Lowen Bock
Bayerische Löwenbrauerei

International Green Week, Berlin 2012: our second day and Hall 22b is where I came across the bar from Passau: after their Helles (on-tap) I decided to have a 0.33 litre bottle of this, their Bock.

Chestnut red/brown body, clear and healthy looking, on top a good, solid blanket of foam, light creamy colour.

The nose was all malt: toasted, roasted and caramelised.

The taste had a semi-sweet malt front: toffee and caramel mixed with dark chocolate and a hoppy backbone that stopped the brew from being sickly or one dimensional. The hop presence is more prominent as the mouth dries and a slight bitterness just takes the edge away from the malty molasses that provide the sweetness.

Well balanced and smooth to taste, alcohol hidden nicely: a very pleasant Bock.