Christmas Village Christmas Bock
Mainstay Independent

- From:
- Mainstay Independent
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- Bock
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- +8 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.93 | pDev: 2.04%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 01, 2026
- Added:
- Dec 31, 2025
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
Brewed in collaboration with Techne Brewery
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania
4.01/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Mainstay Independent Brewing "Christmas Village Christmas Bock"
16 fl. oz. can, "CANNED 111425 #427 11:54". Sampled on 030126
Notes via stream of consciousness: A rough pour has created an inch-plus of khaki colored foam atop a clear mahogany brown body. The aroma displays sweetish and caramelish malt. No hops are present. It's clean and welcoming so on to the taste we go - it's malty and sweetish but not "sweet", and there's some roastiness and chocolate along with the caramel that helps to balance it and lends to greater depth of character. The caramel is mainly medium, although there is some darker caramel there as well. In the background I'm getting a flicker of spiciness that might be from alcohol, and a little bit of berry-like fruitiness that's probably coming from Vienna malts and not the yeast as it's obviously very well made. In the mouth it's medium bodied, perhaps a bit on the fuller side, and gently crisp. I think the balance is perfect. Could it be sweeter? Absolutely, but it's remarkably drinkable as it is, and it still retains complexity. If there's a fault here it's the head retention and lacing. The head held up fairly well but eventually faded completely, and only minor lacing is left behind. All in all I think it's a great bock although I'm pretty sure that most people will be expecting something a little bit richer and fuller given the "Christmas Bock" label.
Review #9,449
Mar 01, 202616 fl. oz. can, "CANNED 111425 #427 11:54". Sampled on 030126
Notes via stream of consciousness: A rough pour has created an inch-plus of khaki colored foam atop a clear mahogany brown body. The aroma displays sweetish and caramelish malt. No hops are present. It's clean and welcoming so on to the taste we go - it's malty and sweetish but not "sweet", and there's some roastiness and chocolate along with the caramel that helps to balance it and lends to greater depth of character. The caramel is mainly medium, although there is some darker caramel there as well. In the background I'm getting a flicker of spiciness that might be from alcohol, and a little bit of berry-like fruitiness that's probably coming from Vienna malts and not the yeast as it's obviously very well made. In the mouth it's medium bodied, perhaps a bit on the fuller side, and gently crisp. I think the balance is perfect. Could it be sweeter? Absolutely, but it's remarkably drinkable as it is, and it still retains complexity. If there's a fault here it's the head retention and lacing. The head held up fairly well but eventually faded completely, and only minor lacing is left behind. All in all I think it's a great bock although I'm pretty sure that most people will be expecting something a little bit richer and fuller given the "Christmas Bock" label.
Review #9,449
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts
3.85/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Crystal clear dark amber color. Modest starting head which settles to a thin film on the surface. Only an occasional minor spot is left behind on the glass.
Clean caramelized malt sugar smell. NO metallic notes that often accompany this style. Less rich than some with a low level of alcohol warmth.
Highly carbonated with a lower-than-expected body for a Bock. There's a strong sweetness that is countered with enough hop in the swallow to prevent the beer from becoming cloy. The malt portion has a toasted brioche flavor. The finish, while short, leans to the matliness as it should.
Dec 31, 2025Clean caramelized malt sugar smell. NO metallic notes that often accompany this style. Less rich than some with a low level of alcohol warmth.
Highly carbonated with a lower-than-expected body for a Bock. There's a strong sweetness that is countered with enough hop in the swallow to prevent the beer from becoming cloy. The malt portion has a toasted brioche flavor. The finish, while short, leans to the matliness as it should.
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