Schell's Bock
August Schell Brewing Company

Schell's BockSchell's Bock
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From:
August Schell Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Bock
Ranked #21
ABV:
6.1%
Score:
87
Ranked #17,773
Avg:
3.85 | pDev: 11.95%
Reviews:
99
Ratings:
228
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 17, 2024
Added:
Feb 07, 2009
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  28
Each year the promise of spring was confirmed as the first keg of Schell's Bock rolled onto waiting delivery wagons. And since 1860, Schell's Bock has continued in the true German tradition. Completely reformulated for 2009, Schell's Bock has replaced Caramel Bock as our late winter seasonal. Brewed with a harmonious blend of 10 different types of malt and noble hops, Schell's Bock is fermented slowly, and then lagered for an extended period of time to ensure a smooth finish. Perfect for passing even the coldest winter day.

This dark amber colored beer sports a robust malt character.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by tomwamp:
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Rated by tomwamp from Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +3.9%

Nov 28, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by adosen01 from Minnesota

Feb 17, 2024
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Reviewed by Mindcrime1000 from South Dakota

3.94/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a Nonic.

Pours dark amber but crystal clear. It delivers a nice three-fingered head that sticks quite well. The lacing is really good.

The aromas are subdued but straight. Caramel-malt and bready/fruity-malt aromas forward, a bit of walnut and almond lurking around, with just a hint of earth and grass in the background.

The first few sips seem a touch sweet, but the balance arrives quickly Banana-bready and raisin-fruity sweet flavors are balanced by some sneaky earthy and grassy noble hop flavors that linger in the finish and become more prominent as the beer warms. Nutty notes provide complexity in the background (walnut).

Medium bodied and smooth. Despite the malty delivery, this isn't sticky or heavy at all.

An excellent take on the style. It might skew a touch sweet, but that's purely a matter of taste. Deceptively complex and amazingly drinkable for a Bock.
May 08, 2022
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Rated by GreatWhiteNort

4.04/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Sweet smooth maltiness, with just enough abv to warm you through the winter months. A consistently solid beer from an underrated brewery.
Jan 15, 2022
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Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz can enjoy by date 06/06/24 into a Becher glass.
L: SRM 10 Pours a clear burnished copper color with a 1/2" soft lightly khaki head that recedes to frothy edge foam then eventually thins out, very steady carbonation bubbles, random medium-light lacing, carbonation remains steady until end.
S: Buttery caramelized malts, a hint of toasted grains, soft brown bread.
T: Bright tasting fruits, toasted grains, distant toffee, caramelized malts, dark fruits, citrus zest, a touch of soft brown bread, resin. Overall clean tasting. Malts are gently sweet and it has a slightly zesty & resinous linger.
F: Lightly brisk, smooth medium bodied feel with a medium-long fairly drying finish.
O: Super easy to drink! Great bright taste with a light & snappy little feel. Very well balanced sweetness to bitterness. It is simple and is excellent in its style.
Nov 26, 2021
 
Rated: 3.68 by mickyge from Massachusetts

Sep 04, 2021
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Reviewed by Jacobier10 from New Jersey

3.82/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can dated 6/14/21.

Attractive, deep amber color with a light tan head. Excellent clarity.

Rich dark bready malt aroma. There's a lingering raisin-like fruitiness as well.

Toasted and caramel malt flavor. Strong and rich, just like the aroma. It's smooth but has a sweet finish to it. Medium-full bodied.

This is not far off from a doppelbock, just a tad lighter than one. It packs a punch and is well suited for the winter months, but enjoyable any time of year. Thanks, Chaz!
Aug 15, 2021
 
Rated: 3.72 by 22Blue from Kansas

Jun 07, 2021
 
Rated: 3.85 by BLarson31 from Minnesota

May 24, 2021
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Reviewed by cardfan212 from Minnesota

4.21/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12 ounce can into a shaker pint.

Look - Deep ruby body with a medium sized sandy colored head that dies down to a heavy topper of thick bubbles.

Smell - Perfect balance of grassy and earthy with sweet and malty.

Taste - Initially, I didn't think the balance was there, but it's just split up. Sweet on the attack with a lingering bitterness. Quite tasty.

Feel - Silky smooth with just the right consistency. A great drinker.

