Did you know that doppelbock beers have a name that ends in “ator”? They do, at least in Germany where the style was born. Think of the famous German examples of the style: Celebrator, Optimator, Bajuvator, Salvator, Maximator .Many American brewers like to name their doppelbocks accordingly (Terminator, Rabbator, Illuminator, Liberator, Consecrator), and the Karbach brewery of Houston, Texas is no exception. Witness their Pontificator Smoked Doppelbock, a German-style doppelbock brewed with smoked malts.

Smoked beers are very German as well, and Rauchbiers from Bamberg are the first and best smoked beers in the world. I was very excited, then, to get a bottle of Karbach’s version in a recent beer trade, since their beers are not distributed here in Georgia.

Karbach says this of Pontificator on the bomber bottle label:

PONTIFICATE: In the spirit of the German tradition of naming Doppelbocks using the suffix “-ator” we knew Ponitificator would be a perfect name to honor this most incredibly awesome Doppelbock that only a very lucky few of you might be able to get your hands on. It is brewed with only the finest malts and is cold-lagered for a really long time according to hallowed German brewing traditions. If you are worthy enough to be able to try it you will notice the hint of smoked malt we blew into this amazing brew. We are certain you will think it is the best smoked Doppelbock ever brewed in Houston, Texas in the twenty first century. Well, enough for now-time to go hot air ballooning.

OK, that’s a lot of text quoted from the label, but don’t blame me-Karbach put a lot of text on the label. But you know, they’re onto something. I do feel very fortunate to try this beer. These days, the beer geek fad is to seek out that highly prized “whale” of a beer, the rare super tripel hopped imperial double IPA aged on oak chips in bourbon barrels and brewed with rose hips and fried chicken. For my part, I get much more excited about a beer like Karbach Pontificator, hard to find outside its local market perhaps, but a great example of my favorite beer style and under the radar of the beer geek crowd.

Ingredients from the website:

Malts:  4 varieties of Munich, Rauch, Cherry-wood smoked malt, Crystal, Carafa

Hops:  Spalt, Hallertauer, Tettnang

Karbach Pontificator has an alcohol content of 8.4% by volume and 30 IBUS.

Karbach Pontificator Smoked Doppelbock pours to a dark chestnut color with a thick rich creamy head and a truly luscious nose of sweet toasty nutty malts and molasses. I get an ever so light suggestion of smoke, but I have to work for it to be honest. Taking a sip, this one is packed with everything I want in a doppelbock: sweet toasty nutty molasses melanoidin goodness, and oodles of fresh maltiness. This beer is amazing, and as a doppelbock I really love it. And you know doppels are my favorite style, right? The beer finishes slightly sweet, as the style should, and with a little alcohol warmth.

Not getting any smoke, though, hence the 4 ½ star rating. I can forgive them for that, though. This is a really fantastic doppelbock, and I would be all over it if it were sold here in Georgia. I enjoyed my bottle with pan seared salmon, heirloom potato salad with stone ground mustard, and a savory fennel salad. The sweetness of the doppelbock paired wonderfully with the crispy, flaky salmon.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft



Home