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CB's Spring Fever
CB Craft Brewers
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- CB Craft Brewers
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Maibock
- ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 4.02 | pDev: 8.46%
- Reviews:
- 15
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jul 28, 2013
- Added:
- May 07, 2002
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by rarevos:
Reviewed by rarevos from New York
4.08/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Yay! Review #200!
Had this at the tasting room recently. Was described as a "hoppy bock," and I thought, "uh-oh." Then I tried it, and promptly filled my growler. Then I was told that they're going to start bottling their Cream Porter. A most excellent day at the brewery.
A: I'm guessing they've tweaked the recipe since northyorksammy posted his review, because this is a pretty dark beer now. Pours a very dark amber, still translucent, but barely. Head is nice and fluffy, and is a bit off-white.
S: Dark caramel sweetness, a bit of indeterminate roastiness, and some lightly citric hoppiness. Just a tad smoky. You also get that bit of dusty dryness from their house yeast; all of their beers have this feature in the nose, I've found.
T/M: Caramel sweetness up front, some nice toasted grain toward the middle, and a nice pine/citrus hop bite. Finish is nicely bitter; while the yeast is present in the nose, this doesn't finish as dry/dusty as many of their other beers.
D: Very, very pleased with this beer. A bit higher abv than I usually like in a session-type, but it's not a huge deal. $11 for a growler fill of this is a bit steep, though.
May 14, 2007Had this at the tasting room recently. Was described as a "hoppy bock," and I thought, "uh-oh." Then I tried it, and promptly filled my growler. Then I was told that they're going to start bottling their Cream Porter. A most excellent day at the brewery.
A: I'm guessing they've tweaked the recipe since northyorksammy posted his review, because this is a pretty dark beer now. Pours a very dark amber, still translucent, but barely. Head is nice and fluffy, and is a bit off-white.
S: Dark caramel sweetness, a bit of indeterminate roastiness, and some lightly citric hoppiness. Just a tad smoky. You also get that bit of dusty dryness from their house yeast; all of their beers have this feature in the nose, I've found.
T/M: Caramel sweetness up front, some nice toasted grain toward the middle, and a nice pine/citrus hop bite. Finish is nicely bitter; while the yeast is present in the nose, this doesn't finish as dry/dusty as many of their other beers.
D: Very, very pleased with this beer. A bit higher abv than I usually like in a session-type, but it's not a huge deal. $11 for a growler fill of this is a bit steep, though.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by mattbk from New York
4/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- Dark copper to brownish, medium head that dissipates before I finished writing this, a bit cloudy.
S- Very aromatic, dark malts, a lot of dark fruit, raisin and fig, some light german hops in the finish. As it should be. Maybe a bit too fruity if anything.
T- Light feel but a lot of dark fruit here, plums and golden raisins I'm getting now. A sweet and fairy long finish. Not much hoppiness coming through. Light breadiness right in the front, like a muffin with marmalade jam. The fruit is the overriding thing about this beer. There's a small amount of mustiness in the front as well, maybe a yeast by product, or maybe this is just a tad on the old side.
M- Medium mouthfeel. For the aroma and taste I was expecting something heavier, and at first I thought this was very light, but it has some girth to it.
D- I'm not a big Bock fan, but this is interesting and enjoyable, and I'd probably have it again.
Apr 25, 2012S- Very aromatic, dark malts, a lot of dark fruit, raisin and fig, some light german hops in the finish. As it should be. Maybe a bit too fruity if anything.
T- Light feel but a lot of dark fruit here, plums and golden raisins I'm getting now. A sweet and fairy long finish. Not much hoppiness coming through. Light breadiness right in the front, like a muffin with marmalade jam. The fruit is the overriding thing about this beer. There's a small amount of mustiness in the front as well, maybe a yeast by product, or maybe this is just a tad on the old side.
M- Medium mouthfeel. For the aroma and taste I was expecting something heavier, and at first I thought this was very light, but it has some girth to it.
D- I'm not a big Bock fan, but this is interesting and enjoyable, and I'd probably have it again.
Reviewed by kingcrowing from Vermont
3.92/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle poured into a Duvel tulip. Thanks to a random guy at BctC for dropping off this 6-pack at our tent when we were packing up!
Pours a very deep dark amber brown with a small light brown head with minimal lacing. Nose is very nice, malty and earthy, it's a bit bready and fresh.
Taste is really quite good, it is a bit astringent/grainy but it certainly doesn't ruin it. This tastes like something straight out of Germany. Mouthfeel is crisp and light with just the right amount of carbonation. Finish is crisp with a light hoppy bite.
