Hells Bock
Rock Art Brewery

Hells BockHells Bock
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From:
Rock Art Brewery
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
Maibock
ABV:
8%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.61 | pDev: 12.74%
Reviews:
44
Ratings:
60
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 28, 2016
Added:
Feb 07, 2007
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  3
We felt that lagers are being left out of the new revolution, so try this one! This spring, break out a bottle or three on that first sunny warm spring day when you get that itch.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SaintPeter:
Photo of SaintPeter
Reviewed by SaintPeter from Colorado

3.6/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3
Rock Art Extreme Series - Hell's Bock, 8.0%, Lager, $3.19/22oz Bomber- Hunger Mtn. Coop, Montpelier, VT
Bock Glass used

Pours a deep amber color turning into red in the more volumous bell of the bock glass. Huge beige 4-finger head that subsides very slowly leaving a lace work on the interior of the glass, leaves what looks like a map of the world.

Potent hop aroma emerges from the glass and I wait as the head slowly recedes... The hop aroma is mellowed by a malt, hints of vanilla and evergreen tree

Smooth mouth feel, almost creamy in texture....then the potent alcohol hits! That strong alcoholic hops monopolizes the flavor.

Taste of higher alcohol, the 8% really comes out in this, bold and up front.
A hop bitterness upfront, in the mid- and in aftertaste. The back of the throat doesn't like it too much, leaves a sour linger, like eating pine tar.

Tasted in the same month as bottled - maybe that is the problem, it needs some time to age in the bottle. I'll try it again in the Spring and re-do the review.
Dec 01, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.06 by connecticutpoet from Connecticut

Mar 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by eddiefl from New York

Feb 20, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by DeadeyeOTDO from Arizona

Nov 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Mini4x from Massachusetts

Jul 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by JMS1512 from New Jersey

Mar 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Jacob007 from New Hampshire

Aug 25, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Kelp from New Hampshire

Jun 04, 2013
 
Rated: 2.5 by tnbeatty from Vermont

May 15, 2013
 
Rated: 2.25 by mactrail from Washington

Jan 15, 2013
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

3.3/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a deep golden/amber color with a smallish off white head that quickly dissipates. Smells of caramel and brown sugar with a touch of ethanol, and sweet almost herbal aromas wafting from the glass. The flavor is sweet and dark sugary and caramel like the aroma promised, but with a solid shot of dark sweet fruits as well. Medium body with a light level of carbonation and a sweet almost syrupy mouthfeel. Decent enough beer, but seems caught somewhere between a bock and a barleywine. Confusing but drinkable I guess.
Nov 10, 2012
Photo of middletonman2001
Reviewed by middletonman2001 from Maryland

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I went to the Rock Art Brewery in Morrisville, Vermont and got a case of 12 bombers for 50% off, which came out to about $22. I poured the beer into my Long trail glass and it was very carbonated and had about a 3 inch head on it. The beer is light brown and looks like a glass of apple juice. It has a very sweet smell with a touch of hops. I am very surprised with out it tastes. At 75 IBUs i was expecting it to be alot more bitter than it is. And at 8% alcohol you really can't taste that either. It does have the sweetness of a bock, but I think that the hops gives a nice balance so isn't as sweet as most bocks, which i'm not usually that big of a fan of. As for mouthfeel i'm not really sure how you charactize it, but it has a light feel to it. Like I said I'm not usually a fan Bock's but this one is pretty good, if you like bock's I would recomend it.
Sep 28, 2012
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a huge fluffy and fizzy 2.5 finger head that fades fairly quickly as it seems to collapse from within, but leaves almost no lacing, pretty much what I would expect from an 8% beer that is over carbonated... the beer is hazy slight sediment laden cranberry reddish tan colored beer. The head disappears to a very slight head covering fairly quickly.

Nose is malty as expected, and a bit fruity. Dark wheat like aromas add the bock feel, with some caramel and molasses sweetness and slight maple, with juicy stone fruits, like a fig and plum like blend, hint of bananas foster, and a reddish stone fruit like aroma.

