Ayinger Celebrator
Brewery: Ayinger
Town: Aying
Style: Dunkler Bock
Color: dark brown to black, garnet highlights
Head: tan, dense
Nose: malty, some dried fruit
Body: full-bodied
Palate: rich malt, some dried fruit, roast and hops in the mix
Finish: long, dry, bittersweet
Served: on tap at the brewery
Impression: Ayinger makes a fairly large portfolio of regular beers, all well-made, but their seasonals are their true strength and Celebrator is perhaps their most noted. It is very similar to their Winter Bock in all respects. The color, head and nose are very close. Celebrator is perhaps more unusual as a Dopplebock, the time slot it is released during. What matters though is it is a very approachable dark Bock with a rich malty flavor that intermingles dried fruit and roast effortlessly before the long bittersweet finish. It’s a dangerously drinkable brew.