Celis Pale Bock
Celis Brewery Inc.

 

 

 

 

Poured a brownish orange color. Has decent head, fades abit, but stills leaves a little foam on top. There is a hint of a few spices in the smell. Taste is pleasing, with a little hint of bitterness in the after taste and not too carbonated. It's drinkability is its strong point. With its decent head, little hoppy taste and decent amount of carbonation, this is a good all-around beer.

Note—this review is from the late 1990’s, from the original Celis Pale Bock (after Miller bought out Pierre, but before it was brewed in MI). I post it for historical reference….

OG: 12.5 P, 1.050
FG: 1.013
ABV: 5%
ABW: 3.9%
Attenuation: 74.22%
Real Extract: 4.86 P
IBU’s: 20-25
Color: 8.7 SRM
Hops: Willamette, Saaz and Cascade
Malts: "Caramel Malts from the Great Plains": per bottle.

Light red, orangish color, like tea. Fairly fluffy, beigish head which creates an initial curtain of lace around the inside of the top of the glass as the foam begins to recede.

Dryish berry aroma with just the slightest touch of caramelly-malt and lemon.

Dry!!! Celis Pale Bock might just have that much more mass-appeal if it were called Celis Dry Bock. Well, maybe in the early 1990's... The very pleasing, malty-berry aroma reveals itself in the flavor as well. The bottle claims that Celis Pale Bock is a "beer brewed with herbs and spices", but I have a hard time tasting any noticeable spicing, though an increasing sour flavor might mask any spicing.

Although there is a nice, subdued berryish maltiness, I'd have to say that Celis Pale Bock tastes more like a dry, lemon-flavored herb tea than a bock beer. By the way, Celis Pale Bock is not a bock. It's more like a Belgian bruin, or a Belgian pale ale. According to Stephen Snyder in his "The Beer Companion" (1996, Quintet Publishing Limited), the bock designation is due to "peculiarities of Texas liquor law". Texas does have quite a few peculiar liquor laws which can frustrate a resident...

Interestingly, drunk slowly, Pale Bock tastes quite malty and fruity. However, if you drink it quickly, Pale Bock is exceptionally dry and has an almost intense lemony sourness. Now that Celis has struck a distribution deal with Miller, you can expect see Celis products in more and more locales nationally than just in and around Texas.

Very nice to drink, but the flavours are a bit too subtle and mild, very good though, good session beer, and highly drinkable.

Presentation: 12oz brown. Freshness date clearly marked.

Appearance: Clear copper with a healthy, creamy, staying head.

Smell: Caramel whaffs blend with spicy citrus to provide pleasant, sweet, rich aroma.

Taste: Grain! This is a nutty, grainy brew. Munich malts are abundant and used to perfection (no husky tannins at all). Light in body with touches of caramel, a semi-astringent bite and tangy hop that accents the crispness of the grain. Nutty grain coats the mouth in the aftertaste.

Notes: The merge of Belgian and German brewing techniques, with an American influence, makes this beer truly unique -- not to mention a very quaffable concoction.