Mad Brewer Maibock
Church Brew Works

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From:
Church Brew Works
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Maibock
ABV:
7%
Score:
89
Avg:
4.01 | pDev: 8.73%
Ratings:
19 | reviews: 12
Status:
Inactive
Rated:
May 10, 2017
Added:
Feb 29, 2004
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  1
The Mad Brewer Maibock was the Silver Medal winner at the 1999 and 2000 Great American Beer FestivalÔ in the German Bock category. In celebration of our second silver medal in a row f or this beer, we are bringing the Mad Brewer Maibock out at an unseasonal time. A bock beer is required by German law to start at 17°Plato. For those who are interested, °Plato is a measurement of the sugar content before fermentation. It is a very malty lager beer with medium hop bitterness. A maibock is a light colored bock beer. A Maibock is very similar to a Helles/pale bock,. Maibocks we originally brewed for the coming of spring, hence the name Mai (German for May). The Mad Brewer Maibock is fairly light in color. It is similar in color to our Pipe Organ Pale Ale, but very different in character. Don't let it get you though, it's a very strong beer at about 7% alcohol. It has a very clean and malty nose. The hop bitterness is evident, but not dominant. The Mad Brewer Maibock will finish quite full and have a delicate sweetness.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4 by ejimhof from Pennsylvania

May 10, 2017
 
Rated: 3.69 by BirdsandHops from Oregon

May 02, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by ArkyVaughan from New Jersey

Jul 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by GoHabsGo from Canada (ON)

Jun 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.09 by bobtaylor0414 from Pennsylvania

May 29, 2016
Photo of ajm5108
Reviewed by ajm5108 from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Robust sweet breaded malt, cinnamon, just some faint hop bitter, excellent mouthfeel, surprisingly refreshing on a summer day. Best beer i have had from Church
Jun 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by EMV from Pennsylvania

Jun 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by brutalist from Pennsylvania

Jun 14, 2013
Photo of Rifugium
Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

3.23/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
First had: on tap at the brewery

Poured a pale golden orange color, mostly clear, with a small white head that didn't stick around too long. Aroma was grassy, biscuity, herbal, slightly sweet. Taste was pretty light, grassy and herbal hop notes, biscuity malts, wildflower honey, lightly toasted grains. Crisp and clean but not too much in the flavor department. On the plus side, it was extremely smooth and drinkable...I would've guessed the ABV at no more than 5%, so I'd say the higher number is very well hidden. Quite nice, but not something I go ape over.
May 23, 2012
Photo of ccrida
Reviewed by ccrida from Oregon

3.85/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On draught at the brewpub, Mad Brewer Maibock is a pale auburn with a small off-white head leaving scattered lace. A bit darker then usual, but it's pretty dimly light in there...

Smell is sweet, pretty mild, honied.

Taste is very good, pure, clean cereals, a bit of fruitiness more then sweet in a sugary sense, with a floral hop snap on the finish. Really quite good, very balanced, well made.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, off-dry.

Drinkability is pretty high. Very smooth but pretty robust flavor makes sure you're not gonna drink it too fast, which is a good thing due to the creeping alcohol feeling, which otherwise is well hidden.
May 04, 2011
Photo of bigdeuce
Reviewed by bigdeuce from Pennsylvania

4.69/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
This beer is absolutely OUTSTANDING. Pours a very deep mahogany color, similar to HB's Maibock. Scents of hops, sticky candy, slight chocolate malt. Unbelievably smooth and creamy. Freshness is unmatched. Had to get a growler to go. This one is a keeper in a style that’s hard to find.
Apr 24, 2010
Photo of BlueHammer
Reviewed by BlueHammer from Connecticut

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
An orangey golden color in the glass. It has a distinct grassy/floral smell. There wasn't much head left on the beer by the time the beer was served to me. The beer starts out slightly sweet but finishes with a hoppy bite which balances the beer nicely, giving it a full, complete feel. The bite at the end lingers for a while, leaving you wanting the next sip. A good beer but not my favorite - Church Brew Works has several others that are equally good or better. Try this one, but try the others, too!
Jun 15, 2008
Photo of sinistrsam
Reviewed by sinistrsam from Maryland

