Knuckleball Bock
Stone Coast Brewing Co.

Knuckleball BockKnuckleball Bock
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From:
Stone Coast Brewing Co.
 
Maine, United States
Style:
Bock
ABV:
5%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.44 | pDev: 15.41%
Reviews:
45
Ratings:
45
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 15, 2008
Added:
Jul 30, 2003
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Ratings by NeroFiddled:
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Stone Coast's Knuckleball Bock Beer pours a slightly hazy, deep-amber/copper body with glowing golden and orange highlights beneath a thick head of creamy, off-white foam that settles but holds well. In fact, the head retention is quite good, and it leaves walls of spotty and streaky lace about the glass.

The nose is mainly malty with a lightly sweet and mildly toasted side; but if you look it's actually more intricate than that with some notes of honey; crusty, almost-singed bread; and subtle leafy and tobacco-ish hops.

In the mouth it's medium bodied with a moderately crisp, fine-bubbled carbonation that leaves it smooth across the palate.

The same toasty-sweet maltiness found in the nose returns in the flavor. It's doughy, bready, toasty and slightly honey-accented. Herbal, gently spicy, and mildly grassy hop flavors accentuate it, and help to dry it in the lingering, firmly bitter finish.

Well-rounded and enjoyable, this is a well-brewed lager that has more than enough character and flavor to keep you interested, but not so much alcohol that it'll knock you on your ass. Well worth trying!
Oct 03, 2006
More User Ratings:
Photo of thekevlarkid
Reviewed by thekevlarkid from Maryland

3.35/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Out of a mixed six this beer was a deep amber/brown color with an off-white head. The retention was pretty good and the lacing intermittent. The aroma was fairly standard, roasted malt, caramel malt and sourdough bread. The flavors were similar, deep caramel sweetness, tangy yeast notes and slightly sour finish. The hops character was understated and the flavors in general rather simplistic. The body was average and the mouthfeel a little rough. This was an ok beer, but no better than that.
Oct 15, 2008
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

3.97/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I received this one as an extra in a trade earlier this week. I had room in the fridge so I threw it in there right away. Served cold, right out of the fridge and poured into a pint glass. This one was consumed on 09/30/2008.

The pour was decent, nothing really standing out too much for me, but then again nothing really bad in this one either. Rich dark caramel in color with a light haziness that quickly subsided leaving behind only the slightest touches of carbonation trickling up from the bottom of the glass. The head rose up to about tow inches but then came down fast, leaving only the slightest bit of side glass lace in its wake.

The aroma was rich with caramel malts as I would have expected. Nice and sweet with an almost nutty like quality to it at times, it was a nice and very pleasant smelling beer. Rich earthy grains and bread like smells were dominating the profile here for sure. The flavor was more of the same, richly smooth with a nice bit of carbonation kicking up the flavor a bit, there was a smooth rush of malts that came over very quickly, sweet with a subtle drying to it that let some of the deeper bread notes come forward and left a long lasting caramel sweetness that was just the icing on the cake for me.

Overall this was a solid little bock I have to say. But no means perfect, still though it was quite solid and I would have no issue with drinking this one again. Not bad at all for my first foray into the brewery.
Oct 03, 2008
Photo of dsa7783
Reviewed by dsa7783 from New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Single, twelve-ounce bottle just copped from Nikki's Liquors in Providence, Rhode Island for $1.59...
Appearance: Pours a deep, dark-copper hue with a decent-sized foamy head that exhibited adequate staying power before slowly dissipating and leaving behind a thin film of lacing around the edge of the serving glass...
Smell: Malt-dominated aroma consisting of honey, caramel, and a tinge of vanilla...
Taste: The overall taste strongly complemented the aroma... Honey, candied sugars, rich malts, vanilla, amber, and grains...
Medium-bodied mouthfeel...
Good level of drinkability... Easily downable... Not bad...
Sep 23, 2008
Photo of grahambo
Reviewed by grahambo from New York

3.59/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
A: This beer poured into a pint glass was a nice dark amber/brown with an off white head about 1.5 fingers thick.

S: This beer has a big malty nose, bigger than the 5% abv would suggest. Some nice spicy notes to complement the malt.

T: A good, solid bock, malty and bready but with enough hop bitterness and other spiciness from the malt to make it a balanced beer.

M: I thought this beer was a little thin and not as mouth coating as I would have expected based on the style and the nose.

