Harriet Elevator Doppelbock

Harriet's Elevator Doppelbock. I'm surprised no-one else has taken this name. How can it be that there are still some legitimate -ators out there. (Just so you know, the tradition of ending a doppelbock with "ator" started with Paulaner's Salvator, which means "savior." These malty lagers were brewed by German monks for consumption during Lenten fasts, liquid bread to sustain them.)

(Hey, do you remember an episode of the Simpsons, where the B-story was Lisa's addiction to a "Cory hotline", back when Corys were all rage for the little ones?  I forgot what the A story was, probably something to do with Bart and Homer. Anyway, one of the messages was Corey reading "some words that rhyme with Corey. Allegory...Montessori"...etcetera. So, read this in that voice: Celebrator...Curator...Consecrator...Liberator...Optimator...Detonator...Instigator...Illuminator...Navigator...Animator...Captivator...Procrastinator...

Wait! Stop the presses! There is an Elevator doppelbock, and it's by the Elevator brewery in Columbus, Ohio, but their doppelbock is the Procrastinator.

This one is a lovely reddish brown, shimmering crimson highlights at the edges. With a creamy tan head, beginning full and creamy, turning slight, but long-lasting.

Aroma: grassy/herbal/bitter hops up front, then cocoa takes center stage. Sweetness, however, does not dominate at all, and a dry toastiness rounds out the caramel and banana tones.

Taste: richness, smoothness, balance. Everything all in place. Delicious. All those same flavors in aroma return on the palate, except for hops, that's not an important factor in the flavor. Full bodied, earthy, chocolatey, good texture, good heft, good play on the palate. All around tasty. Some dark fruit flavors as well, a bit of raisin and fig. Black berry, maybe. Just a bit, though.

Overall, a very likable, quite substantial, really spot-on interpretation of the doppelbock.  Full flavored, good and malty, without any overt sweetness, nice and dry, with just enough hops.
Good job, I say, to the German-trained brewer and the German lager-loving owner. Nice work.

A maibock comes up next, you say? Mmmm, can't wait. I guess once this keg kicks, I'll enjoy the espresso infusion until that one comes along.


By the way, here are some details. 20 IBU, give or take 8 % ABV, and the description: "traditionally brewed using the decoction method and lagered for two monts...rich and malt driven, with characteristics of dark fruit, and caramel supported by a light toastiness and just enough bitterness from the hops to keep it balanced. ...hearty, yet clean and complex. It's tempting to make this a daily ration of liquid bread...you know, to honor the monks."