Maui Brewing 'Doppel Shot' Double Bock. 8.2% abv. 40 IBU. Amber-orange color. Finger of white foamy head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of bright coffee, herbal spice. Front taste of fresh light roast coffee, bitter herb, sweet malt. Aftertaste of ground coffee, bitter botanical resin, grassy grain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, clingy.

This is a very good coffee beer, one that stands out in its golden color and fresh herbal taste. The spice is bright to the point that it brings pepper beers to mind. There is a sweet mellow malt taste underneath the ever-present tall coffee and mild herb. I wouldn't classify this as a doppelbock, rather as a specialty beer that merges bock and coffee. It's a refreshing and satisfying beer, particularly if you love coffee brew. Well recommended.

From the company:

"Not your everyday Doppelbock! This unique Doppelbock was brewed to showcase the fresh roasted Yellow Caturra MauiGrown coffee from Ka’anapali, Maui. This beer is rich in pale malt character and brings slight sweetness to compliment the smooth character of the coffee. The darker color comes from the heavy coffee addition."

[source: mauibrewingco.com]

The glass was not "beer clean" as noted by the bubbles along the side. Fortunately, it didn't seem to hinder the abundant head and retention, a good sign of the craftsmanship of the beer.

Heater Allen Brewing 'Mediator' Handcrafted Dopplebock. 7.4% abv. 36.5 IBU. Black in color. Thin tan head. Moderate retention and excellent lace. Nose of dark fruit, sweet malt, raisins. Front taste of fruity hops, plum, stone fruit. Aftertaste of bittersweet dark fruit. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, tangy, semi thick.

This is an excellent beer, an a superb example of its category. The Doppelbock (Heater Allen spells theirs "dopplebock") was one of my first favorite styles of beer decades ago, and still holds a place in my heart and palate today. Mediator is a solid example, with malty tastes loaded with dried fruit, bittersweet, and some complementing hop presence. It feels big, but could be bigger, which is a small nitpick for an otherwise excellent brew. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Mediator is what we call our Dopplebock. Dopplebock started out as a Lenten beer for the monks in Germany.  During Lent they would forgo solid food and get all their sustenance from beer. Needless to say it was big beer with lots of unfermented dextrins. Once the public got a taste it became very popular. We call our beer Mediator because we think that a 22 ounce bottle is probably better shared than drunk alone.  It's rich, toasty and malty, with a few plum notes on the palate and the slightest roasted character in the finish."
[source: heaterallen.com]

Full Sail Brewing '25' Pale Doppelbock Lager. 9% abv. 70 IBU. Hazy orange color. Half-finger of tan head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of malt, sweet citrus. Front taste of bittersweet malt, light fruit, round citrus. Aftertaste of sweet orange, mild bitter fruity hops, bitter earthy sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, small-bead carb, tangy back end.

This is a fine beer that crosses category lines. "Pale" and "Doppelbock" seem contradictory, but it works here, with flavors of sweet mellow citrus over a solid malt backbone. Wonderful. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Brewed to celebrate our 25th Anniversary, '25' is a complex, luxurious beer brewed with Vienna Malt and Saaz hops, extended lagering produces full bodied flavors of caramel and honey with a hoppy backbone of white pepper and lemon spice. A beer made for celebration, Full Sail 25 is an elegant Northwest Style Pale Doppelbock."

[source: fullsailbrewing.com]

"So here we are 25 years later. Very humbled, grateful, and amazed that we got here in one piece. Still a mix of beer geeks and boardheads. Still independent. Still trying to find that perfect balance between art and commerce, work and play, inspiration and perspiration. Thanks for supporting us for all these years. And next time you’re in Hood River, stop by for a beer."

[source: bottle]