D: Overall a good beer that I could have a couple of, while hanging out or watching a game.

Sidenote: Paired very very well with a schnitzel sandwich and potato pancakes
May 14, 2008
Photo of wcudwight
Reviewed by wcudwight from North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to TheManicalOne for the beer.
Pours a dark amber color with some golden highlights. Large tan head with a very aggressive pour. Some lace sticks to the sides of the glass as the head recedes.
Honey and grainy aroma. A bit musty smelling but not much.
Nice doughy and toasted flavor. Honey accentuates it nicely with a hint of grassy bitterness in the finish. Very well rounded.
Lighter than expected mouthfeel but I like it as it makes the beer more drinkable for me on this hot muggy night.
Good beer for when you want to drink a beer and not sip it.
May 10, 2008
Photo of Jayli
Reviewed by Jayli from Massachusetts

2.78/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
This poured an amberish color with a head that clung to the sides of the pint glass.
I don't often drink bochs but others that I have had are much more appealing. There was a very sweet aftertaste that was not appealing. I am a fan of beer, and was COMPLETELY excited about trying this beer. I am a huge Wakefield fan...but for me, I am going to take a pass on having any more of these.
Apr 25, 2008
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

3.55/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light brown color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of caramelized malt, lager yeast, tea, spices and a little bit of hops.

T: The taste is malty but not too heavy with sweet flavors of caramel, honey, tea. There's a mild hops presence that provides a decent balance and there's a hint of smokiness in the background. The after-taste is slightly bready.

M: Smooth and crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean and dry.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, I could drink a few of these, but normally I would probably look for something a little more flavorful to drink for a whole evening.
Feb 17, 2008
Photo of Lupin
Reviewed by Lupin from Connecticut

3.38/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle, out of the silly Leute Bockbier glass. Pours amber/copper with good clarity..

Aroma is straightforward malt, mostly caramel. No spiciness or complexity. Head is 1/2" or so and dies quickly to a thin film. Taste is a little thin, with fresh malts and a well-balanced finish. This can't be more than 20 or 25IBU, but it's refreshing.

Stone coast has done some good things in the past. The 840 IPA on draft is above average. The cask black bear was phenomenal. This, however, is a little too plain for me. Not bad, not great. Just somewhere in the middle.
Dec 15, 2007
Photo of Dogbrick
Reviewed by Dogbrick from Ohio

3.15/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Located at a liquor store in Brookline, MA. This beer pours a clear dark amber color with a medium thin light beige head that retains pretty well. Sweet malt, brown sugar and caramel in the nose. Medium body with a rich malt flavor, along with some hops for balance. The finish is sweet and lingering with caramel malt aftertaste. Light tingling hops on the tongue as well. Straightforward and average in all respects.
Oct 11, 2007
Photo of oberon
Reviewed by oberon from North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Came to the table in a 22oz pint glass a deep rich clear amber with a thinner slight off white head atop,hints of caramel and sweet bread dough in the nose not much hop presence wich was I expected the aromas dont really jump out at ya but they are there.A "small" bock the flavors dont really hit home it has some deep caramel sweetness and doughy components but it lacks a bit of oomph,its a tad thin but it went down easy,decent but nothing to write home about here.
Oct 08, 2007
Photo of GratefulBeerGuy
Reviewed by GratefulBeerGuy from New Hampshire

3.15/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
AP: Burnt caramel color, carbonation is mild with bubbles pushing up only on the edge of the glass and creating initially a 2" deep tan colored head that quickly becomes a 1/8" thin cover. There is nice foamy lacing sticking around.

Nose: Oats and wheat bready malt, herbal almonds, subtle chocolate and a very subtle zesty-like hop scent.

Flavor: A dark wheat bread malt flavor with oats and wheat and a mild chocolate current way down deep turns into a mildly bitter, slightly metallic herbal balance of hops and a sweet lager yeast. Just a bit thin in the flavor overall, but the balance is good.

Feel: Medium bodied, feels more like a light bodied beer and a bit thinner than some of the best bocks around. This one really has the fel of a lighter ale.

DA: Pretty simple and meak.
Sep 11, 2007
Photo of BuckSpin
Reviewed by BuckSpin from Maine

3.36/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Presentation: 12oz bottle in a Pilsener glass

Poured silent & smooth. Initially strong phenols dominate the nose, its rocky, sharp and bittersweet, hot summertime pavement just getting its first fat raindrops. As it warms it starts to get it legs with caramel, crackers, bread. A fat finger's worth of tight. slightly sculpted cream foam lingers on & on, not fading as it slowly laces in curtains. A very nice, warm cherry amber hue, its beautifully backlit by a steady & strong parade of bubble rising haphazardly thru it. Visually this is a very attractive beer.

