JosephsBrau Winterfest Lager
by admin on Mar.27, 2008, under beer, doppelbock, lager
Background: A Trader Joe's exclusive (probably contract brewed by Gordon Biersch, but credited to “JosephsBrau Brewing Company” on the bottle), this dark “double bock” clocks in at 7.5% ABV and has a shiny label.
Appearance: Pours a nice red-tinted brown, with a slight foamy yellow(?)-brown head.
Nose: Heavy malt, caramel, and a hint of breadiness.
Taste: A nice interplay of caramel, dark bread, and earthy tobacco for the main flavours, layered with dark dried figs and a hint of smokiness. On the sweet side, but a light hoppy bitterness cuts through right before the finish to prevent it coming off as cloying.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, but a bit light, with nice peppy carbonation.
Overall: Very solid beer, maybe not quite top-notch but definitely above average.
