Traditionally very malty, very dark, but still sweet, doppelbocks are much like the imperial version of a stout—maltier, richer, and higher in ABV. In fact, this makes sense when you translate the word doppel, which means double in German. First brewed by Munich monks, doppelbocks interestingly started lower in alcohol content, considered “liquid bread” at the monastery.
The dark malt takes center stage with a doppelbock, imparting beautiful dark rust or brown hues to the beer and lending those classic notes closer to chocolate, stewed fruit, toasted rye bread, roasted toffee, and caramel sweetness.
And while we also love traditional bocks and maibocks, to celebrate National Bock Day on March 20, 2024, we wanted to dive deep into doppelbocks’ darkest depths.
From a 28% ABV version aged on cherries to a bourbon barrel-aged one from a Swedish brewery to a classic take from one of America’s foremost lager-forward breweries, here is Untappd’s list of the all-time top-rated doppelbocks.
Untappd’s All-Time Top-Rated Doppelbocks
Editor’s Note: You will see Samuel Adams’ Utopia Aged on Cherries listed first on Untappd’s rankings. After reaching out to Samuel Adams, they informed us that they actually consider this beer an American strong ale and not a doppelbock, so we have not included that listing here.
Convex Refraction – Jackie O’s Brewery
Athens, OH
Convex Refraction from Jackie O’s starts with caramelized Haus Malts Triticale malt before spending an epic fourteen months in bourbon barrels. Brewed in collaboration with Burial Beer Co., Convex Refraction shows how this relatively humble dark German-style lager can reach new heights through barrel aging.
Bishop’s Barrel No. 23 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Houston, TX
Bishop’s Barrel No. 23 falls third on this list with a 4.15 rating on Untappd. Bolstered by aging in WhistlePig rye whiskey barrels. Saint Arnold’s highly rated doppelbock picks up some of those spicy notes from the barrel before mellowing out with doppelbock’s classic flavors of toffee, brown sugar, and molasses. But that distinct spiciness from the rye and slight warm booziness from the barrels sets this doppelbock apart.
Bourbon Barrel-Aged Troegenator – Tröegs Independent Brewing
Hershey, PA
An elevated take on Tröegs classic doppelbock, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Troegenator takes a long nap in bourbon barrels to blast this revered beer into another dimension.
“Opulent, silky, and downright otherworldly, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Troegenator is for the believers,” writes Tröegs on its website.
The brewery says you can expect to taste toasted coconut, creme brûlée, whiskey-soaked oak, caramel, raisin, and vanilla.
Bourbon Barrel German Chocolate Cake – Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery
Goochland, VA
It’s all in the name for Bourbon Barrel German Chocolate Cake, Lickinghole Creek’s 4.08-rated doppelbock. Pretty incredible, considering this beer was the Virginia-based brewery’s first version of a barrel-aged lager.
All German specialty grains and malts ensure the DNA of this doppelbock before aging in Kentucky bourbon barrels and conditioning on coconut, pecans, cocoa nibs, and vanilla skews this doppelbock towards an indulgent pastryland.
This one is a special treat.
Embla 2021 – Salikatt
Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway
We’re starting to see a theme emerge on this list: barrel aging. From the Norwegian brewery Salikatt, Embla 2021 is “patiently aged in bourbon barrels,” according to the brewery’s Untappd description.
Złotonator – Goldfinger Brewing Company
Downers Grove, IL
One of the only non-specialty barrel-aged versions on this list Złotonator clocks in at a reasonable 7.8% ABV (compared to many of the higher-ABV doppelbocks here). Staying true to the style, Goldfinger reaches deep into the history of this beer.
Munich monks originally brewed doppelbocks as “liquid bread.” The lush, dense, chewy, malty beers gave them something dark and hearty to drink during the months of fasting at Lent.
This is precisely what you’ll find in Złotonator, whose deep notes of molasses, caramel, and dark fruit provide the sustenance you want from this style without the brain-crushing higher alcohol content.
Indikator – Schilling Beer Co.
Littleton, NH
Uniquely lagered in American oak foeders, Indikator just gets it right. As do most of Schilling’s lagers, which is why you’ve seen its beers pop up on these lists in the past, including “Untappd’s All-Time Top-Rated Dark Lagers” and “Untappd’s All-Time Top-Rated Czech Pilsners.”
Schilling’s limited-release doppelbock scored a 4.06 on Untappd. “Aromas of dark fruit, candied plums, and deep caramel presage flavors of lightly roasted, complex malts and cherries,” wrote Schilling in the beer’s Untappd description. “Balanced notes of oak, vanilla, and toasted coconut from Indikator’s slumber in our foeder also touch the palate, contributing to our love of this very special Bavarian-inspired delicacy. Dark fruit and smooth malt complexity linger at the end, with a light-warming alcohol presence in the finish.”
Barrel-Aged Knock One Bock – Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.
Decorah, IA
Rounding out Untappd’s list, Barrel-Aged Knock One Bock from Toppling Goliath also rates highly with one of our sister brands, BeerAdvocate, scoring a 91 on the well-known craft beer community platform.
A collab with Wisconsin Brewing Company, this doppelbock gets high praise. Mostly for its notes of vanilla and toasted toffee, combined with light warming from the barrel aging.
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