Saxer Bock
Saxer Brewing Company / Nor'Wester Beer Company

Saxer BockSaxer Bock
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From:
Saxer Brewing Company / Nor'Wester Beer Company
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Bock
ABV:
7.2%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.72 | pDev: 10.48%
Reviews:
26
Ratings:
28
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 12, 2012
Added:
Aug 16, 1998
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Rated: 3.25 by bzach from Indiana

Oct 12, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by beerpadawan from California

Aug 27, 2012
Photo of RBorsato
Reviewed by RBorsato from Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Golden with a decent beige head and nice carbonation. Sweet malty almost honey-ish aroma with light spicy notes. All malt flavors; a bit on the sweet side but not balanced badly. Medium bodied, smooth and creamy.

A nice solid bock but nothing really jumps out at you ...

Per Portland Brewing website: Gold - 2002 GABF
Jun 23, 2005
Photo of charlatan
Reviewed by charlatan from Scotland

3.37/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
This 12oz bottle claims only 6.2% abv whereas the six pack it came in proudly claimed 7.2% abv. Figure that one out!

Amber in colour, this didn't have much of a head. It smells yeasty, with some plum and fig.

My experience of bocks (as opposed to more impressive doppelbocks) was hitherto limited to the desperately disappointing Shiner which I notice garners a mediocre rating here, but is a beer I've heard Portlanders who should know better raving about on quite a few occasions.

I suppose it's fairly rare to find an Oregon brewed bock, and this one is certainly a step up on the aforementioned Texan brew, packing a decent malt punch with a hint of brown sugar. It has a very pleasant aftertaste, but seems a little flat to me.
May 18, 2005
Photo of oberon
Reviewed by oberon from North Carolina

3.72/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours an attractive copper color but with not much head to speak of,aromas of fruity malt anda big whisky note hit me hard in the nose but it was nice I also got a toasted grain scent but it was faint.Taste is very toasted and fruity and the alcohol comes into play as it warms for sure.Malty thru out a solid bock beer but I think it is missing just a little something to make it really top notch.
Jun 20, 2004
Photo of cokes
Reviewed by cokes from Wisconsin

2.82/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Honey hued. Lightly hazy and without much head, but a skim of bone-colored suds exists.
Nose of raisin bread (without the usual cinnamon partner), glazed with brown sugar and caramel. Pretty solid up until the rusty iron that arrives next.
Begins sugary sweet, carrying notes of candied raisins laid in dilute vanilla-caramel nougat. Some honey traits, and touches of raw grain. And that's that.
This suggests a maibock, but even considered as such, it still falls short.
It's not atrocious, but it seems stunted and unfinished.
Meatless by bock standards. A liquid tofu burger.
Jun 04, 2004
Photo of watermelonman
Reviewed by watermelonman from California

3.51/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This poured to a clear but heavy orange and gold color with a quickly fading head. Lacing is minimal.

The smell seems a little off but is light in nature. It tastes pretty good and it goes down nicely. The flavor is crisp but not too light. It seems to taste a little better going down than in the mouth.

The alcoholic content is blended in very nicely.
Mar 31, 2004
Photo of TPoling
Reviewed by TPoling from Texas

4.22/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
The Saxer Bock pours amber to gold with a quickly disappearing tan head. The nose is mostly of sweet malt. There is a little tartness on the back of the tongue in the beginning, but it ends with a very nice malty finish and hop balance. Also a slight fruitiness and alcohol stepping forward.
Feb 22, 2004
Photo of genaro
Reviewed by genaro from Massachusetts

3.04/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
The amber/gold color was not bad. The head was small and short-lived and there was no lace. The aroma was undistinguished - grainy malt. The taste wasn't too bad, malty, traces of caramel and a bit coffeeish, but still nothing special. There was some hop bite and a doughy mouthfeel. The finish was dry, a little grainy, and slightly sweet.
Not a bad beer, nor an exciting one. I may try this again paired with a better choice of food. Something other than Wasa crisp breads which is all I had available at the time.
Jan 15, 2004
Photo of GreenWBush
Reviewed by GreenWBush from Oregon

3.16/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I had never had any beers from this brewery until this one, from a sampler pack. This beer pours out an unfiltered amber-orange with a big head that fades quickly and leaves no lace.

On the nose I encountered carmel malts, metallic hops, and vanilla notes. My nose was right, that bitter/metallic taste was unshakable. Blame that on the transit.

This beer is well-balanced, and would appeal to those who are past Macros but have yet to have their taste buds blown away by the big-beer craftsmen. Personally, I felt like this beer was a meager craft brew because of the lack of any strong malt or hop character. The sweetness and hints of vanilla were also just not doing anything for me. The best part of the beer for me was the aftertaste. I had trouble even finishing this one.

