Caramel Bock
August Schell Brewing Company

Caramel BockCaramel Bock
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From:
August Schell Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Bock
ABV:
4%
Score:
79
Avg:
3.43 | pDev: 11.08%
Reviews:
98
Ratings:
109
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 26, 2021
Added:
Jun 29, 2003
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Phocion:
Photo of Phocion
Reviewed by Phocion from Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a medium-hued amber with a frothy finger of white head and above-average retention. Impressive lacing around my glass.

Nose is dominated by, not surprisingly, caramel and toffee. Also somewhat bready and grainy with a subtle hint of earthy and slightly spicy hops. A little weak, but complex.

The flavor is caramel and fruity malts. Honestly, a little disappointing after taking in the aroma, but still nothing terrible.

Nice clean, smooth, and crisp lager. A little sweet to make it into a session brew, but the flavor is light enough to not make you gag. Nothing special, but nothing that I'd turn my nose up at either.
Apr 15, 2007
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.56 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 26, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by DaveMiller from Minnesota

Apr 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by zestar from California

May 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Eric908 from South Dakota

Aug 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by WOLFGANG from South Carolina

Jul 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by drbenderdo from Michigan

Jun 30, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by deebo from Michigan

Mar 31, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by MN_Beerticker from Minnesota

Jul 13, 2012
 
Rated: 3.25 by KevdoggNasty from California

Mar 31, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Cramerican from North Dakota

Feb 16, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by imperialking from Illinois

Jan 08, 2012
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

3.58/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
red tinted hazelnut brown. Very rich looking to be honest. A nice tight off white head formed on the top, maybe two fingers high, then settled down to a thin film though out the rest of the session, but offer up very nice side glass coating throughout. It was somewhat hazy and cloudy, not as clear as I would have expected, but it gave it some depth. Very nice look.

Now I lean in to find out what else is going on with this one and was quite surprised as to how good this was. A rich creamy malty smell was coming off of this one from the very start. Lots of roasted malts coming through with rich nutty tones as well, really quite good I have to say. Huge notes of caramel sugar and a touch of a woody and earthy like quality as well, really a very nice profile here, and classic for the style. The taste was fantastic. Very rich and creamy
Dec 04, 2011
Photo of Cubsfan1087
Reviewed by Cubsfan1087 from Iowa

4.1/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
The Schell Caramel Bock was a very good bock style beer. This particular bock was sweeter than other bocks I have had. You can definitiley taste the caramel in the beer. If you are a fan of bocks I recommend giving this beer a try (if you can find it since it is apparently retired).
Jul 19, 2010
Photo of Ragingbull
Reviewed by Ragingbull from California

3.95/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
It must be my day for reviewing retired beers. I suppose that happens when you find old notes that you squirreled away.

I liked this beer and I am surprised its retired. Dark brown to almost black with a light foam head. The nose is predominantly malt, but has a mild presence of hops. The flavor is smooth and so is the mouthfeel. Almost a little sweetness about it. There are undertones of the caramel. Dries in the mouth towards the finish and acts more like a beer with a much higer hops/acid character. This is all going on in a good way in my opinion. I found this beer to be very pleasant and easy to drink.
Sep 18, 2009
Photo of mothman
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota

3.36/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured into Schells Mug

Pours 1 finger of light tan head. Fades down quick, leaving no lace. Color is a very dark caramel bark brown. Very hazy.

Aroma: Dark dried fruits. Cherries, plums, raisins. Very malty, with caramel malts up front.

Taste: Again, a lot of dark dried fruits. Has some chocolate notes, as well as some caramel malts.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy, and a little crisp. Medium bodied, with a low to medium amount of carbonation. Ends with a dark dried fruit aftertaste, fairly clean.

