Beer of the Weekend #350: Cabin Fever Doppelbock
Tonight’s brew has been hanging around IC for over a month and I decided it was high time to try it: Cabin Fever Doppelbock, brewed by the Millstream Brewing Company of Amana, Iowa.
CFD is another installment of Millstream’s Extreme Series of high proof beers. So far I think I have only missed one edition — Dark Night Belgian Rye — but I believe I can track down a four-pack, or at least a bottle. As I have mentioned before, the Extreme Series is not selling well. It is obvious from browsing the beer shelves: there is a ton of leftover stock from each release. As Mervgotti says: people want hoppier beer, not more alcoholic beer. I agree.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The month notch along the label is at the “M” for March.
Appearance: Poured into a pilsner glass. The color is dark caramel. One finger of light tan head dissipated fairly quickly to leave a thin lacing and ring around the edge.
Smell: It smells much more like a brown ale. Toasted caramel, cocoa, dark fruit raspberry, vanilla, and toffee.
Taste: Ooo — Tommy likey. It starts off like a brown ale with the toasted caramel, cocoa, and dark raspberry, but it slowly becomes a doppelbock/dubbel hybrid with a touch of booze, honey, and fruit (plum, raspberry, apple). Yeast and spice (pepper? cloves?) are also evident. It has a kind of frothy, hot toddy taste, but it is pretty balanced.
Drinkability: This is tasty stuff. The booze is, in this case, welcome because of the style. It is not, however, overpowering as it has been for other installments of the Extreme Series. This edition is just right and has a nice personal touch.
Fun facts about CFD:
-Style: BA classifies it as “Doppelbock.” I am sure the folks at Millstream concur.
-Price: $8.99/four-pack at the Hy-Vee Drugstore on First and Rochester in IC. I always try to buy local at John’s or the Co-op, but I will say the “Drug Town” at First and Rochester has an incredible selection of brew. It even sells homebrewing ingredients and kits.
-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: BA pegs the ABV at 7.9.
-Food pairings: Probably one of those incredible landjägers from the Amana meat shop. Goddamn! those things are awesome (though not as good as those sold at the Kalona Cheese Factory, if I remember correctly).
-Personally, I think Millstream should abandon the Extreme Series. The novelty of Iowa-brewed high proof beer has worn off — if there ever was such a thing. The beers do not offer much besides the higher than average ABV. However, I will say the label designs have improved.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
CFD is another installment of Millstream’s Extreme Series of high proof beers. So far I think I have only missed one edition — Dark Night Belgian Rye — but I believe I can track down a four-pack, or at least a bottle. As I have mentioned before, the Extreme Series is not selling well. It is obvious from browsing the beer shelves: there is a ton of leftover stock from each release. As Mervgotti says: people want hoppier beer, not more alcoholic beer. I agree.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The month notch along the label is at the “M” for March.
Appearance: Poured into a pilsner glass. The color is dark caramel. One finger of light tan head dissipated fairly quickly to leave a thin lacing and ring around the edge.
Smell: It smells much more like a brown ale. Toasted caramel, cocoa, dark fruit raspberry, vanilla, and toffee.
Taste: Ooo — Tommy likey. It starts off like a brown ale with the toasted caramel, cocoa, and dark raspberry, but it slowly becomes a doppelbock/dubbel hybrid with a touch of booze, honey, and fruit (plum, raspberry, apple). Yeast and spice (pepper? cloves?) are also evident. It has a kind of frothy, hot toddy taste, but it is pretty balanced.
Drinkability: This is tasty stuff. The booze is, in this case, welcome because of the style. It is not, however, overpowering as it has been for other installments of the Extreme Series. This edition is just right and has a nice personal touch.
Fun facts about CFD:
-Style: BA classifies it as “Doppelbock.” I am sure the folks at Millstream concur.
-Price: $8.99/four-pack at the Hy-Vee Drugstore on First and Rochester in IC. I always try to buy local at John’s or the Co-op, but I will say the “Drug Town” at First and Rochester has an incredible selection of brew. It even sells homebrewing ingredients and kits.
-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: BA pegs the ABV at 7.9.
-Food pairings: Probably one of those incredible landjägers from the Amana meat shop. Goddamn! those things are awesome (though not as good as those sold at the Kalona Cheese Factory, if I remember correctly).
-Personally, I think Millstream should abandon the Extreme Series. The novelty of Iowa-brewed high proof beer has worn off — if there ever was such a thing. The beers do not offer much besides the higher than average ABV. However, I will say the label designs have improved.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