Taste comes with more bock flavors, dark wheats, dark malts, caramel and molasses sweeteners again, candy like that reddish candy on candied apples, light biscuity and nutty toffee, reddish malts, etc. Fruits again, bananas foster, reddish stone fruit again, fig, hint of candied raisin and craisin, etc. Light earthy hops bring some bitterness, and come through with spicy hops towards teh finish. The sweetness comes on fairly strong at first, bringing some warming booze with it, but dries slightly on the finish, which is also a bit syrupy and sticky, fairly bitter as the spicy hops ramp up a bit and bring some earthiness, as well as more lingering wheat, fruits, and caramel molasses sweet flavors.

Mouth is med to a bit heavier bodied, decent carb, some warming booze.

Overall not bad but not great, nice malts and wheat flavors but too sweet, a decent bitter hop addition, but nothing really special overall. The booze balances the sweetness well, and it has some bock flavors but not as much as I expected.
Apr 29, 2012
Photo of ixodus
Reviewed by ixodus from New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Hazy amber with reddish hues, off white head with poor retention. Small traces of lacing are left on the glass.

S: Caramel, toffee, raisins, sweet citrus, slightly grassy, some plastic like phenols. Not as hoppy as I was expecting knowing Rock Art and having the label say "twice the hops".

T: Sweet caramel, biscuits, toffee, grape, orange peel, grass, has a nice moderate bitterness to finish it up. Almost tastes like a sweet pale ale. Alcohol is non-existant.

M: Full bodied, moderate carbonation has a slight bite to it. Pretty good drink ability.

O: Overall it's a decent beer. I can't see myself seeking it out but I wouldn't turn one down if it was offered. Alcohol is hidden extremely well so that's a big +.
Apr 18, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by rkcrozier from New Jersey

Apr 13, 2012
Photo of Nerudamann
Reviewed by Nerudamann from Oregon

3.38/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Look – amber color, a bit hazy, and with about two fingers’ worth of dark khaki-colored foam that dissipates somewhat slowly. Very high carbonation.

Smell – a bit sweet smelling, almost like a soda, but with a hop-like edge to it.

Taste – definitely more of a hop-like taste than I expected. You taste the hops, and then you feel them via the bitterness. There still is an air of sweetness about it, mostly around the middle of the taste. Slightly bitter aftertaste.

Mouthfeel – pretty well balanced, but does lean more toward the watery side.

Overall – not a bad brew at all, but at the same time not terribly interesting to think about.
Mar 31, 2012
Photo of BeerLover99
Reviewed by BeerLover99 from Illinois

3.41/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: cloudy clay red/tan, finger khaki head,
good lacing

S: malt, fig/raisin, biscuit, hint of spice

T: sweet malt, biscuit, hint of pine, short crisp finish

M: med/light body, hint of oily
mostly crisp/semi-dry mouth

O: Enjoy Rock Art beers, but
this fell short for me. Needed little
stronger flavor. ABV well hidden.

SOLID, NOT MUST HAVE!
Dec 02, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by djrn2 from New Jersey

Dec 01, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by Satchboogie from Belgium

Dec 01, 2011
Photo of BeerdedEric
Reviewed by BeerdedEric from New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Off white head that doesn't look like its going anywhere. Very bubbly with a hazy golden copper color. Soapy lacing clings to the glass.

Bread, crisp clean lager aroma that I get with lagers. Hops are noticeable -- I hope so with 75 IBU's but nothing crazy.

Tastes like a Bock meets a Pale Ale. Bread and a doughiness up front with a clean crisp taste that I get with Lagers and some hop bitterness at the end.

Medium body with medium Carbonation. No alcohol burn at all. Nothing really that great about the body.

The 8% abv. with no evidence of alcohol in taste or warmth -- 75 IBU's and its only slightly noticeable. A whole lot of high numbers but nothing to show for; this is only a decent number in my book.
Dec 01, 2011
Hells Bock from Rock Art Brewery
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 60 ratings