“While you were going about your day this past winter, drinking hazies and delicately balancing the thermostat – heavy sweater equation, we put something in tank and left it there. Something big and bold, but also traditional. And it needed time, a lot fo time. But now as winter comes to an end here in Australia, we think our first foray in the bock arena is ready. Allow us to introduce you to our Doppelbock. A darker hued, double lager, that will truly thaw your heart for spring.”

Glassware: Stein.

Appearance: 100% transparent deep amber complexion. A loosely packed three finger head surges to the rim of the glass before rapidly receding. Blotchy lace clings as we go.

Aroma: Hitting everything from the traditional toasty malts and dark fruits (prunes, raisin, dates etc) to salted caramel, plum jam, grape juice, chestnut and a strange hint of either blackcurrant or blackberry. That quintessential bready character we find among most German styles is also here too. Promising start.

Flavour: Malt forward…leaning towards the classic toasty, nutty and bready Munich malts. A slight hint of herbal hops shifting in to the sweeter and almost cloying notes of toffee apple, plum and grape juice midway. A bit of a dry patch late in the piece as it finishes with a bit of a syrupy sweetness which lingers.

Mouthfeel: Nice and thick, a bit syrupy but it dries out mid swallow. The 9.5% ABV comes through a little but it’s otherwise well behaved.

Overall: Gotta hand it to Deeds here…we are a bit over their flooding of Hazy beers so it’s great to see them break the mould with this complex and somewhat left field Doppelbock. Not a bad crack either.