Blonde Bock
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
Beer Geek Stats
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- Style:
- Bock - Maibock
Ranked #171 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 77
Ranked #48,643 - Avg:
- 3.36 | pDev: 16.37%
- Reviews:
- 177
- Ratings:
- From:
- Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
- United States
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 6
- Gots
- 35
SCORE
77
Okay
77
Okay
Notes:
A traditional "Helles" or pale bock beer, Blonde Bock is a medium hopped beer with a rich, malty flavor. Made popular in the early 1600s, bock beers were originally brewed by monks to minimize hunger pangs during fasting periods. Most bock beers are dark in color. Our Gordon Biersch Blonde Bock is golden with a creamy head.
23 IBU
23 IBU
Reviews: 177
| Ratings: 339
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Reviews by avisong:
More User Reviews:
BeerAdvocate from Massachusetts
3.67/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Bready, Sweet, Clean, Bold
A beautiful looking beer showing just as much clarity and glow as it shows on the palate in cleanliness. Layers of malt take a several sips to open up, a breath of alcohol comes off desirable. One sweet side to start, hoppiness kicks in about half way then the rounded character of the maltiness finishes off with a dose of breadiness. Our noses and palates hoped for a bit more hop character but this brew will do.
STYLE: Helles Bock | ABV: 7.0% | AVAILABILITY: Year-round
Review from BeerAdvocate magazine issue #94 (NOV 2014)
Aug 25, 2015
3.67/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Bready, Sweet, Clean, Bold
A beautiful looking beer showing just as much clarity and glow as it shows on the palate in cleanliness. Layers of malt take a several sips to open up, a breath of alcohol comes off desirable. One sweet side to start, hoppiness kicks in about half way then the rounded character of the maltiness finishes off with a dose of breadiness. Our noses and palates hoped for a bit more hop character but this brew will do.
STYLE: Helles Bock | ABV: 7.0% | AVAILABILITY: Year-round
Review from BeerAdvocate magazine issue #94 (NOV 2014)
Aug 25, 2015
CuriousMonk from District of Columbia
3.5/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Aroma starts out sour, gets bready sweet, and has a light noble hop background. Appearance is light gold with a well maintained white head. Flavor is high caramel malt sweetness forward with moderate bittering but a low noble bittering character. Mouthfeel is moderate bodied with a medium high carb texture. Overall, fairly easy drinking, and rich but not complex.
Feb 04, 2011
3.5/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Aroma starts out sour, gets bready sweet, and has a light noble hop background. Appearance is light gold with a well maintained white head. Flavor is high caramel malt sweetness forward with moderate bittering but a low noble bittering character. Mouthfeel is moderate bodied with a medium high carb texture. Overall, fairly easy drinking, and rich but not complex.
Feb 04, 2011
codfeast from California
3.4/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
bottle to pint.
A: nice gold color, 1/4 off white head, plenty of raising bubbles, semi sticky lacing.
S: Caramel, toffee, biscut.
T: It started sweet, not a rich malty sweetness I was expecting. A little hops leaves a dry and boozy finish.
M: Not as rich and creamy as I was expecting, medium carbination and body.
O: It's alright, looked and smelled a lot better than it tasted.
Aug 01, 2011
3.4/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
bottle to pint.
A: nice gold color, 1/4 off white head, plenty of raising bubbles, semi sticky lacing.
S: Caramel, toffee, biscut.
T: It started sweet, not a rich malty sweetness I was expecting. A little hops leaves a dry and boozy finish.
M: Not as rich and creamy as I was expecting, medium carbination and body.
O: It's alright, looked and smelled a lot better than it tasted.
Aug 01, 2011
KajII from North Carolina
2.96/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
[Best served in a Lager Glass]
The pour was a medium golden amber with a very thin (less than 1 finger) white frothy head that was fully diminishing and produced no lacing to speak of.
The aroma was that of bread and grain malts, a floral hop and a sweet yeast with a note of caramel, a little fruit and a smidgen of spice.
The taste was malty and a bit hoppy with a little bite of spice pretty much throughout with the ending being a little sweet with strong caramel and fruit notes. The flavor lasted an average amount of time after the swallow with the sweet fruitiness lingering a short while, leaving behind the slight bitterness of hops a just a little sourness.
Mouthfeel was just a little shy of medium in body with a dry, watery texture and a medium carbonation.
Overall a decent drinkable brew with a sweet sticky metallic aftertaste. Although the moderately high ABV does make it easier to partake after each swallow.
Mar 10, 2011
2.96/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
[Best served in a Lager Glass]
The pour was a medium golden amber with a very thin (less than 1 finger) white frothy head that was fully diminishing and produced no lacing to speak of.
