Paulaner - Salvator Doppel Bock

Tonight I'll be breaking out a brew from Paulaner in Germany.  This brewery has been around for centuries, with records of beer being brewed all the way back in 1634.  This particular beer, Salvator, was the first beer to be documented from Paulaner after it gained some local fame.  The Monks of the order of St. Frances of Paola that created this concoction for sustenance, because they were strict vegans and forbidden from any food from animals aka meat.  They called it "Saint Father Beer", or Salvator. 

At 7.9%ABV, this is the strongest beer brewed by Paulaner - brewed using Munich malt and other ingredients in a recipe that's been unchanged for 375 years.  The bottle states this is best before 1/11 - oops!  Completely forgot to check that before I picked it out....+1 dumbass points for me.  Hopefully that won't take away from the experience.

The beer is a deep, almost chocolate hazy amber color with a light cream layer of foam.  The aroma is heavily malty, with some raisins, caramel, and a faint sugary booze scent.  The flavor starts off with toffee-nuts and plum-raisins.  Creamy caramel is next up, with some prickly carbonation tossing it around a bit.  The second half brings on a kind of metallic, dry, herbal taste that lingers for quite a while.  The alcohol is noticeable throughout, and not in a good way.

Overall Rating:  I was a bit disappointed by this Doppelbock.  There were enough off-flavors in there to distract from the good stuff.  Keep in mind, I'm drinking this 5 months past the best-by date, so it's not a fresh example.  I'll be giving the Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock a try next, and we'll see who wins the Doppelbock-ator wars!