasty bread crust and dark grains.There's plenty of sweetness, but much less than in some versions of the style. Great Lakes always does such a wonderful job of creating amazingly clean and fresh flavors. Chewy with soft, pillowy carbonation - quite nice, though maybe the carbonation is a tad low for the style. I like it this way. Overall I have really enjoyed this brew, and sincerely hope it makes its way back around next season. I wish it were cheaper, but it is easily several dollars under the Celebrator price point.