The aroma was that of bread and grain malts, a floral hop and a sweet yeast with a note of caramel, a little fruit and a smidgen of spice.
The taste was malty and a bit hoppy with a little bite of spice pretty much throughout with the ending being a little sweet with strong caramel and fruit notes. The flavor lasted an average amount of time after the swallow with the sweet fruitiness lingering a short while, leaving behind the slight bitterness of hops a just a little sourness.
Mouthfeel was just a little shy of medium in body with a dry, watery texture and a medium carbonation.
Overall a decent drinkable brew with a sweet sticky metallic aftertaste. Although the moderately high ABV does make it easier to partake after each swallow.
Mar 10, 2011
stephenjmoore from Maryland
3.2/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A- Golden, clear, dark straw colored. Thin white head that disappears with no lacing.
S- Light malt notes with some sweet fruit. Raisin smells come through.
T- Malty taste with some fruit coming through. Tastes very similar to how it smells.
M- Carbonated, crisp, clean, refreshing.
O- Solid beer, but probably not something I would recommend or pursue again.
Dec 28, 2011
3.2/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A- Golden, clear, dark straw colored. Thin white head that disappears with no lacing.
S- Light malt notes with some sweet fruit. Raisin smells come through.
T- Malty taste with some fruit coming through. Tastes very similar to how it smells.
M- Carbonated, crisp, clean, refreshing.
O- Solid beer, but probably not something I would recommend or pursue again.
Dec 28, 2011
ProducerBRBeer from Arizona
2.88/5 rDev -14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - Gold amber color with a white head. Lace is lighter and is not as sticky as the other Gordon beers I have had. Head dies fast but is white yellow in color.
S - Malty smell with a more earthy hint.
T - Very sweet and biscuit taste or almost heading towards a corn flavor.
M - Very light carbonation and a medium body. Very slight dryness but smooth.
O - Decent but nothing to scream about. I prefer many of the other Gordon beers over this one but it is not bad.
Dec 27, 2011
2.88/5 rDev -14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - Gold amber color with a white head. Lace is lighter and is not as sticky as the other Gordon beers I have had. Head dies fast but is white yellow in color.
S - Malty smell with a more earthy hint.
T - Very sweet and biscuit taste or almost heading towards a corn flavor.
M - Very light carbonation and a medium body. Very slight dryness but smooth.
O - Decent but nothing to scream about. I prefer many of the other Gordon beers over this one but it is not bad.
Dec 27, 2011
CraftBeerTastic from Pennsylvania
3.85/5 rDev +14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Ba Review #151
Served On: 04/07/2012
Glassware: Tumbler Pint
Labeled ABV: 7.0%
Date/ Code: 02/01/2012
This was in the 2012 spring mixed 12 pack from Evergreen Liquors in Frederick ($14.99).
Look: Poured a clear bronze with some aggressive carbonation bubbles floating upward. The head was a thin layer of white foam that reduced down to a patchy film while leaving some nice sticky lacing on the glass.
Smell: Some nice malts made up most of the nose. There were also grassy notes detected.
Taste: An interesting sweet malt character seemed present throughout the entire palate. The middle had a touch of spice (maybe from hops?). The finish was bitter with some biscuit leading into a clean dry aftertaste. Higher ABV was not noticeable.
This was another solid offering from GB. They seem to take plain old German styles and jump them up a notch. This is a very nice take on another typical Lager style.
Apr 08, 2012
3.85/5 rDev +14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Ba Review #151
Served On: 04/07/2012
Glassware: Tumbler Pint
Labeled ABV: 7.0%
Date/ Code: 02/01/2012
This was in the 2012 spring mixed 12 pack from Evergreen Liquors in Frederick ($14.99).
Look: Poured a clear bronze with some aggressive carbonation bubbles floating upward. The head was a thin layer of white foam that reduced down to a patchy film while leaving some nice sticky lacing on the glass.
Smell: Some nice malts made up most of the nose. There were also grassy notes detected.
Taste: An interesting sweet malt character seemed present throughout the entire palate. The middle had a touch of spice (maybe from hops?). The finish was bitter with some biscuit leading into a clean dry aftertaste. Higher ABV was not noticeable.
This was another solid offering from GB. They seem to take plain old German styles and jump them up a notch. This is a very nice take on another typical Lager style.
Apr 08, 2012
BucannonXC5 from California
2.43/5 rDev -27.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Poured from a draft into my Gordon Biersch mug at Gordon Biersch in San Diego, Calif. Color was light honey. About an inch of head. Nice lacing on the top. Minimal film on the sides.
