Doppelbock "ALE?"

[Ariza-Poet]

I recently bought my first brewing kit and a couple extract kits to get a
stout and a saison going.

Now to my point at shop they had a doppelbock kit which piqued my interest.
i asked the guy if it was a lager.
He said it comes with an ale yeast, but could be traded out.

Can you even make a doppelbock ale?
or would it totally transform into another style or just be a bad doppelbock?

 

[MaxStout]

I recently bought my first brewing kit and a couple extract kits to get a
stout and a saison going.

Now to my point at shop they had a doppelbock kit which piqued my interest.
i asked the guy if it was a lager.
He said it comes with an ale yeast, but could be traded out.

Can you even make a doppelbock ale?
or would it totally transform into another style or just be a bad doppelbock?

I suppose with the right yeast you could come close, though it would be a faux doppelbock, and not to style. I'm guessing the LHBS is targeting brewers who don't have temp control for lagering.

 

[dmtaylor]

Try Wyeast 1007, makes a great lager-like ale. Or WLP029.

 

[MrHopScotch]

As long as you call it a doppALEbock

 

[Ariza-Poet]

So I'm not familiar at all with brewing, but would an ale yeast make this overlly malty and sweet maybe like a small barleywine?

I assume the lager makes it much cleaner and let's the sweetness shine without being cloying.
But that might be totally wrong

 

[Homercidal]

In a simplified explanation I'm guessing that an Ale yeast might make it slightly more fruity tasting than a lager yeast. But there are many variables with yeast strains, so YMMV and all that.

I think that with the right ale strain and the right conditions you could make a dopplebock ale that's darn close to lager.

 

[BrewerBrad82]

If you have a doppelbock kit with an ale yeast, you can always beef up the IBUs a bit and you would have an old ale. Those two styles have significant overlap (per the 2008 BJCP guidelines).

 

[sablesurfer]

Huh! I was going to say most doppels are not super big compared to today, but it seems some can get up to 13% occasionally.

http://www.germanbeerinstitute.com/Doppelbock.html
(Interesting read!)

 

[agrazela]

If you have a doppelbock kit with an ale yeast, you can always beef up the IBUs a bit and you would have an old ale. Those two styles have significant overlap (per the 2008 BJCP guidelines).

Thanks for that idea!

I'm fermenting something right now that I envision as a "Doppelbock-Style Ale," OG 1.082 / 50 IBU, all German hops, using BRY-97 yeast. Kinda shooting for an Imperialized version of a Dead Guy clone.

I was wondering what to call it if it came out just too darned fruity and/or hoppy...Alte Ale!

 

[brewcat]

Try Wyeast 1007, makes a great lager-like ale. Or WLP029.

Yeah, Wyeast 1007 works good. I used it for a maibock and it turned out good.

 

[Gerry_P]

I think the term for a dopplebock made with ale yeast is "wee heavy".