Brinkley's Maibock
Free State Brewing Co.
- From:
- Free State Brewing Co.
- Kansas, United States
- Style:
- Maibock
Ranked #108 - ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 82
Ranked #34,388 - Avg:
- 3.61 | pDev: 10.53%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 25
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 29, 2025
- Added:
- May 04, 2005
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 16
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good
This beer has a very full and complex flavor that is best enjoyed slowly, allowing the different flavors time to develop on your tongue. You will find that it changes as you progress from the first taste to the lingering finish. The malty sweetness is well balanced and blended with hop bitterness, giving a full, rich blend of flavors. A generous quantity of pilsner malt is joined with a little bit of caravienne for color and some carapils for body, along with plenty of Munich malt for flavor and aroma. This beer is lightly hopped with Yakima Perle and German Hallertau.
The traditional symbol for bock beers of all varieties is the billy goat. This is the reason that Free State named this Maibock after Dr. John R. Brinkley, a.k.a. "The Goat Gland Doctor." In 1920s Kansas, Brinkley gained notoriety for his alleged cure for infertility that involved the surgical implantation of goat glands in the affected individuals. Some farmers are even said to have brought along there own goats because they felt them to have superior sexual prowess.
The traditional symbol for bock beers of all varieties is the billy goat. This is the reason that Free State named this Maibock after Dr. John R. Brinkley, a.k.a. "The Goat Gland Doctor." In 1920s Kansas, Brinkley gained notoriety for his alleged cure for infertility that involved the surgical implantation of goat glands in the affected individuals. Some farmers are even said to have brought along there own goats because they felt them to have superior sexual prowess.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by blueshawk69 from Kansas
4.38/5 rDev +21.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.38/5 rDev +21.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
(review from April 2018) Maltheads rejoice! Excellently well balanced, flavorful & smooth maibock/helles with consistently malty goodness year after year!
Dec 29, 2025
Reviewed by Maestro0708 from Kentucky
3.44/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.44/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pilsner glass. Enjoy by date is hard to read but looks like 5/26/17.
Pours copper / gold in color reminiscent of apple juice / cider. The head is small, white, and recedes into a cap of film that leaves behind a small bit of lacing on the glass.
This one is not particularly aromatic but smells of sweet maltiness balanced by floral and grassy hop notes.
The taste follows the nose with some sweet maltiness balanced by a floral / grassy hop flavor. Notes of caramel can also be detected. A bit of alcohol is also noticable in the finish.
The feel is medium bodied and crisp.
Lagers are not my favorite, but I was glad to have the opportunity to try this one. It's well balanced and refreshing, great for Spring!
Apr 09, 2017Pours copper / gold in color reminiscent of apple juice / cider. The head is small, white, and recedes into a cap of film that leaves behind a small bit of lacing on the glass.
This one is not particularly aromatic but smells of sweet maltiness balanced by floral and grassy hop notes.
The taste follows the nose with some sweet maltiness balanced by a floral / grassy hop flavor. Notes of caramel can also be detected. A bit of alcohol is also noticable in the finish.
The feel is medium bodied and crisp.
Lagers are not my favorite, but I was glad to have the opportunity to try this one. It's well balanced and refreshing, great for Spring!
Reviewed by Harrison8 from Missouri
3.81/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.81/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a orange-ish, yellow with a lit fog and frost to it. Head foams up to a finger in height and stark white in color. Great retention, with a few dots of lacing left behind. Aroma is light, and dotted with notes of floral, perfume, and grass. It has a light earthy malt note to it as well. Very much a spring time aroma. Flavor profile is floral and perfume hop notes. Earthy, biscuit malts are cellared away, providing a small base for the light hop notes. Light notes of caramel and yeast are sprinkled throughout. Mouth feel is medium-thin, with a crisp feel. Overall, a flavorful springtime beer that provides quality notes across the board in an easy to sip - crisp feel.
Served in a 12oz snifter.
Apr 08, 2016Served in a 12oz snifter.
Reviewed by BrownAleBollocks from Kansas
3.2/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.2/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Pours a clear golden color with almost no head. Aroma is light but malt, bread, and yeast. Taste follows with bready, malty, yeasty flavors and the slightest hint of spice. Mouthfeel is thin. Overall, this is an average to below average representation of the style, no up to free states standard.
Apr 03, 2016
Reviewed by SD-Alefan from South Dakota
3.86/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.86/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear and beautiful gold with a creamy white head that dissipates pretty quickly.
Aroma is grainy sweet with biscuit, a touch of lemon and spice, and a little floral.
The taste is grain and toffee, biscuit and spice with a touch of citrus and pine. Slightly bitter finish.
Mouthfeel is medium and smooth. Nice body.
Apr 02, 2016Aroma is grainy sweet with biscuit, a touch of lemon and spice, and a little floral.
The taste is grain and toffee, biscuit and spice with a touch of citrus and pine. Slightly bitter finish.
Mouthfeel is medium and smooth. Nice body.
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