Springbok Lager
Tun Tavern

 

A crystal-clear, deep-golden/borderline-bronze body is capped by a huge head of frothy white foam that slowly erodes into a solid half-inch cap. The head retention is quite good and it leaves some nice lacing about the glass. The nose is clean and bright with a delicate combination of gently sweet malt and floral hops. In the mouth, it delivers a gentle caress of carbonation amongst a firm maltiness. It's completely smooth and lightly creamy - seemingly fading away as it crosses the palate. A clean, straight-forward blend of rich malt and gently spicy and floral hops makes up the flavor. It's pure lager malt (although there may be some Munich malt present) exquisitely balanced by gentle hop flavor and a bitterness that clearly makes it's presence known but never steps into the limelight. It finishes much as it tastes, in a long-lingering finish with some lightly sweet and breadish malt that slowly dissolves amongst spicy, floral and grassy hop flavors to reveal its true drying bitterness beneath. It's very straight-forward but exceptionally well-done. I think I'd like to see it with a little more Munich malt character but I'm not sure... this is a great summer bock that's never cloying and I think it's malt profile is a huge part of that. The alcohol is very well-hidden (but it will sneak up on you), and it's maltiness never builds on the palate. Quite nice!

This beaut pours with a white head that settles over a deep yellowish-golden gently carbonated liquid.
The aromatic nose contains a blend of bready & sweet maltiness, an amplified spiciness, flowery hoppiness and hints of apple and pear. Taste is formost a honeyish malt surge followed by healthy amounts of fresh flowery hops that cut thru the maltiness beautifully. A short flash of fruity yeastiness is noted at this point too. The finish is long and winding...ending up with flavors of hop and alcohol dancing cheek to cheek as things wind down. Deliciously drinkable and complex!