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Old Review
Had this on-tap at Aromas in Athens, GA. Served in a standard pint.

A: Poured a very nice and rich copper color with a good finger and a half of foamy off white head. The head didn't take long to falter to just a top cap but that cap did produce some sticky lacing that notched the glass on the way down.

S: Smell is of course of some serious malt. Caramel, vanilla, and breadiness throughout the aroma. There is also a touch of spiciness that comes through as a peppery touch. Slight hint of alcohol as it warms up.

T: Taste is also of rich malt that is mostly caramel with a touch of sweet, breadiness. There is a not of some gentle fruit in here, maybe apricot. Also some nice notes of some piney hops throughout. Once again as it warms, booze comes through. It can hit you hard in the palate. Has a semi-sweet finish that is mostly of caramel malty goodness.

M: Carbonation is nice but not over the top. Gives it a somewhat crisp feel. Medium in body as it slides down your throat. When cold, the alcohol is not detectable at all. As it warms, you can feel it big time. The alcohol takes away just a bit from the feel IMO.

D: Good brew that has a lot going on. The alcohol really can hit you hard if this thing is warm. The flavor and aroma are very good. I would absolutely drink this again, especially if the bottle price drops a bit. As for now the price negatively affects the drinkability to me.

Serving type: on-tap

Served In: Pint Glass

Gorgeous semi clear amber/medium to darkened orange color with an immensely tall and lusterious topping of frothy yellowed foam that sits a solid two inches thick. Keeps about half an inch of it sitting around like lather and coats the glass with tons of lace that looks like drippy icing.

Aroma isn't all that malty for a doppel. Seemingly reminds me of a paled pale ale that has some toasted grains and crunchy leafy hop notes. Slight burnt biscuit, citrus, apple, and some tannins are noted as it warms.

Taste is a bit plain as well. Well made and wholesome. Just not as big and definately short on malt tones and any chewy factors that would normally be found in the style. Slightly toasted malts, burntish bread crusts, wood toned hop notes, old red apple, and pale biscuit-like malt tints smurfing things up in some areas. Slight caramel begins to emerge as it warms, but not nearly enough to make it more interesting.

Feel comes up kinda short too. Mostly again in the malt area of sweet chewyness that usually would linger forever in a Doppel. This has a simple balance and tone that's just not pulling any kind of malty weight that I normally like out of a Doppel. Its about medium bodied with a feather frothyness to its nature and a slender pale and dryish tone that seems more like an amber.

As all ready stated, this Dbl. Dead Guy is not really speaking the tongue and chewy cheek sticking Doppelbock that it should. And for the price I'd rather get me some Celebrator. Sorry, this Rogue beer didn't do much for me other then teaste me with its great appearance and fancy cool red bottle.

Price: $9.00 Served In: Pint Glass

Sampled on Tap at 1702, Tucson AZ; August 2008
Arrives from the tap with a clear, red-amber color and a thin, wispy, tan colored head that clumps to the sides of my glass. This has a very malty aroma to it and is almost fruity, but definitely has a caramel edge to it along with some concentrated malt sugar aromatics. At times this seems to strike a good faux-Bock like aroma; fairly clean with a strong-lager like concentrated malt character. There is a nice herbal hop component to the nose though and that fruitiness might also be contributed partly by the hops.

The flavor is much more hop focused than I expected (based on the aroma); hop flavors of fresh cut herbs and a green bitterness are quite noticeable. This gets a bit hot in the finish with both the sharp hop notes and noticeable alcohol. The hop character is actually dominant in the flavor, but there is a solid malt contribution here that contributes flavors of caramel and toasted grain and also accentuates notes of fruity berries and soft citrus. I really like the balance of malt and hop that this beer has. This is chewy with a rich heft to it that doesn't get cloying or overly thick.

This is an interesting brew, it is surprisingly hoppy in the flavor and hides its alcohol fairly well (though it can get hot at times with the peppery alcohol notes in the finish).

Served In: Pint Glass