Bocky Bier
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project

Bocky BierBocky Bier
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Bock
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.06 | pDev: 7.88%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
56
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 07, 2016
Added:
Oct 14, 2014
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  8
What? Who? What? The answer to all these questions is “YES”!

Allow us to introduce you to the best friend of Pretty Things, Jim “Bocky” Barnes. He was first Jim Barnes, then self-christened “Bocktech”, and finally nicknamed “Bocky”. Well, now Bocky is a beer, and a Pretty Things beer at that! Quite a transition.

How did we do it? For after all, “Bocky” began this journey as a real-live-human-being.

To make this transformation, we first planted Bocky in the rich soils of Europe and North America’s barley growing regions. We have often heard that Bocky leads a busy life. Well, this project really took him to the limits of his free time! As Bocky the barley plant matured he was harvested and transferred to several malting facilities, most notably Weyermann in Bamberg, Germany. There he sprouted tiny white shoots as he lay in the warm germination boxes. This may have been a peaceful, even blissful start to the process. But the restful times didn’t last for long! First the dry heat of the kiln, then the violent tumble of the roasting drums. A small amount of Bocky was even smoked over an oak fire! Bejabbers, the lengths to which Bocky will go for a great beer!

Bocky came to us as 4,000 pounds of barley, largely from Weyermann maltings in Germany. While his initial transformation may have been complete by now, his suffering was yet to hit its climax. Martha slowly crushed him with a 6-roller mill and Dann mashed and decocted him expeditiously. He spent two hours letting gravity pull him into the brew kettle. Then Bocky was boiled and fed to the yeast. For six weeks, he lay there in his cold lagering tank, occasionally expelling gas and alcohol.

And then finally, one morning, he was ready. The transformation from man to lager was complete.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by harsley:
Photo of harsley
Rated by harsley from Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

Nov 12, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of Brutaltruth
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Enjoyed from the 22 oz bomber in a snifter. This BEAST of a bock pours a deep muddled brown with a nice head of off white foam that settles to a thick ring, light layer, and nice sudsy lacing. Nose of sweet rich malts, deep amber molasses, subtle grain notes, subtle cocoa, and light breaded malts. Flavors Follow the nose with subtly peppery breaded malts touch lightly with molasses on all sides. Light notes of cocoa and nutty roasted malts fill the middle to back with a subtle herbal hop note and a sweet malty aftertaste with a touch of dark cherries. Smooth mouth feel, moderately coating, nicely carbonated. A solid bock. I am liking this brewery more and more with each release I have tried.

Cheers
Jan 07, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Zekenyce from New Jersey

Dec 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by nathanmiller from New York

Nov 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Sep 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.74 by rolltide8425 from Pennsylvania

Aug 02, 2015
Photo of ryan1788a5
Reviewed by ryan1788a5 from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz bottle poured into a lager glass.

A: Dark chocolate color. Fine-bubbled tan head retains well. Thick clumps of lacing.

S: Blackstrap molasses, nutty, cocoa, even some semi-sweet dark chocolate. Grassy hops. Huge amount of malt sweetness.

T: Follows the nose. Super rich malt flavors of blackstrap molasses, some melted chocolate, carob, nutty. Toasty grain. A touch steely with hop bitterness and hints of alcohol providing just enough balance. Very clean overall. Sweet carob and molasses finish.

M: Thick, rich, coating, heavy. Low carbonation.

O: An immense bock. Sits with weight in both the mouth and the stomach. There's a ton of rich malt character crammed into this beer. Must've been nuts to brew.
Jul 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.99 by 22Blue from Kansas

Jul 07, 2015
Photo of Dope
Reviewed by Dope from Massachusetts

4.39/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I believe this says Dec 2014 on the bottle.

A: Pours a very dark mahogany. Tall, frothy, airy brown head. Decent head retention. Minimal lacing, however.

S: Surprisingly, a lot of chocolate. Smells more like a nice chocolate/milk stout. A closer examination reveals more of a toasted bread/pretzel aroma to the malt than a charry, roasty malt indicative of a stout. Sweet and malty for sure.

T: Toastiness is more apparent here. Lots of pretzel flavors mixed with a semisweet chocolate. Heavy bread. Light caramel, especially in the finish. Light toasty bitterness in the finish and aftertaste.

M: Medium/heavy bodied, sweet and smooth.

O: Definitely the best Bock I've ever had. If you had told me this was an english brown I would have believed it, never would have suspected a Bock. Maybe a Doppelbock, but with less of the dark fruits I typically see there. Great toasted malt flavors, loads of maltiness and exceptional smoothness. Easy #1 Bock by a mile. La Trappe isn't even really that close. Excellent brew, Pretty Things.
Jun 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4.19 by vermilcj from Ohio

Apr 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4.01 by Rshersnow from Massachusetts

Mar 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.02 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Mar 17, 2015
Photo of alienlifeforcecube
Reviewed by alienlifeforcecube from Massachusetts

2.88/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
First Pretty Things beer that I couldn't drink. This is a complete malt bomb. From aroma to taste. I can't say a single thing I like about it.

Talked to Dann about this after and I understand the point was to make this a hugely malty beer but I couldn't handle it. I'm always aware that my palette is not as sophisticated as others and that it can change. but for now, my taste buds didn't enjoy this offering from Pretty Things.
Mar 11, 2015
Photo of scotorum
Reviewed by scotorum from Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from the 22 oz. bomber into an Innis & Gunn flute

a: Clear copper with an inch and a half tan head which receded to even surface foam and drense lacing.

s: Ripe dark fruit and alcohol.

t: Follows the nose plus some roasty malt. Mild bitterness follows and lingers.

m: Medium, good body, copious carbonation tingle.

o: An exceptionally flavorful bock. A fine quality cold weather brew.
Mar 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4.16 by SABERG from Massachusetts

Mar 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.99 by Prost76 from New Hampshire

Feb 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.1 by benzalman from California

Feb 09, 2015
Photo of Buzz3d
Rated by Buzz3d from California

4.7/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
So malty is makes you wanna slap yo mama!
Dec 31, 2014
 
Rated: 3.58 by Rick778 from California

Dec 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Tarps68 from Massachusetts

Dec 21, 2014
Bocky Bier from Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 56 ratings