The Doppelsticke I’ve had several times before, but never this in the US until now.

The usual, Grolsch style, “pop-top” presentation, with good gun-smoke on opening.

Head is beautifully formed, excellent lace, nice retention. Brown body.

Nose gives up intense, bready malts. Really very strong.

Tastes are more reserved, but follow-on with simple malts and very light bitterness in the back end. Not sweet, but with some light spice among the hops. Excellent mouthfeel, and this beer feels like a VERY substantial brew that goes way beyond the 4.7 %. Quite peppery and with lots of herbal notes, the beer really accentuates the Altbier style, with a lack of sweetness and with the emphasis on malt. A paradox for some. Spice repeats in those hops. So interesting.

It’s impossible to categorize this in any other way than “classic Altbier”. Yes, there are maltier version of this, but one can argue that this is a Düsseldorf quintessential example. Who am I to go against that? I can’t, and you should enojoy the richness of the nose and body and stakes the tastes for what they are.