Advent Beers - Winter Bock
Minhas Craft Brewery

 

 

Nice red/copper color with a decent tan head that stays for a while. The aroma is light caramel malt, slightly nutty and earthy. The taste is pretty much the same, sweet caramel malt, hints of nuts and earthy funk. The body is light/medium, moderate carbonation, fairly drinkable. Altogether, this is a decently drinkable brew, a bit sweet, but like most of these beers, it's just a bit off target.

12oz can

On the pour and first glance, this looks pretty legit. Close to crystal clear with nearly 2 fingers of tan head with good retention on top of a dark red body. Light fine carbonation. Sort of almost laces.

Aroma is decent but once again obviously Minhas with their now definitively signature light savory character. Beyond that its pretty decent. Comes off as a bigger dark lager with light nutty malt qualities. Very sweet.

Taste follows the aroma but is slightly better. Less of the funk is present, although I did recently brush my teeth. Slight earthy hop bitterness maybe? (Or the toothpaste is playing a role). Not as sweet and actually pretty drinkable. I want more malt still though.

Feel is decent, with a surprisingly crisp drink-ability compared to many of these beers. Medium short finish. For a bock this should feel a bit heavier with more mouthfeel, but for Minhas this is light and not syrupy which is appreciated.

Overall, this is one of the better ones, but it still isn't legitimately malty enough for me to call it "good". Also the savory funk is still here, which I have never experienced in beer from a brewery that I would ever want to go back to intentionally.

Also in terms of the whole pack, all of these beers are flatout confusing and despite knowing what the style should be like and reading the labels, the flavor is never quite what I want and many of the beers flat out have big nasty off flavors that shouldn't be there. I'm looking at you sweet and savory note...

 

12 oz can served in a Belgian snifter.

Appearance. A fine reddish-copper, sparkling clear, is topped with a beige head. The head has decent retention.

Lots of caramel malt in this bock, and a hoppy finish and aftertaste.

Overall. Best of the 2022 Minhas Advent beers?

While it looks like a bock, it doesn't taste like one at all, way too bitter. This one is a mess. It's like a malt liquor disguised as a bock. Not good.