Urbock
Camelthorn Brewing Company Ltd

UrbockUrbock
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Camelthorn Brewing Company Ltd
 
Namibia
Style:
Bock
Ranked #23
ABV:
7%
Score:
87
Ranked #15,877
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 11.83%
Reviews:
21
Ratings:
26
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 15, 2023
Added:
Dec 02, 2002
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  1
Formerly brewed by Namibia Breweries, now brewed by Camelthorn

A traditional bock beer, brewed with the finest Munich Malt. It has a distinctive deep red glow and malty flavours, making Camelthorn Urbock perfect for a chilly evening
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Victory_Sabre1973
Reviewed by Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Faint hint of CO2 smoke on the opening. Amberish pour with a 1 12 finger off white head. The bubbles are very small looking, and the head looks cloud like. Retention is decent. There's a bit of lacing as the head dissipates, but minimal. Not seeing any carbonation rising in the glass when I hold it up to the light.
Hits of cola as I move the glass past my nose. Up close I get some caramel, and bread/biscuit malts. Aroma isn't very strong.
Taste - Caramel seems to start off the show for me. I get some dark fruit hitting in this beer, lots of plum, and raisin. I get a nutty flavor that comes in as well.
The body is lighter, but not watery in the least. No feeling of carbonation in my throat. No alcohol burn, though, that wasn't expected. Very smooth feeling.
Tasty, and very easy drinking beer. Would gladly drink again if given the chance.
Jan 15, 2023
Photo of RedStickPhil
Reviewed by RedStickPhil from New Mexico

3.47/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A welcome improvement from Windhoek Lager. Pretty color, but just about zero head and lacing. I guess the taste and mouthfeel is legitimate bock. I like that the malt isn’t overpowering.
Aug 23, 2022
 
Rated: 3.17 by Sparky44 from Illinois

Jul 20, 2019
 
Rated: 4.23 by Technosmith from South Africa

Jul 28, 2017
Photo of Taro
Reviewed by Taro from South Africa

4.7/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
The taste is just amazing. I love it because I enjoy a kraft beer. My fifirst consumption was on 15/10/2016 and I am still looking for it when I enter a store.
Nov 19, 2016
Photo of Squire
Reviewed by Squire from Mississippi

3.37/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Tasted this through a friend's generosity. Caramel and spice with a noticeable sweetness peaking through malt richness. Good dark color, good texture, pleasant to drink. Try this if you get the chance.
Apr 18, 2016
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from fridge temp to snifter, but allowed to warm over an hour or so.

Look is a deep mahogany with good carbonation. Smell is caramel, raisins, and nuts. The malts really comes through. Fairly sweet. Taste follows the nose. Caramel and sweet. Slight bitterness on the end. Mouthfeel is fairly thick and creamy. Overall, this is an excellent Namibian beer. By far my favorite among the limited selection. Worth seeking out when in the country.
Nov 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by chogm54 from Australia

Apr 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by tabhill from New York

Apr 02, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by brendan123 from South Africa

Jun 14, 2013
Photo of eric5bellies
Reviewed by eric5bellies from Australia

3.2/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Drank from my Stella Tulip

A - Pours a nice nutmeg colour with a tanned head that dies too quickly.

S - Spicy molasses and caramel.

T - More dark fruits on the start, fades to a malty watery like flavour.The sweetness is very present.Slightly boozy on the finish.

M - Medium bodied and carbonation.

D - The sweetness is a little overpowering, but I quite enjoyed it nonetheless
May 20, 2011
Photo of drpimento
Reviewed by drpimento from Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours with a nice foamy, frothy, thick, fluffy, fine, cream colored to very light tan head that slowly subsides with a few little bubble trails and some lace. Color is a clear chestnut brown. Aroma is hop, malt, roasty,toffee, caramel, cereal. Flavor is like nose and heavy on the malt components. Not overly sweet. Body is good and so is carbonation. Finish is like flavor and is medium in length. Decent beer and I'm glad I have two more bottles. Nice to see no adjuncts. All in all, a solid effort
Jan 22, 2011
Photo of dgilks
Reviewed by dgilks from Australia

3.52/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Clear red-brown colour with no head.

Sweet, bready nose with lots of malt and a clear alcohol character.

Sweet and somewhat sticky with bready caramel notes. Not bad but unrefined.

Medium-full body with a sharp, moderate carbonation. Fine.

