Brücius Doppelbock

Review Date 4/18/2026 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Doppelbock   Brewery: Schilling   Country: USA   State: New Hampshire   $ Per OZ: N/A   ABV: 7.3%

Schilling Brücius Doppelnock! It is the third beer I have tried in the Schilling Doppelbock triumvirate. The first one I scored a few years ago, Schilling Weihnachtsbier Holiday Bock. It is not at all uncommon for German brewers to offer a Doppelbock as a Weihnachtsbier, which of course means Christmas beer. Indeed, one of the first Doppelbocks I ever tried was Wurzburger Hofbrau Weinachtsbier, a beer which, along with Samuel Adams Double Bock, started me down the road that eventually made the style my very favorite.

A few weeks ago, I tried Schilling Lentenbock for the first time, another classic Doppelbock. In my experience, Lentenbocks are usually pale bocks/Maibocks, Easter falling in April, which is tight next to May. Still, Lent begins in March, which is close th February, and January and February are the heart of Doppelbock season. Indeed, just before Lent begins in early March, Starkbierfest is celebrated in Munich, and you will find lots of Doppelbocks there.

So, while the latter two Schilling Doppelbocks are holiday offerings, Brücius is their regularly scheduled Doppelbock, if you will. From their Facebook page:

Brucius, our annual Doppelbock release, is named for one of Schilling's owners: Bruce, a beloved, one-of-a-kind veterinarian from northern Michigan (Jeff, Matt and Stu's dad). This rich and toasty lager pours a chestnut brown with an off-white head, and opens up with a lasting aroma of sweet bread, caramel, and dried fruits. On the tongue is lightly roasted coffee, cocoa nibs, and a hint of molasses. With just enough herbal hop character for balance, this bock finishes full-bodied and malty. Available today on draught and 4-packs to go.

Schilling Brücius Doppelbock has an alcohol content of 7.3% by volume, Just above their Weihnachtsbier which has an ABV of 7% but below the Lentenbock, mightiest of the three at 8%. I paid $6.49 for my can from half Time, which has no freshness dating.

Schilling Brücius Doppelnock pours to a dark mahogany color with a thick creamy tan head and a nose of dark nutty malts and a hint of smoke. Taking a sip, the beer is medium in body, firm and chewy with nutty malts, burnt caramel and a hint of molasses. It screams dark nutty melanoidins, toasty with a hint of chocolate that combines with the molasses to suggest Whitman’s Molasses Chews (I could eat a whole box of those). The beer finishes dry with earthy grassy bitterness.

The best Schilling doppelbock of the three in my opinion, though you cannot go wrong with any of them. I can’t wait to drink it again.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??