Maibock
Brewsters Brewing Company & Restaurant - Eleventh Avenue

 

 

First week of June, a blustery sunny day, and probably the last chance this year to enjoy Brewsters Maibock on the re-awakened patio...

This pint appears a clear medium golden orange hue, with one finger of soapy off-white head, which leaves splatters of lace around the glass. It smells of biscuit and toffee malt, mild floral hops, and a cutting sweet alcohol edge. The taste is fairly much the same - rich, sweet caramel, bready malt, warm, metallic alcohol, and soft, weedy hops. The carbonation is moderate, the body full, smooth, but leaning towards being a bit cloying. It finishes off-dry, the sweet bready booze in full effect.

Definitely a warming beverage, and decent enough, and the weight became an issue only when the sun began beating down on my pale head.

This one is back in the rotation, their Spring seasonal. Had a pint at the 11th Ave location.
From their website and menu: "Spring is the time of rebirth and rejuvenation. If the Germans ever need a reason to celebrate, this is as good as any. The right beer for the occasion is Spring bock, a strong lager that was brewed in the cold of winter. The word 'bock' is German for 'billy goat'. At 7%, this one is frisky. Be careful, lest he'll toss you by his horns..."

Clear, coppper color with an inch of white foam. Head lasted about 5 minutes, but with no lace. Malt smell with some mild grassy hops. Caramel malt flavor, but a bit thin. The earthiness of the hops was more prominanet the the sweet malt flavor. Almost had a metallic aftertaste. The mouthfeel was medium, not a lot of body. Worth trying, I like the fact that Brewster's brews these seasonals, and isn't satisfied with just keeping the regular line up.

EDIT: June 27, 2010 - Spring Maibock back in the rotation. Fresh and tastey pint at the Airdrie Brewster's location.

A seasonal or limited run offering from Brewsters, originally showcased at the Calgary Beer Fest this past spring. I enjoyed my sample of it that I first tried there.

Was served in the actual location in a light, bright copper hue, tea-like in appearance. No head retained by the time I received it, so I can't comment on that. Mild saaz hops on the nose, a bit herbal and grassy, with biscuity wafer malt. The alcohol is present and apparent on the first sip, and along the way the hops start to overcome and overwhelm the thin biscuity malt almost right from the start. The balance seems off. The mouthfeel is also quite thin, not much backbone or body to it, carbonation or otherwise. Only so-so this time around, I suppose I enjoyed my small sample at the beer fest more if the truth be told.