I just can't get into Maibocks

This!

 

Ha! At least you were lucky to get one. My local growler station got a few last year, and then the distributor took two away from before he could even tap them- very limited supply. He also described it as being a German Beer Ball, fwiw.

 

Spaten does very well in this area, even if it's just the ones you listed. It's not just on the shelves, but stacked on the floors as well .

 

3 pages and am I first to notice that the ale from Rogue that he likes is arguably not really a maibock?

 

I wish it were available. I brewed a clone recipe of this beer, and I absolutely loved it. I've since brewed it a couple more times, and if I had to keep one beer in my fridge, it would be this one. I only hope that the real thing is just as good as my version. I see that it is #2 on the style page, so many others like it.

 

@steveh covered it in post #18, or I would have beaten you to the punch .

 

Haven`t had this style in a while. Due to re-visit...

 

Actually we got 3 this year. Got 1 last and sold it in 4 days so we stocked up this year. But they are wayyy cooler kegs than last year's pressurized balls in cardboard

 

After last year's debacle I wasn't even going to ask if they were carrying it this year, but now I just might. Thanks.

 

I haven't had the Hofbrau Maibock in the bottle yet this year, but I had it on draft. Maybe my memory is simply off because it was a few weeks ago, but I remember thinking it was paler than it was in the bottle last year (I didn't have it on draft last year).

Still hit all those toasty/bready notes that falls in between amber Maerzen and doppelbock though. Unlike the pale versions which come off as imperial Helles to me (fuck, I hate using that term for this beer, but it's a good description in my opinion).

 

Oh, I just read it as not tasting like one, which is sometimes the norm for American beers to not taste like the traditional style they claim it falls within.

I was referring to the same debate we had over this in 2002 or so. Maibocks are lagers, not ales, etc.

 

Had a decent one for what it's worth not too long ago... always a nice American spin


Blue Mountain Brewery - Maggie Maibock by imbibehour, on Flickr

 

Well, there was some further clarification later on:
"No, we haven't. See most of the comments on Dead Guy and you'll find that it's not a Maibock by any real recognition. The "ale" part of your post should have been a red flag from the get-go."

I definitely get where you're coming from, though, and maybe it can't be said enough. This could be one of those cases where somebody has taken a beer that is essentially mis-identified and is now seeing the style through that lens. Widmer Hefeweizen tends to be another. These style discussions can seem tedious, I guess, but are necessary to keep bring up from time to time.

 

This!!!

 

Yeah last year was the first year they did the seasonal beside octoberfest, they did maibock, brauweisse and o-fest. Had some difficulty getting them and the distributor said this was the first they that they were able to get all 3 of them. This year was way easier so it seems like they are bringing more into (at least into my area). If you don't have any luck let me know and maybe we can work out a couple growlers to send to ya

 

Oh and I miss Glissade too!

 

The draft was more pale? Hmm. What's funny is that HB makes a Winter Fest-type beer that comes off more as a Maibock or even a Wies'n Fest... just to confuse things more.

 

Don't give up on a style over an import that probably sat on a shelf for way too long. Find an American well-made approximation that's at least somewhat fresh.

 

Try Capital Brewing's Maibock

 

It was mentioned earlier that the HB Maibock is a different take on the style and may not be for everyone, especially those looking for more hops than malt. Based on the O.P.'s review he may not have had an old batch, but a non-matching palate.

Good advice. Not always easy to implement with such a minority of German-style beers being brewed these days.