United Nations of Beer

Widmer Cherry Oak Doppelbock

by Bret
(Las Vegas)

Cherry Oak Dopplebock (9% ABV)
Widmer Brothers Brewing, Portland, OR
Visit the UNOB's Oregon Breweries and beers guide

Second only to the beers of the holiday season, limited edition releases by the brewers are my next favorite beers to drink, when available. This year's Brothers Reserve from Widmer's is a quaint doppelbock which is fermented with cherries and aged on toasted oak. An excellent beer with a lot of complexity, flavor and texture.

BR 2009 starts off with mild cherry and oak scents coupled with a roasted barley aroma. Followed by a light hoppy aroma with a slightly sweet overtone. Gives off a kind of bubble gum scent while beer is consumed and then gives way to the richness of the chocolate malt.

The color is a deep amber, almost reddish brown, with no haze or cloudiness and a lot of carbonation bubbles. The head is a creamy pinkish tan color with darker spots mixed in. The foamy head is thick and laces the glass as you consume the beer, then it lingers on top of the glass as a dried ring.

WB 2009 has a very full bodied and rich fruity flavor with a wooden barley, chocolaty aftertaste. There is a mild bitterness that is not overwhelming but which compliments the sweetness of the cherries and oak. The bitterness coats the linings of the mouth along with the malt.

The mouthfeel of this beer is smooth in texture and coats the palate with intriguing flavors and a lot of carbonation. The flavors and aftertaste cover the tongue, mouth and the back of the throat as you drink it.

Overall, this is a great beer, good flavor, carbonation, texture and mouthfeel. The flavors intensify as the beer warms like any good dark beer, and the chocolate and oak undertones become more evident. I have tried to find other releases of the Brother's Reserves, but have been unsuccessful.