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San Zen

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A deep amber Doppelbock with reddish glints. The aroma is of medium intensity and leans towards baked goods, toffee and red fruit. The taste follows: bread, biscuit and caramel sit next to the sweeter notes of plum, cherry and raisin. It is sweet and enveloping, with very low bitterness from Tettnanger and Mittelfrüh.

ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter19 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceSipper

AWARDS

#3 · 2020
Birra dell'Anno
Cat. 7 – Birre chiare, ambrate e scure, bassa fermentazione, alto grado alcolico di ispirazione tedesca (Bock, Doppelbock, Eisbock, Hellerbock, Maibock, Strong Lager)
★#3 — Birra dell'Anno (Cat. 7 – Birre chiare, ambrate e scure, bassa fermentazione, alto grado alcolico di ispirazione tedesca (Bock, Doppelbock, Eisbock, Hellerbock, Maibock, Strong Lager))
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelbreadydark fruit
caramel
bready
dark fruit
fruity
malty
toasty
Aroma
The nose strikes a balance between toasted malt character and subtle fruit notes.
not found:hoppy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for San Zen

◎ Appearance

San Zen presents a deep amber hue with distinctive reddish glints that catch the light. The beer displays good clarity with a substantial, stable head that clings to the glass with fine Schaumkleiden. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, contributing to a creamy mouthfeel.

deep amberreddish highlightsgood head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose strikes a balance between toasted malt character and subtle fruit notes. Baked goods and toffee dominate the foreground, while red fruit—particularly plum and cherry—emerges in the background with a whisper of stone fruit complexity. The Tettnanger and Mittelfrüh noble hops contribute restraint, allowing the malt's warmth to remain the focal point.

baked goodstoffeered fruitnoble hop restraint

◐ Taste

The palate opens with soft, bread-forward malt character—biscuit and caramel establish an enveloping sweetness. Mid-palate reveals darker stone fruit notes: plum, cherry, and hints of raisin weave through the malt foundation without overshadowing it. Bitterness is remarkably low, allowing the smooth, malty sweetness to persist, though the finish remains balanced rather than cloying.

bread and biscuitcaramel sweetnessstone fruitlow bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is medium in length, fading gradually with lingering caramel and a soft dried-fruit impression. No sharp edges or residual harshness—only a warm, malty aftertaste that invites another sip.

warm maltmedium lengthdried fruit fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
77
Taste
79
Appearance
80
Finish
76
Serve at 9–12°C

Serve at 9–12°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with San Zen

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About Doppelbock

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Doppelbock?

Bocks are strong German lagers with 6.5–7.5% ABV. Rich malt sweetness — toast, chocolate, caramel — with low bitterness and a warming finish.

Finding a similar Doppelbock

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same sweet, caramel, bready character as San Zen will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Doppelbock beers in hopIQ →Browse Italy beers →