Some beers are classed as "doublebock" and some as "triple bock". Doubles seem to be a little stronger (higher APV) than average and triples seem to be stronger than that, but is that they definition or an effect? What exactly is being doubled or tripled in the production of these beers, and is the primary goal strength or some aspect of flavor or something else?
asked Jan 22, 2014 at 17:46
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1Doppelbock (or "Doublebock") is a style of beer, but "triple bock" technically isn't. Are you perhaps thinking a Belgian Dubbels and Tripels (which aren't bocks, but rather Belgian Strong Ales)?– object88Jan 22, 2014 at 18:47
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1Oh! Maybe I have misunderstood something labeled as a "triple". If so that sounds like a separate question (since this one already has a bock-focused answer).– Monica CellioJan 22, 2014 at 19:10
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I'm not sure myself. It turns out that Sam Adams DID make a beer named "Triple Bock", which I suspect that follows phoebus' answer; bigger better faster more.– object88Jan 22, 2014 at 19:16
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I thought I'd seen a "triple bock", and Sam Adams is plausible.– Monica CellioJan 22, 2014 at 19:17
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Oh, I thought double and triple meant double filtered and triple filtered. Where did– Lorin LedgerOct 4, 2019 at 3:42
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3 Answers
Doppelbock (or double bock) is intense in its maltiness and higher than "single" bock in terms of alcohol content, typically starting around 6-7% and going up to around 13%. There isn't anything specifically doubled or tripled; rather, doppel idiomatically refers to be being "bigger"/stronger than a standard bock. In terms of how higher "maltiness" is accomplished, that would depend on the specific beer; mashing at high temperatures, reducing lautering, using certain grains or different yeasts, and other factors all can increase the maltiness of the final product.
A triple bock would just be a naming convention emphasizing even further the maltiness and alcoholic strength of the brew.
As an aside, doppelbocks are an evolution of strong monastic brews used as "liquid bread" for fasting monks, as they were not allowed to consume solid food. These sweet, malty beers evolved over time into the modern doppelbock.
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I've got a bottle of Dubbelbockhere and it says it has been aged twice as long. (Although it doesn't say twice as log as what, or if that is indeed the origin of the name). Feb 17, 2014 at 21:03
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"Dubbelbock" is brewed by Heineken in the doppelbock style. Note the use of the "dubbel" terminology, like a Belgian dubbel. I've seen a craft brew also called "dubbelbock" that was a dubbel/bock hybrid. While Heineken (or perhaps another brewer) may market the beer based on aging time, there's no direct correlation in terms of doubling the aging, other than that aging has effects on flavor and alcohol content, which depending on the beer may make it "stronger".– phoebusFeb 17, 2014 at 21:19
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The grain bill is increased. More grains = more sugar = more alcohol. Aging a beer has no affect on the abv.– user949Jun 2, 2014 at 1:43
Typically, it seems people expect single, double and triple to mean higher alcohol content. But that is not exactly true.
You have single and double bocks with the same alcohol content. Take Weihensthephaner for example (a respected 1000-year old monastic brewery): Weihenstephaner Korbinian is a double with 7.4% ABV. Weihenstephaner Vitus is a single bock with a higher ABV of 7.7%. In this case, the single has a higher ABV than the double.
More grains and more sugar do not equal more alcohol. The strain of yeast and temperature determine the survivability. Some yeast can live at high alcohol levels. You can feed them all the sugar and grains and they will still die and stop fermentation (producing alcohol) when the alcohol level 'limit' is reached.
The eisbock gets a higher ABV by freezing the beer and removing ice. This removal of water is how the alcohol content is increased. Again, most yeast cannot reach 12% (which one typically finds in an eisbock).
The single, double, triple label has to do with the strength of the beer overall, including nutrition (calories) and taste. Remember, these 'doppels' were created for sustenance.
Careful with the word 'stronger' when talking about bocks. It can mean more malty, darker, fuller, not just higher alcohol level.
Ale Le Coq in Sweden make a triple Bock label has rams head with red glowing eyes Mostly Alkies drink it because of the strength but it tastes lovely.