Smelled of pilsner malts. Bready,wheaty, corn and caramel.
Tasted a huge alcohol bite up front, almost like a shot of liquor. Caramel and syrupy finish. Maybe a bad pour?
Medium body. Oily texture. Average carbonation. Astringent finish.
Looking at the other raters, I must have gotten a bad pour or something. To me it was a heavy alcohol bite with a bad finish. Either way, I’ll stay away from this one in the future.
Jan 16, 2012
2.43/5 rDev -27.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Poured from a draft into my Gordon Biersch mug at Gordon Biersch in San Diego, Calif. Color was light honey. About an inch of head. Nice lacing on the top. Minimal film on the sides.
Smelled of pilsner malts. Bready,wheaty, corn and caramel.
Tasted a huge alcohol bite up front, almost like a shot of liquor. Caramel and syrupy finish. Maybe a bad pour?
Medium body. Oily texture. Average carbonation. Astringent finish.
Looking at the other raters, I must have gotten a bad pour or something. To me it was a heavy alcohol bite with a bad finish. Either way, I’ll stay away from this one in the future.
Jan 16, 2012
scratch69 from Missouri
3.12/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I poured a bottle into a mug.
Appearance- Hazy golden color with a half a fingers worth of quickly disappearing head. Minimal amount of lacing.
Smell- Pale malt and grass aroma.
Taste- Slightly sweet malt flavor at the start that is quickly overtaken by a moderate hop bitterness and faint notes of booze.
Mouthfeel- Medium bodied with a light amount of carbonation. It felt a tad syrupy at times with a dry finish.
Overall- Boring and uninspired. It was drinkable but utterly forgettable.
Nov 18, 2012
3.12/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I poured a bottle into a mug.
Appearance- Hazy golden color with a half a fingers worth of quickly disappearing head. Minimal amount of lacing.
Smell- Pale malt and grass aroma.
Taste- Slightly sweet malt flavor at the start that is quickly overtaken by a moderate hop bitterness and faint notes of booze.
Mouthfeel- Medium bodied with a light amount of carbonation. It felt a tad syrupy at times with a dry finish.
Overall- Boring and uninspired. It was drinkable but utterly forgettable.
Nov 18, 2012
TheRealBigC from Nevada
3.75/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a nice blonde color with noticeable carbonation. Smell is malty, a little grainy. Not great, but appropriate. Tastes malty and clean with a smooth feel. An extra kick from the alcohol is nice. Overall I wouldn't say this is a great beer, but it's a pretty good attempt at a Maibock, which unfortunately I don't see much of around these parts.
Sep 14, 2012
3.75/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a nice blonde color with noticeable carbonation. Smell is malty, a little grainy. Not great, but appropriate. Tastes malty and clean with a smooth feel. An extra kick from the alcohol is nice. Overall I wouldn't say this is a great beer, but it's a pretty good attempt at a Maibock, which unfortunately I don't see much of around these parts.
Sep 14, 2012
raynmoon from Colorado
3.06/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
the appearance is quite nice; a nice gold with a hint of brown. It looks like honey in the glass.
The smell is of sweet malts and a hint of alcohol. I feel like I know what it is going to taste like...
The taste is pretty decent. Nice amount of malt with enough hops to balance it out. The alcohol leaves a slight dryness at the end but it is not bad.
Overall a pretty decent beer, not very offensive but not the greatest offering from Gordon Biersch. It's worth the purchase inside the Winter 12 pack, however.
Jan 06, 2012
3.06/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
the appearance is quite nice; a nice gold with a hint of brown. It looks like honey in the glass.
The smell is of sweet malts and a hint of alcohol. I feel like I know what it is going to taste like...
The taste is pretty decent. Nice amount of malt with enough hops to balance it out. The alcohol leaves a slight dryness at the end but it is not bad.
Overall a pretty decent beer, not very offensive but not the greatest offering from Gordon Biersch. It's worth the purchase inside the Winter 12 pack, however.
Jan 06, 2012
stevoj from Idaho
3.39/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
On tap at Oakland airport. Light copper body, minimal head. Sweet malt aroma, taste follows with more sweet malt, honey. Body is fantastic, slick, slippery. Shame they serve it ice cold.
Feb 22, 2016
3.39/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
On tap at Oakland airport. Light copper body, minimal head. Sweet malt aroma, taste follows with more sweet malt, honey. Body is fantastic, slick, slippery. Shame they serve it ice cold.
Feb 22, 2016
Blonde Bock from Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
Beer rating:
77 out of
100 with
339 ratings
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