A decent beer for a macro brewery but it lacks the finesse of the best German bocks.
Dec 19, 2010
Photo of Thehuntmaster
Reviewed by Thehuntmaster from South Africa

4.12/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
330ml bottle 7.0% abv

Appearance: Wonderful ruby red in colour, golden edges when held to the light. Decent tan brown head (very short lived) that left no lace.

Smell: Wow, I don't remember Urbock having such a great aroma. Rich malts, caramel, molasses, dark/red fruits - cherries, dates and red grapes - rounded off with a hint of alcohol.

Taste: Similar to the smell, but not quite as good. Very malty, molasses, dark fruit and a touch of alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied good carbonation and a slight alcohol warmth in the throat.

Drinkability: Its mid-winter and damn cold, so this goes down really well. I do doubt that I could drink a lot of this in summer.
Jun 09, 2010
Photo of pirates
Reviewed by pirates from South Africa

4.22/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A - dark ruby red/brown. Head didn't stick around for long.

S - Caramel malt, burned malts, honey

T - Rich and malty, warmth on the pallat. Long lingering aftertaste. Slight bitterness.

M - Good carbonation. Magical mouthfeel.

D - Goes down well. Easy drinkability.

Am highly impressed with this beer. Definitely a winner. Magnificent value for the money.
Feb 08, 2008
Photo of Onslow
Reviewed by Onslow from Texas

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
one of the best beers available in Africa! ...thanks Hans K....beautiful ruby brown colour, it glimmers...sweet caramel toffee molasses maple syrup taste and smell, a quality made brew thats for sure...a good good beer that i wish was available all year round, Cheers!
Apr 15, 2007
Photo of Patg72
Reviewed by Patg72 from Massachusetts

4.01/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Picked up a bottle of this beer while in Cape Town, South Africa in September. Bottle has a best before date of JAN 2006, I tried it on 11/3/05.

The Beer poured a nice dark ruby red, not much of a head on it. Aromas of a little roast malt and a slight touch of alcoholy sweetness. Solid medium bodied mouthfeel with a pleasant strong malt flavor. Thought I noticed a slight hoppy finish which mingled nicely with the malt and lingered on the tongue.

I really enjoyed this beer and should have bought more because I don't think you can get in the US.
Nov 06, 2005
Photo of rhoadsrage
Reviewed by rhoadsrage from Illinois

3.97/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
(Served in an American pint glass)

A-This beer pours a deep copper brown with a crystal clear body and a good carbonation of tiny bubbles. The head is a thin cream tan that fades quickly.

S-Rich bold malts that smell of sweet wort and caramel. Some smells of honey and molasses are strong.

T- Nice honey malt flavor with some caramel and slightly sweet roasted malts. Clean finish with a slight toasted malt and faint roasted malt in the finish. No real hop flavor but a faint hop bitterness is in the background as it warms.

M- medium-full mouthfeel but no real alcohol warmth or astringency.

D- This beer has lots of complex rich dark maltyness but its not harsh or burnt in flavor. Good smell to support the flavor. Nice Bock.
Oct 05, 2005
Photo of Shaw
Reviewed by Shaw from Florida

3.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a copper color with a light brown head that quickly becomes a small ring around the class. I like this beer's smell. Nice and malty sweet. Very much like molasses. No hop aroma.

It tastes of all malt. No hop bitterness or herbal notes at all.

Has a nice body, not too heavy but not light, either. All in all a good bock beer. I recommend it.
Jan 31, 2004
Photo of feloniousmonk
Reviewed by feloniousmonk from Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: bright, and deep rubyish color, redder than I'd I'd figure for a bock, with a very nice, soft, pillowy tannish head.
Aroma: quite nice, sticks out well from the glass before I even raise it up for a sniff..Mmmm! Darkly fruity (cherries, grapes, dates, prunes), richly sweet, leathery, and exuding intensive alcohol notes, putting one in mind of brandy or cognac, or at least a pungent port. Quite impressed with this nose, a real treat!
Taste: Mmmm, lush and fruity, those same suggestions of darker fruits recurring on the palate, with a syrupy, near-cloying sweetness on the 'buds, but never too long, with a medium body, and an attractive, sunny, very irridescent flavor, that shines and shines. Yum...did I say that yet? ...very welcome on this tongue, a very flavorful bock that stands above many other lackluster varieties that have passed by these lips before!
Cheers to the fine German-style beer coming out of Southern Africa! This is one brew from tropic climes that I'm well pleased to imbibe right now in near-freezing mid-December Minne-snow-ta.
Big thanks to Gusler for sending it my way.
Dec 13, 2003
Urbock from Camelthorn Brewing Company Ltd
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 26 ratings