Lobotomy Bock

Indian Wells Brewing Co.
Inyokern, CA

Available: CA, AZ, NV, TX

After five days’ travel from the Argus Tange, the Manly-Jayhawker parties of 1849 found their first water at the historic Indial Wells Spring. In the 1860s. this was a stage and freight station for traffic between Los Angeles and the Coso and Cerro Gordo Mines.

ABV: 10.8
ABW: 8.6
Color: 25
Bitterness: 20
Original gravity: 1092

A creative label and even better beer. Deep, dark color with brown and amber overtones in the finest doppelbock tradition. Nose is a virtual bouquet of berries, barley and bubblegum; a beautiful balance of light and colored malts. Big and fruity but in no way cloying, Lobotomy gives little indication that it is 10.8% alcohol, except for on the label. Lovely with roast leg of spring lamb, foraged morels and a feta potato gratin.
- Charles Finkel

The name and slightly silly label lead me to — I forget. Perhaps the alcohol (nearly 11%) is to blame: smooth, almost gentle, and guaranteed to make brain surgery more pleasant. I seem to remember faint smoky chocolate aromas before the rich, a malt-accented middle and rather sweet finish. However not the toasty, baked character that once made doppelbocks — liquid bread — for monks during Lent.
- Stan Hieronymus

Charles Finkel
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Charles Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.

Stan Hieronymus
Editor at Realbeer.com, a professional journalist for 40 years and amateur brewer for 15, Hieronymus is the author of four beer books, including Brew Like a Monk.

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