Beer of the Weekend #1,051: No Imitator

The beer of the weekend is a high-ABV beast that scares me a bit: No Imitator, brewed by the Confluence Brewing Company of Des Moines, Iowa.



Serving type: 16-ounce can. “CANNED ON AUG/31/23” is printed on the bottom of the can.

Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color is a beautiful, deep, ruddy amber. A little more than a finger of light tan, buttery, dense head dissipates slowly, leaving trails of lacing along the glass.

Smell: Smoked malt, toasted malt, and caramel. It smells very good but also very intimidating. There are also scents of toffee, earthy spice, and cherry licorice.

Taste: Smokey, toasty, and sweet. The smoke is not as prominent but it is still smokey with a lot of toast, caramel, and toffee. There are dark esters though nothing I can specifically identify. It is very rich and tasty, almost overwhelmingly so. There is only a hint of alcohol.

Fun facts about No Imitator:

• Style: Doppelbock.

• Price: $19.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans.

• Alcohol content: 9.2 percent ABV.

• Here is the description from the can and brewery website:

In today’s world there are many copies, many imitators, but very few originals. This special doppelbock pays tribute to an entire family of originals, the Alberhaskys, and their 75 years as an institution on the northside of Iowa City. The torchbearer for quality beer years before anyone would follow suit, there is no doubt that Iowa Craft Beer wouldn’t be what it is today without the dedication of the John’s Grocery family. So, join us in raising this doppelbock, full of rich toffee and swirls of caramel against a fresh bready backbone, in tribute to an Iowa Original. Cheers to four generations of John’s Grocery and to many more to come!

The Quiet Man’s grade: A.