Overall - Incredibly balanced and enjoyable throughout. I can't find anything bad with this beer. I can see myself coming back to this often.
Mar 27, 2020
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Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a clear, dark amber/brown color with a mild off-white head. SRM of 18-19. (4.25)

Aroma: Only hints of flower upfront followed by the main course. Expected aromas of nuts including pecans, walnuts, almond, cashew. Then light earthy wet caramel, bread, and more nuts. A prominent phenolic flavor giving hints of banana, but only hints. Mostly pecans, wet caramel and nuts. (4.25)

Flavor: Flavor follows the pecans & wet caramel, dark bread and yeast. Earthy Munich malt. A dark, black banana bread flavor before it dries out and finishes malty, but relatively dry and clean. No apparent hops. (4.00)

Feel: Lighter-bodied. Rather crisp with mild carbonation. Deceiving based on the appearance. The lighter body allows the phenols and alcohol to press forward more. Finishes with an alcohol bitterness. (4.00)

Compared w/ Sam Adams' Boston Lager 3/25/20: Pours a much darker brown color. Similar aroma strength. Stronger wet, earthy, caramel & nuts. Less cherry, spice, and french toast. Definitely more German/European flavors. Similar body, but a stronger alcoholic kick here. Feels similar, but very different flavors.

Compared w/ Mankato Brewery's 20/20 ESP 3/28/20: This one pours a darker color. Stronger aromas. More pecans, wet caramel, and less toasty cocoa. Overall, much more aromas and flavor. Heavier and sweeter with more wet, earthy caramel and pecans.

Compared to Sam Adams Winter Lager 11/20/20: Pours an identical color. More caramel and nuts. Less brown toast, cherry, and roasted caramel. More smooth and malty. Less bitter]

Compared to Leinenkugal's Toasted Bock 3/18/21: A slightly lighter and more amber color, milder head. Stronger and more complex aromas/flavors. More earthy caramel, brown bread, bananas, nuts, toffee. Less simple brown bread, grains, and toast. Sweeter and larger.

Compared to Rogue Dead Guy Ale 5/29/21: Pours a more ruby amber hue. Milder aromas/flavors, but more malty brown malts, brown bread crumbs and toast. More alcohol phenols and banana. Less rich caramel, nuts, flower, and red fruit. Lighter and less sweet. The alcohol is more detectable here.

Compared to Schells Snowstorm 1/2023: Pours lighter, clearer, milder head. Milder aromas. Less caramel, rich bread. Less brown toast, yeast, nuts. Lighter and cleaner.
2/2024: Pours nearly identical, stronger head. Milder aromas. Less sweet caramel, toffee, rye. More toasted brown bread and earth. Drier.

to Sam Adams Old Fezziwig 2/2024: Pours lighter, larger head. Milder aromas. More brown bread, toasted notes. Less rich bread, cherry, and cinnamon roll and spices. Milder.

Overall: A fantastic German Bock. This one is ranked Number 8 on this site. Yes, probably for a reason. An excellent, simple, clean drinking German malt-based beer. Caramel, nuts, black banana bread, brown bread and yeast. Absolutely delicious malts here. One of the best bock beers available. (Final Rating: 4.13)
Mar 25, 2020
 
Rated: 4.97 by superwho24 from Arkansas

Mar 12, 2020
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Reviewed by SB2017 from Iowa

3.65/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Lovely looking beer, with a deep red/brown yet clear color and a solidly lingering pinky of dense foam. Funky on the nose, and heavy with malt. Pretty clean flavor, very toasty on the finish but bright and almost fruity at the start.
Aug 05, 2019
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Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Can notes:
A dark-amber colored beer with a rich flavor and robust malt character that is commonly consumed during the coldest winter months. Our Bock is fermented slowly and lagered longer to ensure a smooth finish. Kick bock and enjoy a cold one!

12oz can, with this information stamped on the can bottom ' 052519 013020'.
Clear, amber brown colored body. One finger of tan head with the pour recedes to small scattered islands and a thin ring. Spots of varying sizes of lacing are left behind.
Aroma of a light caramel malt, and a whiff of dark fruit.
Taste is slightly sweet toasted malts. Sugar plums dance, with a bit of a tang.
Medium mouth feel. Good carbonation.
Richly rewarding as a dark lager. Season specific. Because of its sweet caramel touch, combined with the slightly sweet dark fruit, this beer is tasty for the season.
Mar 11, 2019
 
Rated: 3.79 by Krusader from Wisconsin

Jan 23, 2019
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Reviewed by lwillitz from Wisconsin

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12-oz bottle into Belgian ale glass

A - transparent body of deep brown under 2 fingers light khaki

S - toffee and caramel sweetness; touch of grain/bread

T - toffee, caramel, bread, metallic and earthy, touch of spice, touch of dark fruit

M - smooth full body, moderate carbonation

O - a well-executed bock
Sep 22, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by cwb14 from Wisconsin

Jul 24, 2018
 
Rated: 4.33 by TrentMAV from Minnesota

Apr 12, 2018
 
Rated: 3.6 by Turbo from Minnesota

Mar 11, 2018
Schell's Bock from August Schell Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 228 ratings