I haven't had a bock beer in years but now that I'm getting more seriously into beer, I was standing in the store and 'La Trappe bockbier' caught my eye. Tastes good! I can't really compare it with anything because it's been so long since I've drank a bock. But let's hear what you guys think about bock beer in general and which ones you like in particular. I believe there also may be some differences between Dutch and German styles.
This is new to me! Awesome. I remember Heineken put out a Bock in the States that wasn't bad at all. Tarwebock I think was the name.
From what I've heard the Dutch bocks are often (normally?) top fermented, whereas the German ones (except the wheat bocks) are normally bottom fermented. I've not had the chance to try a Dutch bock yet, unfortunately. Is La Trappe Bockbier a seasonal?
Yes, the only Dutch trappist brewery right now, but it will get competition from 'de Kievit' later this year.
I still remember my first Bock- it was Aass (from Norway), and man was that good. I haven't had anything like it in a while either- hints of cocoa and raisins; rich but not overly powerful; and you could drink a few at a sitting without getting fatigued in the palate. I suppose it was different from the German ones in that it had a more pronounced yeast signature. Man, I miss that beer.
I had Sam Adams Double Bock the other day. That thing felt boozy as hell at 9.5% abv. It was very rich and full.
Oh boy Oh boy, I just realized I messed up the thread title, I meant to say fall/autumn. To make matters even more confusing, there actually are srping-season bock beers apparently. aaannyway. I decided to get another bock from a different brewery while I'm at it. Saw 'La Chouffe' but they had run out (guess that one's pretty popular ey). So I got a 'Hertog Jan' because I like their pils and I think I've drank their bock a long time ago. Gotta say I'm enjoying this beer, sweeter and less bitter than the 'La trappe' one but also less flavor and body. More of a spiced up pils
I think you may be right about the difference, and I'm not 100% sure but yeah I think it's seasonal. At least stores push bock beer this time of year don't think there's a market whole year round.
Aass Bock...that's one I've forgotten about. I had some YEARS ago...and you're right, it was very good. I think my first Bock was Augsberger Bock (long gone lol)
I don't think I ever saw that one- it must have been regional. Was that one of those American-style bocks, or more in the Bavarian tradition? Google says it was brewed by Huber, in WI.
It wasn't here (NJ) too long in the mid eighties. It indeed was from Huber, there was Augsberger light and dark too but the gem was the bock, American style and oh so good, a nice deep amber/light brown in color. Rich and malty with a subtly spicy hoppiness I can recall. The dark was the next best out of the three.
My first-ever Bock I enjoyed was Rhinelander -- also from Huber in those days. And Huber also used to brew Berghoff under license from the Chicago restaurant of the same name -- but if you drank an Augsburger Dark (or Light, or Bock) alongside the Berghoff you'd recognize a distinct similarity... to the point of them being the same beer. The Huber brewery is now owned by Minhas and brews some of the same beers, but they're sad imitations of the originals.