I had no idea what this was coming into it, but I've been pleasantly surprised!
Aug 02, 2011Pours a very deep dark amber brown with a small light brown head with minimal lacing. Nose is very nice, malty and earthy, it's a bit bready and fresh.
Taste is really quite good, it is a bit astringent/grainy but it certainly doesn't ruin it. This tastes like something straight out of Germany. Mouthfeel is crisp and light with just the right amount of carbonation. Finish is crisp with a light hoppy bite.
I had no idea what this was coming into it, but I've been pleasantly surprised!
Reviewed by wfuqua from Vermont
3.35/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.35/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance- deep red amber with two fingers of off-white head that dissipates quickly.
Smell-Not getting much smell.
Taste-malty. It reminds of a dark brown bread. There also seems to be a hint of bitterness.
Mouthfeel-Medium bodied and a little spicy feeling at the back of the tongue.
Overall: One of the first Bock beers I’ve had so I can’t really say if it’s a good representation of the style or not. I do like how it tastes though so I might buy it again.
May 11, 2011Smell-Not getting much smell.
Taste-malty. It reminds of a dark brown bread. There also seems to be a hint of bitterness.
Mouthfeel-Medium bodied and a little spicy feeling at the back of the tongue.
Overall: One of the first Bock beers I’ve had so I can’t really say if it’s a good representation of the style or not. I do like how it tastes though so I might buy it again.
Reviewed by BeerAdvocate from Finland
4/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #40 (May 2010):
Goaty theme, a traditional-style German Bock, which is a bit rare anywhere you go. Reddish brown hue. Big head crackles, though retains its composure. Thick, malty aroma with a spicy/herbal hop towing along. Creamy, slick and smooth. Malt, malt and malt. Clean palate, hop spice and a hint of alcohol in the middle. Yeah, a malt bomb for sure, though the hopping brings some calm and balance to the tall wall of maltiness. Bready, with a little sweetness as the malt flavor lingers far into the finish.
Certainly not a beer style anyone frequents much at all. Proof that malty beer can rock as well.
Jan 11, 2011Goaty theme, a traditional-style German Bock, which is a bit rare anywhere you go. Reddish brown hue. Big head crackles, though retains its composure. Thick, malty aroma with a spicy/herbal hop towing along. Creamy, slick and smooth. Malt, malt and malt. Clean palate, hop spice and a hint of alcohol in the middle. Yeah, a malt bomb for sure, though the hopping brings some calm and balance to the tall wall of maltiness. Bready, with a little sweetness as the malt flavor lingers far into the finish.
Certainly not a beer style anyone frequents much at all. Proof that malty beer can rock as well.
Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania
3.7/5 rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.7/5 rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to pumpkin1 for bringing back a growler of this to share.
A-Deep, dark copper with a thin light tan head that held strong and left spotty lace.
S-Slight sour zing with sweet caramel malts and cereal grains.
T-Spicy, caramel and sweet--but not too sweet. Oak dryness and chewy cereal grains.
M-Medium-light bodied, a touch thin with light lingering spiciness.
D-Decent, but not blown away. Maybe not quite sweet and viscous enough and a touch thin. A bit of adjusting and this one could be very nice.
Nov 03, 2009A-Deep, dark copper with a thin light tan head that held strong and left spotty lace.
S-Slight sour zing with sweet caramel malts and cereal grains.
T-Spicy, caramel and sweet--but not too sweet. Oak dryness and chewy cereal grains.
M-Medium-light bodied, a touch thin with light lingering spiciness.
D-Decent, but not blown away. Maybe not quite sweet and viscous enough and a touch thin. A bit of adjusting and this one could be very nice.
Reviewed by shirfan from New York
3.95/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.95/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Dark ruby but clear with a thin layer of foam.
Aroma is malty, milk chocolate notes with a mild fruit cocktail smell.
Taste is on the sweet side with toasty malts and another hint of light, creamy milk chocolate. Plum/pear sugary flavor before some leafy hops shine through, yet maintain low bitterness.
An unusual brew, but refreshing and easy to drink.
Apr 22, 2007Aroma is malty, milk chocolate notes with a mild fruit cocktail smell.
Taste is on the sweet side with toasty malts and another hint of light, creamy milk chocolate. Plum/pear sugary flavor before some leafy hops shine through, yet maintain low bitterness.
An unusual brew, but refreshing and easy to drink.
Reviewed by RyanPB from New York
3.69/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
3.69/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Not familiar with Helles Bocks so take this with a grain of salt. Still, loved the mouthfeel, incredible drinkability. I might say more about the nose if I knew the style better. Nothing wildly distinctive about the flavor, nothing that calls out to the palate, except for good balance between hops and malty-ness. Actually, maybe the balance is the strength.
