Indian Wells Lobotomy Bock

This smooth rich dark southern German dobblebock is an Indian Wells Brewing Co. favorite. This 10.8% beer is powerful, but VERY easy to drink! This beer is not for the timid. A few of them and you’ll feel like you’ve had a frontal lobotomy the next day. Consume with caution!

156 reviews

Inyokern, United States

Community reviews

3.1 Deep brown with hint of red Small beige head with some lacing. Muted aroma some caramel and malt. Taste is quite metallic and semi sweet. Very low carbonation. Amazed to see the abv. Not much hint of that anywhere. Quite watery on the palate. Goes down way to easy for an ale this strong. On tap at Stovepipe Wells Death Valley

2.5 A - pours dark ruby mahogany with low off white head. S - smell is weak simple lightly smokey very grainy. Dog food, metallic, watered down molasses. M - super watery, light body. Amazing for a 10% beer. Flat and easy drinking. T - water, light dog food, grains, metallic something fierce like other Indian wells brews. O - so light and drinkable. I can't believe it's 10% 2.5

3.1 On tap in Stovepipe Wells. Pours a dark brown color with a bit of head. Chocolate and malt flavors. The high alcohol isn't so noticeable.

2.2 Aroma of an old basement; not appealing. Practically no trace of any head. Very dark opaque body that almost pulls light in. Alcohol taste not present. Not much flavor notable. light sweetness, soft carbonation, long finish, light body,

3.7 Pretty good version of the german treat. Alcohol is very well hidden. Very malty with dark fruit nose. Syrupy palate. Nice balance of booze malt and Esters.

3.0 12 oz bottle. Pours very dark brown, with a small amount of mocha head. Sweet aroma, thin taste.

3.8 12olz bottle picked up in New Orleans. Deep unfiltered brown-black. Rather mellow sweet mouthfeel, slightly doughy, some gingerbread. Nice steady thick beige head. Sweet cocoa banana notes, light fruity pungency. Quite enjoyable, not overwhelmingly sticky or strong. Not quite on the level of a World Class German, but quite OK. (I didnt know the ABV when I drank it, and clearly didn’t assume it was 10.8%)

3.4 Nice and very fine in the process. Great shape and character. A littel sweet but strong in bitter features too.

3.9 A nice example of the style. Compares favorably to Spaten Optimator. Hides the alcohol well. A good dark beer, with a lighter mouthfeel than a stout. Definitely recommended.

3.3 Almost pitch black, small but lasting light brown head. Lots of chocolate in the aroma. Mostly sweet taste, but finds some bitterness towards the end as well. I does not strike me as a near 11% ABV beer at all. A pretty good beer and I was pleasantly surprised as the three other beers I’ve tried from the brewery have been disappointing.

3.5 Love this brew. Dont let the super high ABV fool you, it doesnt come across as overly "proofed". A must try.

3.8 12oz bottle pours dark brown with thin tan head of foam. The aroma offers up prunes and raisins with faint notes of chocolate and caramel so it smells pretty darn nice for the style. The taste is on the thin side with raisins and prunes moving into modest notes of caramel and faint chocolate. It gets a little earthy and fruity here and there too with faint yeasty lageriness well off in the background. Wow, tasty brew.

2.9 Moderately sweet and roasty, hints at dry cherry and raisins. Deep brown in color with descent tan colored head. Aroma is also moderately sweet/roasted.

2.8 Bottle poured a clear dark reddish brown with a lingering ring of tan foam. Aromas of toasted malt, carmel, prunes and cocoa. Palate was light bodied and crisp. Flavors of carmel, colas and light toasted malt with a crisp finish.

2.2 Lobotomy Bock has a medium, beige head and a clear, brown (ruby red under light) appearance. Lacing is minimal. The aroma is quite faint, but a bit of sweet bread can be detected. Taste is a touch smokey, sweet, lightly chocolaty, a bit of coffee, and mostly just nothing, really. No hop bitterness is present. Mouthfeel is very thin and watery, and Lobotomy Bock finishes like tap water. It’s hard to believe such a drink could have a 10.8% alcohol level. I found this only ordinary. Avoid. RJT

3.4 Triggered by the name. Strong dark beer with good taste. Somewhat dry but long staying palette. Good.

3.3 12oz bottle from Jubilation. Doesn’t look as appealing as most dopplebocks oddly do. This beer is all around fine. Some nice malt character, bread, caramel. A bit too sweet. A bit astringent as well. Palate could use some work. Sticky, but nevertheless watery? The alcohol is very very well hidden.

2.6 12 ounce bottle. Pours a dark reddish brown with a small biege head. Aroma of caramel malt, roast, and molasses. Taste is caramel, spices, yeast, and molasses. On the sweet side. No alcohol comes through. Just average.

4.5 Lobotomy Bock’s take on the dark lager is pleasantly surprising. LB is a light full-flavored beer. Do not expect something heavy and rich. The head is small, maybe higher carbonation would help but overall the full aroma and flavor make this beer a win. Suggested for fans who prefer bold flavor without the thickness.

2.0 I’d class this one as a near-average brew; not bad but not much to rave about. It pours up what looks just like a cola; which made me think about an ice cold Dr. Pepper at the time. No head at all. Aromas of sweet malts and caramel teased the sense of smell while flavors of that same sweet malt along with some English toffee were detected. This is a lager so be ready for a thinner body feel if you have some; don’t let that rich dark colored body trick your mind into something thick and rich is in that glass!

3.0 12 oz. bottle from Total Wine - Pours a clear brown color with a short lived 1/3 finger thick light tan head. Faint spotty lacing. Aroma is caramel malt and light toffee. Flavor is pretty much the same. Medium body. Worth a try.

2.6 courtesy of fiulijn; 2008 vintage - hazy dark brown colour with a moderate dark beige foam; aroma of butterscotch and toasted malts; sweet and a very low carbonattion, no bitterness and a moderate aftertaste of caramel and slightly chocolatey malts - very modest and no way this beer can reach 10,8%

3.0 12 oz bottle from Total Wine in Las Vegas NV. Dark mohagany, thin head, no lace. Aroma of soy sauce and molasses Flavor is malty caramel, and molasses. Alcohol is well hidden.

2.7 12oz bottle. Medium brown with very little head. Aromas of caramel malt and prunes - flavor is very malty and thin. Needs more carbination. ABV becomes appearant as it warms.

3.2 bottle at Strange brew, Shreveport. Pours brown with a thin tan head. Aroma is brown sugar, esters and booze. Flavor is rich caramel, toffee malts, thin coffee and a dark fruityness in the finish.

1.7 A: The pour is almost black with a minimal off-white/tan head. S: An old/flat Coke nose as well as a bit of garbage juice. Some vegetables, particularly broccoli, to the nose. Sweet and sugary with a decent amount of malt. There’s a syrupy thing going on here, too. T: Tastes like an onion bagel dipped in cola. What an awful flavor. Lots of stale malt and bread notes to this beer, and those are the nice things I can say about it. M: The body is medium with a surprisingly minimal amount of carbonation. D: Do not want this one again.

3.1 Bottle. Nice bock, caramel in the sip and aftertaste. The alcohol is well hidden. Nice.

3.2 Definitely not my favorite doppel, but pretty enjoyable with really well hidden alcohol

3.4 Decent dopplebock stronger than it tastes, which is nice. Roasted malts and caramel come out. Nothing exceptional, but very sessionable, Eric.

2.3 12oz bottle from Whole Foods, Tustin. Dark, clear, reddish brown pour with a small head. malty aroma, thin body, light flavor. Not sure where the 10.8% ABV comes in.