Time to catch up on more beer reviews for your pandemic reading! Today’s review is of Lucubrator Doppelbock, from Occidental Brewing in Portland. Lucubrator is a winter seasonal from the company, released in November, and this past winter saw the beer packaged in 16-ounce cans for the first time. I’d picked up a can in… February?… and drank it a little over a month ago.

Lucubrator won a gold medal at the World Beer Cup in 2016, and there’s even been a barrel-aged version on the market. It’s 6.7% ABV and 24 IBUs.

Appearance: It’s a deep ruby-garnet-red color, with terrific clarity and it’s quite attractive. Lovely creamy-rocky off-white or light tan head, leaving superb lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell: Clean and mellow with deep and rich malt aromas showcasing dark bread/rye, raisins, toffee. But it’s subtle and subdued, and I have to emphasize, quite clean.

Taste: Rich, with leather, brown sugar, caramel, dried dark fruits, a luscious malt experience. A touch of alcohol which adds a warming sensation of sweetness. More fruit comes out as it warms up, without getting too estery. Just a nice maltiness all around with a pleasant residual sweetness at the back.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body with a nice carbonation level and a lightly syrupy-sweet finish that never gets cloying, and finally a light bloom of alcohol heat.

Overall: Superb. This is rich, warming, complex, sublime. One of the best Occidental beers I’ve had.