Augustiner Maximator 6Pk

Augustiner Maximator 6Pk is a German doppelbock beer from Munich's oldest brewery, packaged as a six-pack at 7.5% ABV. Brewed by Augustiner-Bräu — a house founded in 1328 — Maximator carries a 4.08 out of 5 rating on BeerAdvocate, earning recognition as one of Munich's benchmark strong lagers.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  Origin: Munich, Bavaria, Germany  |  Style: Doppelbock  |  Brewery: Augustiner-Bräu (est. 1328)

Production & Heritage

Augustiner-Bräu holds the distinction of being Munich's oldest operating brewery, tracing its origins to an Augustinian monastery in 1328. Maximator is brewed strictly under the Reinheitsgebot — the German Purity Law — using only water, barley malt, and hops. The brewery employs a traditional decoction mash process, a labor-intensive technique in which portions of the mash are drawn off, boiled, and returned to the main vessel. This method generates an abundance of melanoidins — Maillard reaction compounds that give the finished beer its deeply toasty, caramel-rich character and chewy body, a quality German brewers maintain cannot be easily replicated through simpler mashing methods.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark bread and pungent dark fruits lead the nose, followed by layers of caramel sweetness and a faint honey-like warmth. A subtle toastiness lingers beneath, hinting at the melanoidin depth to come.

Taste: The entry is rich and malt-forward, with a caramel and honey bread base that quickly develops into toasty, lightly roasted nut flavors. Mid-palate, dried fig and dark grape sweetness emerge alongside brown sugar and a whisper of cocoa powder. Sufficient hopping tempers the malt sweetness, keeping the beer from tipping into cloying territory despite its strength.

Finish: Medium-long and warming, with molasses-like sweetness tapering into a gentle roasted grain dryness. A faint touch of licorice and residual caramel linger as the 7.5% ABV delivers a smooth, contemplative close.

How to Drink Maximator

Maximator is best served at cellar temperature — around 48–54°F — in a traditional stoneware mug or tulip glass, which concentrates the complex malt aromatics. Pouring too cold will mute the toasty, dried-fruit layers that define this doppelbock. While this is fundamentally a sipping beer, it works surprisingly well in three beer-cocktail applications: a Black Velvet, where its malt richness stands up to champagne's acidity; a Beer Flip, where its caramel and cocoa notes complement egg yolk and nutmeg; and a Radler variation using tart lemon soda to brighten the heavy malt body for warm-weather drinking.

Best For

• Cold-weather evening sessions when a higher-ABV, warming beer suits the mood
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates traditional Bavarian brewing
• Pairing with hearty German or Alpine cuisine at a dinner gathering
• Exploring classic doppelbock style from Munich's oldest brewery

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Maximator taste like? Augustiner Maximator delivers a rich, malt-driven profile dominated by caramel, dark bread, and honey, with supporting notes of dried figs, roasted nuts, brown sugar, and a subtle cocoa undertone. The 7.5% ABV warmth is smooth and well-integrated rather than sharp.

How does Maximator compare to Paulaner Salvator? Both are iconic Munich doppelbocks, but Maximator tends toward a chewier, more melanoidin-heavy body thanks to Augustiner-Bräu's traditional decoction process, while Paulaner Salvator is often described as slightly more balanced between malt sweetness and hop bitterness. Maximator also carries a marginally higher ABV (7.5% vs. Salvator's 7.9%), though the flavor intensity of Maximator's toasty, bread-forward character gives it a perception of greater weight.

Is Maximator good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a contemplative beer built for slow enjoyment at cellar temperature, where its layered caramel, dark fruit, and toasted grain complexity can fully unfold.

Where is Maximator made? Maximator is brewed by Augustiner-Bräu in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The brewery, founded in 1328 as part of an Augustinian monastery, is the oldest still-operating brewery in Munich.

What foods pair well with Maximator? Roasted pork knuckle (Schweinshaxe) mirrors the beer's toasty maltiness. Aged Gruyère or Comté cheese echoes its nutty, caramel character. Dark rye bread with smoked meats complements the bread-crust aromatics. Bread pudding or sticky toffee pudding harmonizes with the brown sugar and dried fruit notes. Venison stew benefits from the beer's body and warming finish.

What sizes does Maximator come in? This listing is a six-pack format; Augustiner Maximator is also commonly available as individual 500ml bottles in select markets.

Is Maximator worth the price? Maximator positions as a mid-range import doppelbock, and given Augustiner-Bräu's nearly 700-year heritage, traditional decoction brewing, and strong critical reception on BeerAdvocate (4.08/5), it represents solid value within the premium German strong lager category.

Why Maximator?

Augustiner-Bräu's commitment to labor-intensive decoction mashing in an era when most breweries have abandoned the technique gives Maximator a melanoidin depth that few modern doppelbocks can match. The brewery's nearly seven centuries of continuous operation in Munich lend an authenticity that goes beyond marketing — this is the style brewed at its geographic and historical source. A BeerAdvocate score of 4.08 out of 5 confirms that discerning drinkers consistently rank it among the top traditional doppelbocks available. For anyone seeking a textbook example of Bavarian strong lager — chewy, toasty, and layered — Maximator is the benchmark from Munich's oldest house.