Overall, not a bad beer. I think this one is pretty sessionable and it manages to hold up its taste pretty well over time, considering it is a bock. If I could find more of this I would drink it easily.
Aug 16, 2009
Photo of BedetheVenerable
Reviewed by BedetheVenerable from Missouri

3.7/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Presentation: 12oz brown pop top with classic Schell label...clearly marked best by date; sadly this one's about a year out; I still decided to review it, however, as it's discontinued and I'll probably never get another chance

Appearance: Dark beaten-copper colored brew with bright ruby highlights; there is steady carbonation and a tan head with nice retention...pretty beer

Smell: Raw graininess, dark burnt caramel, maybe hints of vanilla extract, just a touch of dark fruit esters perceived...not overly complex but nice enough

Taste: Juicy (if a bit understated) dark fruit and dark, toasty malts...just enough hopping to keep it from becoming too sweet...ends mildly fruity...quite simple but nice

Mouthfeel: On the light side of medium bodied, silky smooth...definitely needs more body though

Drinkability: High

Conclusion: Even significantly past its best-by date this is a fairly impressive beer IMO...it's a bit plain-Jane, but it's a solid standard American bock...nice fruit and malt characteristics, slightly sweet...I'm not sure why they discontinued this, it's kind of sad and was a nice addition to the Schell's mix-a-six sampler
Jul 21, 2009
Photo of Mistofminn
Reviewed by Mistofminn from Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I'm glad I tried this. I heard rumors that the Snowstorm 2008 recipe was going to replace the Caramel Bock recipe. I don't know if this is official or not but I'm glad I tried this in case it's not here in the future to try.

Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into a Minnesota Golden Gophers pint glass. Pours a deep copper-brown color with ruby highlights when held into the light. Thick 2 finger tan head has excellent retention, as well as producing some impressive lacing that sticks to the side of the glass for the duration of the drink.

Has the strong aroma of caramel malts (big surprise there). There is also a roasted portion that is noticeable as well as a sweetness that I attribute to the caramel smell.

I've had many bock's lately and once again I'm impressed. Has a strong but not overpowering caramel malt whacking of the taste buds. I haven't had it in a long time, but I would compare this to the taste of Shiner Bock, except for one big difference, this is much better.

Light to medium body, along with a lively carbonation gives this a very smooth, but crisp mouthfeel.

I find this very drinkable. Compared to others in the style, I would consider this above average. Yet another brew from Schell's that has impressed me.

Now, if Schell's decides to officially replace this recipe with the Snowstorm 2008 recipe, I won't be disappointed (I loved it!). However, if they choose to keep both permanently, I would be more than willing to purchase both for years to come.

*Review from notes dating back to 2007 - exact tasting date unknown*
Jan 08, 2009
Photo of Greggy
Reviewed by Greggy from Minnesota

2.97/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
A- Nice deep ruby/brown color with a thicker 1 finger head that eventually gives way to little crevices and a thin cap. Some lacing is also present. The body is quite clear with only the very slightest bit of sediment showing.

S- some nice fresh fruit hits the nose immediately in the way of some fresh apple and the caramel moves in next. I also get the slightest of a fresh flour component and also a touch of nuttiness and deeper down some dark chocolate. This one is as complex as you want to make it. I for one, could keep picking out things for days.

T- After being built up by this nose, I was somewhat brought bake to reality after the first taste. Unfortunately, I pick up a slight toasted grains, a touch of caramel in the finish and not much else. This beer is a bit thin with the wateriness being the major component.

M- Carbonation is just right being only slightly carbonated, but the finish is quite austere.

D- If the taste was anywhere near the nose, this would have been a winter, but it was just painfully simple and thin.
May 30, 2008
Photo of WJVII
Reviewed by WJVII from Wisconsin

3.13/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a pint glass this brew has a cola color and consistency with a thin white head that dissipated quickly with no lacing. The smell is of roasted malts and some bread. The taste was lacking. Not much but some mild roasted malt with moderate carbonation. Nothing special with this brew, could drink a few, but have had better in this style.
May 10, 2008
Caramel Bock from August Schell Brewing Company
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 109 ratings