Apr 20, 2007Reviewed by oberon from North Carolina
3.98/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
3.98/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On tap at the Consumer Beverage in OP,poured a deep bronze with a tight formed 1/2 finger slight off white head that was gone quite fast.Somewhat clean aromas hints of caramel and biscuit-like dough with a light toaty note,nice and fresh tasting with malt traits showing thru mainly,lightly sweet caramel and sweeter pizza dough with a firm underlying toastiness with a late herbal hop smack to round it out.Another solid offering from CB's over in Rochester,now with them expanding to a bottling line in the future I hope to get more of their wares over here in Buffalo.
Apr 20, 2007Reviewed by Redrover from Wisconsin
4.1/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.1/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I had a pint at the Dinosaur BBQ in Rochester.
The beer was served in a standard pint glass. It is bronze/brown with an off white head.
The nose is of malts, caramel and a bit of an earthy smell.
The taste is sweet. I get notes of caramel, toasted grains a bit of apple and plum.
Mouth is a both thick and slick. This is a nice session beer for sure.
Jun 08, 2006The beer was served in a standard pint glass. It is bronze/brown with an off white head.
The nose is of malts, caramel and a bit of an earthy smell.
The taste is sweet. I get notes of caramel, toasted grains a bit of apple and plum.
Mouth is a both thick and slick. This is a nice session beer for sure.
Reviewed by sponberg from New York
4.32/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.32/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the brewery then later that night at the Dinosaur. Pours rather dark for a helles bock, but the aroma is solid - maltiness and noble hops.
Oh yeah, I could get to know this beer VERY well. Sweet, very round maltiness (honeylike, toffee, maybe some fruits like pears in there) and some toastiness with a spicy, firm Hallertau or Tettnang hoppiness cutting in mid-sip. Very full mouthfeel. Finishes slightly drier that the initial sweetness would lend you to expect, with a hint of inoffensive malt graininess. Very, very nice effort.
I just loved spending a part of my evening passing out samples of this beer from the pitcher and explaining what "that flavor in the middle" was. It's hops, my friends, hops. They must have liked it, because when it was their turn to buy the ordered up another pitcher. Cool.
Apr 05, 2004Oh yeah, I could get to know this beer VERY well. Sweet, very round maltiness (honeylike, toffee, maybe some fruits like pears in there) and some toastiness with a spicy, firm Hallertau or Tettnang hoppiness cutting in mid-sip. Very full mouthfeel. Finishes slightly drier that the initial sweetness would lend you to expect, with a hint of inoffensive malt graininess. Very, very nice effort.
I just loved spending a part of my evening passing out samples of this beer from the pitcher and explaining what "that flavor in the middle" was. It's hops, my friends, hops. They must have liked it, because when it was their turn to buy the ordered up another pitcher. Cool.
Reviewed by CBFanWish from New York
4.5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
They did it again with a super well balanced bock that is dark in colour with a nice head. The malty aroma screams to you to taste it with the help of a slightly floral hop scent. The taste is balanced almost perfectly. A ton of malt and a ton of hops. This is another superb offering from Custom Brewcrafters.
Apr 03, 2004Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)
3.65/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.65/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Fortunate to have a preview. Malt, hops and fizz. Wish they would serve this at the ballpark instead of flat and dry national brands. Refreshes. Pale in appearance and pales against rest of their lineup. Smells like beer, as nothing over-the-top added. Unoffensive choice.
Mar 19, 2004Reviewed by rugbycritic from New York
4.82/5 rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.82/5 rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is sure a cure for cabin fever. Yee-haw. Really enjoyed this growler. It just spoke to me, in that little voice these things have, you know what I'm talking about, right? Can you hear it too?
The malt is big, with very balanced hop presence, with out being overbearing. Beautiful color and malt aroma. Gotta go get me a refill.
May 14, 2002The malt is big, with very balanced hop presence, with out being overbearing. Beautiful color and malt aroma. Gotta go get me a refill.
Reviewed by John from New York
4.5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had this excellent offering on tap. Dark in color, dense, lasting tan head. Roasted, malty sweet aroma, the brewers have gone big with the malt. To offset the malt is nearly as much hops. Good hop essence in my burps! The brewery's web site describes it as satisfying "the German taste for malt and the American microbrewers taste for hops." A spot on description. Just wish I had a growler with me to fill.
May 07, 2002
CB's Spring Fever from CB Craft Brewers
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
18 ratings
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