According to the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP), Doppelbock is a strong, rich, and very malty German lager with both pale and dark variants. The color should range from copper to dark brown, and the aroma should be dominantly malty without any hop presence. The flavor should also have a malty sweetness, but should not be cloying. The beer should be clean and well-balanced, with some alcohol presence, but not overwhelming.