Christians the world over observed the beginning of Lent
this past week, with ashes on their foreheads as a sign of penitence in the
weeks leading up to Easter. Many
practice a symbolic “fasting”, giving up a vice or luxury during this time of
preparation. The monks of Munich (Munchen
in Germany, or “place of the monks”) were prohibited from eating solid food
during Lent to mark this ritual of self-denial.
In order to sustain themselves, the brothers brewed an especially strong
& nourishing lager beer to drink in place of solid food throughout those 40
days & nights, & the Doppelbock was born.
Beer, made of barley, hops, yeast, & water, is
essentially liquid bread, & few styles
exemplify this as clearly as Doppelbock.
A glass of good Doppelbock can smell like fresh baked bread: sweet,
malty, with a toasty edge like dark bread crust & notes of caramel & a
little alcohol. The ABV is, as the name
would imply, on the higher side - typically 7% or above & sometimes
reaching into the double digits. The
classic example is Paulaner Salvator (“savior”), with a name reflecting the
holy, life-giving nature attributed to the beer. Many Doppelbocks have been named in honor of
this archetype, with names ending in the “-ator” suffix. A great example from the Deutschland is
Ayinger’s Celebrator, & Thomas Hooker’s Liberator from Connecticut is one
of the best American-made offerings of the style (in this writer’s opinion).
Many observers may give up beer for Lent, but some may
remember the news story from several years ago of an Iowa man giving up all BUT
beer for Lent. J. Wilson, emulating the
centuries-old tradition of the monks, consumed nothing except Doppelbock for
the 46 days of Lent, breaking his fast on Easter Sunday with a bacon
smoothie!* We think Wilson was onto
something. Many who are serious about
beer may speak of having a religious experience with that one breakthrough beer
– it’s interesting to think of a time & a beer in which that expression was
more than figurative. Regardless of your
spiritual orientation, or complete lack thereof, consider that next beer in your
glass as more than fermented gold/amber/brown/black goodness – think of it as
nourishment for the body & the soul.
*Wilson performed this feat with extensive medical consultation – don’t
try this at home!
No comments:
Post a Comment