Bighorn Peak
Highlander Beer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours dark gold with a hint of red. Excellent head that retains very well. Excellent effervescence...especially in a bock style. Initial aroma hints of chocolate and some munich malt. Subsequent aroma indicates a strong hops presence. First taste and the hops come through significantly. I have never had a bock with such a hop presence. Unfortunately, it overwhelms the malts that make a bock so distinctive. I suspect that will make some hop heads happy that they now have a bock thats been hopped up. But for me, this bock ended up with a disappointing taste.

Interesting label art depicting a wild sheep instead of the traditional goat. Despite the name, this beer advertises "imported malt and hops". A moderate pour into a 10 ounce Pilsner sampling glass produces a short but creamy head. The beer is a copper color with light carbonation, and crystal clear.

The aroma is very malty with a touch of DMS and subtle floral and earthy notes. The flavor is just bitter enough from toasted malts to balance and highlight a light bready sweetness. In between are touches of tobacco and caramel. The aftertaste has a lingering earthy bitterness. The body is on the light side for a bock.

This is the second to last of a six pack that I've been drinking little by little since earlier this Spring. It's good to see more Montana craft breweries featuring lager beer. This solid beer is well worth a try, with substance to the flavor but a light body.