The drinkability is decent, and I don't have too much to complain about this beer other than its lack of individuality. Moreover, this beer seems like a weak Dead Guy clone. Not one to hide from, but clearly not one to flock to.
Jan 14, 2004
Photo of beerguy101
Reviewed by beerguy101 from California

3.98/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Light to medium amber color, small head. A medium bodied hellies bock. Rich smooth malts, slightly sweet. Mild taste, extremely smooth. Nice hop flavor, very subdued. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is smooth and clean. Aftertaste is slightly bitter, some malt sweetness. No alcohol bite, despite a 7.2%. Very nice beer. Very different taste from the Saxer Dark Bock.
Sep 21, 2003
Photo of budgood1
Reviewed by budgood1 from Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
pours out a dark copper/amber colour, with a sizeable, but quickly dissipating head. little to no lace. a sweetish, brown sugar and caramel roll malt aroma. hints of flowery hops. in the taste, the vienna/munich type malts shine through...very sweet and tasty with earthy tones. the mouthfeel is velvety smooth, with hints of dryness in the finish. hard to detect the high ABV, but the warming in my belly quickly reminds me. extremely drinkable, hearty and quite delicious for a regular bock. all the aromas and flavours are highlighted as it warms a bit, making for an intensely rewarding bock experience. good stuff.
Sep 10, 2003
Photo of Reidrover
Reviewed by Reidrover from Oregon

3.76/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Ok a beer I hadn't seen around my area for a few months at least..so despite my slight dislike of the beers I have tasted from this brewery thought I would give it at least a single to convince me otherwise.
Comes in the 12 oz brown bottle..nice label with the goat on the front.
Nice looking bock beer here..dark golden almost tan brown coloured beer with a small white head that dissapates fast..but leaves nice lacing..attractive looking carbonation strings.
Now Maybe my nose is off but I detect nest to no aroma from this beer..some malts thats about all..average.
Very puzzling ..maybe my nose is "off" tonight, but the taste is much better than the aroma suggested lovelly malty sweet profiles at first..then a nice understated hopiness..followed by an attractive alcohol warming starting at the back of the throat.
Very nice feel indeed on my palate intresting yet smooth.
Very drinkable bock well done Saxer a beer I like from you..just still puzzled about the weak aroma!
Aug 25, 2003
Photo of BeerManDan
Reviewed by BeerManDan from California

3.8/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
It poured a deep golden straw color with no foam. The smell had a hoppy/grainy aroma with a hint of floral fragarance. The taste was very mild and smooth with very little bitterness. Being 6.2% alcohol, this ale was very pleasant on the palate and in the after taste!
Jul 31, 2003
Photo of Bighuge
Reviewed by Bighuge from Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The hue of this beer is about the midpoint of your typical maibock and dopplebock on the color spectrum. In other words, a little darker than copper in color. A slight beige head sits on top. Lacing is minimal. The aroma of this bock really really invites me in. Clean malt accentualted with a nice herbal hoppiness and bready yeastiness. The body of this beer is lush and damn near full. The flavors are what I expected from the beautiful nose: Clean and almost sticky sweet malt. Perfume like hops. Doughy yeastiness. Some slight bitterness is even picked up. This is a well made bock. One of the better ones I've had in a while.

Thanks go out to Big ZAP (aka COOZE) for the nifty sample.
Apr 02, 2003
Photo of bmills1608
Reviewed by bmills1608 from Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Color was red-amber. Poured a medium head, mostly larger bubbles, left a bit of lace on the glass. Nose of this bock was spicy for the most part, with a touch of cinnamon, a nice sweet caramel character and some dry hay. Nose overall was pretty nice.

Taste going in was sweet Vienna malts, with a light vanilla-caramel character and gentle toasted grains. Medium mouthfeel and moderate carbonation suited this beer well. A malt forward overall impression, but the malt was less sticky sweet and a was more grain driven then caramel. The caramel was there, but played more of a supporting role to the pure malt taste. Hop aroma was almost totally absent but a descent crisp bitterness balanced the brew nicely. The bitterness was drying and complemented the beer wonderfully. The finish was squeaky clean with just a hint of dry grass.

Overall this bock was moderately complex, and super drinkable. The alcohol was way in the background, hardly noticeable. What a pleasure it would be drink this well crafted brew out in the early spring sun, the air is cool, the sun warming. Really nice.
Mar 25, 2003
Photo of beernbbq
Reviewed by beernbbq from Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Probably a good American example of a bock. Nice malt flavor with a hint of hops. Nice body with a smooth sweet finish. My favorite of this genre right now is Rogue's Dead Guy Ale, which packs more caramel malt and hop flavors. But overall, the Saxer is enjoyable and if the setting is right, you can enjoy a few of these.
Mar 24, 2003
Photo of ZAP
Reviewed by ZAP from Minnesota

4.12/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
An enjoyable Helles...the 7.2% is hard to detect...Nice malty, bready nose....mouthfeel is firm and tight for the style...Pours an clear orangish/amber....sweet flavor on the buds...bread...some caramel....very good maltiness...this is an above average bock in my book, and one I would buy again....Nice beer...
Mar 16, 2003
Photo of Dogbrick
Reviewed by Dogbrick from Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A colleague gave me one of these as it was an "extra" from one of those beer-of-the-month clubs. After being a little disappointed by the JackFrost I was not sure what to expect. This is a better beer than JackFrost but still just an average beer. Pours a bright and clear orange color with a medium thin off-white head. Lacing is nil. Aroma is lightly malty. Flavor is malty and creamy but falls a little flat toward the end. Finish is dry. Decent Bock but not something I would go out of my way to try again.
Mar 10, 2003
Photo of LarryKemp
Reviewed by LarryKemp from Texas

3.51/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
This Helles Bock pours a clear amber with a fair head. The head disappears quite quickly and leaves no lace. The aroma is slightly malty and there are no hops present. The taste is similar in that it is mildly malty but no hops. The alcohol burns the tongue and has a fairly firm mouthfeel. It is a drinkable beer and is one I would recommend for a Helles Bock beginner.
Mar 08, 2003
Saxer Bock from Saxer Brewing Company / Nor'Wester Beer Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 28 ratings