In a craft beer world that's seemingly dominated by ales, a good dark lager can sometimes be hard to find. One of my favorite darker lagers is a doppelbock, a classic German style that originated in Munich in the federal state of Bavaria. This stronger, rich beer was first brewed by the monks of St. Francis of Paula to provide them sustenance while fasting. It's a style that's still brewed by the Munich breweries and also by many craft breweries in America.
When visiting family in Salt Lake City for Christmas, I picked up and enjoyed a bottle of Double Skull Doppelbock Lager brewed by Epic Brewing Company. Epic was started in 2010 in Salt Lake City as the city's first brewery since Prohibition to brew exclusively high alcohol content beer, according to its website. In Fall of 2013, Epic opened a second facility in Denver's River North district to expand overall production and its sour beer program, and to open a taproom that features 25 of its beers. Epic has a very large array of beers, covering a wide range of styles, that it brews and sells in 22 ounce bottles.
I had heard good things about Double Skull, so I was excited to try it. The beer pours a rich mahogany color with a thin head. The initial taste is rich and sweet from the strong malty character. The beer is quite complex, unlocking flavors of caramel and dark fruits like raisins, plums and cherries. It's moderately carbonated, with a finish that's slick on the tongue. There's a mild alcohol presence that remains fairly well-hidden. This beer would pair well with a variety of rich foods and desserts, but I discovered it's definitely a nice complement to candied pecans! Now that Epic is in Denver as well and I have access to many of their excellent beers, I'll be seeking more out and plan to pay them a visit soon.
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