3.85/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Hmm...I'm still getting used ot this style, but these guys got it close as far as I can tell. It poured a hazy copper, foamy medium-sized head on it, good retention adn excellent, I'm talking excellent lacing. This is something I'm noticing about a good Maibock. Mild roasted malts, floral hops. Grainy, biscuity.
Taste was semi-sweet and mildly sour fruits. Malt and floral hops throughout. A sweet-buttery taste lingers after you've swallowed. Same on the feel; bittersweet at first, a "glazed" buttery feeling on your tongue afterwards. However, this, like several of the otehrs I sampled there had a disappointing lack of an aftertaste. Almost watery tastelessness. This was slightly better than that but less than I had hoped for. Overall a decent Maibock, and a good sipping beer.
May 24, 2006
Photo of veggiemafia
Reviewed by veggiemafia from Pennsylvania

4.07/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap at the brewpub.

Orangey golden with nice lace when it came to me.

Smell is Riesling grapes and green apples with a bready malt backbone and a hop thing in there somewhere.

Taste is similar with more roundness and balance, and less of that overt fruitiness that I really liked, but the fruit becomes more apparent when it warms a little.

Mouthfeel is pleasant, but a little thin.

I could stand another 1 or 2 of these, but they were doing a new Imperial Pils, so I wanted to try that. I'll add that in a couple days or so.
May 10, 2006
Photo of watermelonman
Reviewed by watermelonman from California

4.33/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This arrived as a nice and clear amber and orange. The head was small and left some minor lacing.

The smell is not very strong, but has nice malt flavors with some hints of light fruits. The taste is quite good, with a strong malt profile. Light fruit flavors come through here as well. The mouthfeel is pleasing, while drinkability is very good. There's no sign of the alcohol content.
Feb 21, 2006
Photo of OldFrothingSlosh
Reviewed by OldFrothingSlosh from Pennsylvania

3.51/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
22oz. bomber courtesy of beergeek279.

Poured a clear yellow-golden color with an initially thick off-white head that died quickly and left only spotty patches of lacing on the glass. Aromas....humph. The aroma honestly reminded me of a Budwesier with a layer of sweetness caked on top of it. I really didn't like it. Flavor was a balanced blend of honey sweetness, subtle earthy hops, and a grainy-husky quality. Not overly sweet. Finish brings a little bit of the sweetened Budweiser back again. Mouthfeel is on the thick side. Creamy smooth. ABV is well-hidden. Overall, a solid offering. A bit different flavor, but not a huge turnoff.
Nov 16, 2004
Photo of beergeek279
Reviewed by beergeek279 from Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Served in the 22 oz. bottle into a pint glass. The color is copper, with an uneven white head. The smell is a strong honey sweetness. The taste is honey sweetness cut with a slight bit of a mellower hops, and just a bit of alcohol noticable. Mouthfeel is somewhat chewy. As for drinkability, could have a few of these.

Mad Brewer...well, that's Bryan Pearson for sure! A solid Maibock that manages to be sweet without cloying, and I'll likely be having this one next year!
Jul 04, 2004
Photo of brewQ
Reviewed by brewQ from Missouri

3.88/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the brewery.

Color ran toward orange. An off-white head with nice even lacing.
This is a style I like and they have balanced some quality malt and hops here. An easy to drink beer at a stated 7% abv.

Recalling my time at the Church, this is a wonderful to place to stop during the 'off hours'- after lunch/before dinner.
May 19, 2004
Photo of WVbeergeek
Reviewed by WVbeergeek from West Virginia

4.51/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Appearance: 22oz. bomber appearance a semi hazy caramel orange copper tone with a frivilous creamy tan head, lacing forms full and thick on the glass. Aroma: Nice grainy alcohol sweetness with a musty bready tone and a strong honey ester. Taste: Very sweet sugary malts with honey tones and smooth lagered finish no off notes very clean and sweet alcohol is definitely evident here in the finish. Mouthfeel: Extremely creamy mouthfeel excellent medium bodied lager awesome authentic and worthy of it's German counterparts excellent. Drinkability: Wow, dangerous I have no idea what the alcohol is on this one I can't believe this one went that quick, so good I want another bottle.
Feb 29, 2004