DAB Ur-Bock
Dortmunder Actien Brauerei / DAB
- From:
- Dortmunder Actien Brauerei / DAB
- Germany
- Style:
- Bock
- ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- +5 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.76 | pDev: 5.59%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 17, 2026
- Added:
- Jun 27, 2025
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
NO SCORE
-
-
This amber-coloured Bock beer offers a rich and malty flavour profile characterized by subtle caramel notes. Full-bodied and smooth, the palate shows a roasted malt sweetness with hints of dried fruit, followed by a gentle warmth and a subtle bitterness on the finish. Enjoy it with a grilled T-bone steak.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
3.57/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.57/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
500 mL can from the LCBO; dated Jun 18 2025 and served barely chilled.
Most of the "ur-bocks" that I've reviewed previously have been dark lagers, but DAB's is a clear golden colour (not unlike this brewery's maibock). It comes fitted with nearly two fingers of creamy, off white-coloured head that melts away within four minutes or so, eventually reduced to a thin cap surrounded by a collar of tight froth. Great lace deposition; lookin' good so far. Malty aromas of grains, toasted bread & caramel are prominent, though I'm also getting notes of apple (or maybe grape) juice, as well as a minor whiff of booze.
It tastes fine, though the flavour profile is somewhat lacking in depth & richness for an 8% lager. Bready, honeyed malts, toasted grains and grassy, earthy hops are all discernible, alongside an undercurrent of boozy sweetness, which is occasionally suggestive of orchard fruits & red licorice candy. Finishes with more boozy sweetness and caramelized sugars that linger into the aftertaste. I've use the word "boozy" a couple of times, but this bock isn't actually all that 'hot' - the 8% is passably well-integrated. It's just that there's not much else going on to draw my attention away from it. Medium-full in body with moderately low carbonation that gently agitates the palate; decent drinkability for its strength.
Final Grade: 3.57, a B. DAB Ur-Bock is far from the best that this style has to offer, but it's at least acceptable for a strong industrial/macro German lager. If forced to choose between this and their maibock, it'd probably be a coin flip: this is the sweeter/boozier of the two, which makes it a little less drinkable overall, though maybe a bit more tempting on a cold, windy winter's night. I'll probably buy a few more of these before the warmer weather rolls around, and I'd encourage other strong lager lovers to give it a shot, as well.
Mar 17, 2026Most of the "ur-bocks" that I've reviewed previously have been dark lagers, but DAB's is a clear golden colour (not unlike this brewery's maibock). It comes fitted with nearly two fingers of creamy, off white-coloured head that melts away within four minutes or so, eventually reduced to a thin cap surrounded by a collar of tight froth. Great lace deposition; lookin' good so far. Malty aromas of grains, toasted bread & caramel are prominent, though I'm also getting notes of apple (or maybe grape) juice, as well as a minor whiff of booze.
It tastes fine, though the flavour profile is somewhat lacking in depth & richness for an 8% lager. Bready, honeyed malts, toasted grains and grassy, earthy hops are all discernible, alongside an undercurrent of boozy sweetness, which is occasionally suggestive of orchard fruits & red licorice candy. Finishes with more boozy sweetness and caramelized sugars that linger into the aftertaste. I've use the word "boozy" a couple of times, but this bock isn't actually all that 'hot' - the 8% is passably well-integrated. It's just that there's not much else going on to draw my attention away from it. Medium-full in body with moderately low carbonation that gently agitates the palate; decent drinkability for its strength.
Final Grade: 3.57, a B. DAB Ur-Bock is far from the best that this style has to offer, but it's at least acceptable for a strong industrial/macro German lager. If forced to choose between this and their maibock, it'd probably be a coin flip: this is the sweeter/boozier of the two, which makes it a little less drinkable overall, though maybe a bit more tempting on a cold, windy winter's night. I'll probably buy a few more of these before the warmer weather rolls around, and I'd encourage other strong lager lovers to give it a shot, as well.
Reviewed by talisen-crw from Canada (ON)
4/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
At my lady Pamela's house; canned and chilled, 500mL in a pint glass. From my favourite LCBO at Tecumseh Mall in nearby Windsor. Canned March 24/25. My third beer from the Dortmund, Germany brewery, and for 2025. Enthusiastically admired by Gracie the cat...
Oct 26, 2025
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)
3.49/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.49/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
500ml can served cold into a weizen glass. LCBO purchase. Intrigued about this one.
Appearance - Rich and clear golden color with amber hues. A finger of foamy white head is poured on top and stays a while. Not much in the way of lacing.
Smell - Quite sweet and very malt forward with some bready notes and plenty of caramel shining through. Maybe too sweet.
Taste - Light initially with lots of bready flavors, some sweet caramel comes in afterwards to give it an almost cloying flavor. Booze is hidden well enough.
Mouthfeel - Smooth and fairly light for an 8% ABV brew, modest carbonation and lighter finish, but there is a stickiness that is a touch unpleasant.
Overall - Decent enough bock, I'm wondering how this would've turned out at say 6.5% instead rather than trying to race to doppelbock levels. The sweetness is a bit burdensome, but I can see hoe in early spring this would be a very fine sipper. In the midst of a hot and sticky summer, not as much.
Aug 02, 2025Appearance - Rich and clear golden color with amber hues. A finger of foamy white head is poured on top and stays a while. Not much in the way of lacing.
Smell - Quite sweet and very malt forward with some bready notes and plenty of caramel shining through. Maybe too sweet.
Taste - Light initially with lots of bready flavors, some sweet caramel comes in afterwards to give it an almost cloying flavor. Booze is hidden well enough.
Mouthfeel - Smooth and fairly light for an 8% ABV brew, modest carbonation and lighter finish, but there is a stickiness that is a touch unpleasant.
Overall - Decent enough bock, I'm wondering how this would've turned out at say 6.5% instead rather than trying to race to doppelbock levels. The sweetness is a bit burdensome, but I can see hoe in early spring this would be a very fine sipper. In the midst of a hot and sticky summer, not as much.
Reviewed by scott451 from Canada (ON)
3.74/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured a 500ml can into a pint glass. A two finger fine off white head on a clear amber. The head diminishes to a layer with good retention. lots of patchy lacing.
Malts in the nose. Some caramel. The taste follows the nose. A fairly simple taste profile. Moderately sweet. Minimal hop finish.
A medium body and medium/light carbonation. An interesting offering from DAB. I am well familiar with their Maibock but his one is new to me. The ABV is much more apparent. In common with other DAB releases this is not outstanding but true to the style.
Jul 06, 2025Malts in the nose. Some caramel. The taste follows the nose. A fairly simple taste profile. Moderately sweet. Minimal hop finish.
A medium body and medium/light carbonation. An interesting offering from DAB. I am well familiar with their Maibock but his one is new to me. The ABV is much more apparent. In common with other DAB releases this is not outstanding but true to the style.
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