Smooth, balanced, nicely bittersweet, traces of orange pekoe tannins, slight hint of some dark cherry, malted with a peep of some baking chocolate. Its not very complex, and as such its easy to drink. There is an overriding bitterness to it that I like.

It stays pretty true to the initial taste as it transitions to the palate, perhaps a little caramel sweeter and somewhat drier, then finishes clean and bittersweet with a slightly fuzzy coating.

An easy to drink Bock. Could see this working really well with a number of cheddars, or some pub fare like a deli sandwich, burger, etc. I'd drink it again no problem, especially with something to munch. Give it a shot.
Aug 30, 2007
Photo of sraimondi
Reviewed by sraimondi from Connecticut

2.58/5  rDev -25%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Poured from the bottle with a pretty pronounced slightly rocky head, which hung on for a bit and retreated to some sheet lacing. This is a darkish ruby bock. No real pronounced smell. The taste on this one really disappointed. Way to hoppy for a bock. The mouthfeel was also VERY thin for a bock, another letdown. The ABV makes this one somewhat sessionable. Given the rep of Stone Coast, this one is not up to speed. I won't be buying another 6 pack.
Aug 12, 2007
Photo of dkoehler42
Reviewed by dkoehler42 from New York

1.33/5  rDev -61.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
I'm sorry to report this, as a Sox/Wakefied fan, but this beer was awful. The color was okay, and it looked alright. But the problems started after I poured it. That first taste was enough to shock me and wonder if I had really tasted a beer, or something grotesque. Unfortunately it was the beer, and while I don't like bocks, I have seen better ones(Sam Adam's double bock). I suspect this one went bad and I will be writing to the company. If I get a chance to try a new batch, I'll let you know how it turns out.
Jul 17, 2007
Photo of billybob
Reviewed by billybob from Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
pours a medium to dark tea color with a large head that holds very well with some sticky lacing as well. aromas of citrus and pine with a hint of caramel. taste fruity, slightly sweet, bready, caramel, lemon, and again some tea flavor. mouthfeel medium and carbonation is good. good session beer.
Jul 07, 2007
Photo of WesWes
Reviewed by WesWes from New York

3.65/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
The beer pours a translucent brown color with a thin offwhite head that fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a nice, malty scent that boasts of roasted, caramel, and bisquit malts. It's sweet with breadlike characteristics. The taste is decent. It has a dry and somewhat watery flavor that boasts primarily of crystal malts and lager yeast. It goes down easy and finishes with a slight bisquity flavor. The mouthfeel is decent as well. It is a medium bodied beer with good carbonation. This is an above average beer, but nothing that great. The aroma is great, but the taste doesn't impress me. All in all, a fine session beer.
Jul 05, 2007
Photo of yourunclewalt
Reviewed by yourunclewalt from New York

2.43/5  rDev -29.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
A - Clear, golden blonde to red with light head that recedes quickly to lacing, small sedement.

S - Caramel / honey malt dominates with a slight citrusy (pineapples, as well) ester finish

M - Thin, carbonated finish - soda.

T - Very watery - overall a strong Apricot flavor; little hints of candy and honey malts to begin with a tangy hop end.

D - I reviewed this a bit warm, to be fair - seems like it makes for a good after-grilling beer - not sure the ABV.
Jun 14, 2007
Photo of Brad007
Reviewed by Brad007 from Vermont

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a medium-brown color with ample carbonation. Taste is rich and chewy with a lot of the malt profile showing through. Gets a little thin towards the back of the throat but that's no big deal. Some hints of caramel in the flavor. Overall, an interesting take on a bock.
Jun 02, 2007
Photo of mcarroll10177
Reviewed by mcarroll10177 from Massachusetts

3.76/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is a dark carmel bock with tight lacing and a nice white head. The bock smells of malts with some underlying sweetness. Malt comes through in the taste of this beer as well, with some sweetness in the finish. It is a clean and refreshing taste. Mouthfeel was standard for this style, balanced and not to thin. This is a very nice easy drinking beer that I would have again.
May 29, 2007
Knuckleball Bock from Stone Coast Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 45 ratings