Spaten Optimator

Brewery: Spaten
Style: Double Bock
Location: Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Brewery Website
Rating: B

After my recent tasting of the Celebrator, I decided to give the Spaten Optimator a try to compare another Bavarian dopplebock. The Optimator is a dark amber-mahogany in color. There is a foamy, off-white head that dissipates rather quickly to a thin ring of foam. The nose has sweet notes of caramel and fruit. There is also an aroma of lagery malt notes.

On the palate, the Optimator has bread, sweet and toasted notes. The flavor of raisins comes through as well as a touch of bitterness. There is a warming alcohol sensation.The Optimator is medium-bodied with a creamy, slightly syrupy mouthfeel. The finish is sweet malt with caramel notes. This is a typical German Doublebock. The Spaten Optimator a good beer, but you can definitely see why Ayinger's Celebrator stands out in comparison.

Of note here was that I did notice a bit of an "off" flavor. I wouldn't quite say that the beer I tasted was skunked, but I think it was starting to turn that way. This beer does come in a green bottle, and I purchased mine in a "mix-a-six" so it was sitting out in the open and not in a 6-pack. Do yourself a favor and reach towards the back of the shelf if you find yourself in this situation. Hopefully you'll grab yourself a bottle with less light exposure.