Bock Thread (2023)

Great looking bottle. Beer is not that great...old school type Wisconsin bock from back in the day....Shiner is a good comparison.

 

I'm crazy about Aventinus.

I wish more US craft brewers would attempt the dunkelweizenbock style. Victory had a great take on it in Moonglow, but I haven't seen it in many years.

 

Yes, it has been a long time since Moonglow was brewed.

Last year they produced Storm King, which was previously discontinued, and I purchased a case (24 bottles). I still have half of that case left which I intend to slowly drink over the next 2-3 years.

If Victory ever decides to re-brew Moonglow I will purchase a case (24 bottles) too.

Cheers!

 

How I used to love Storm King.

I was also enamored with Victory's Helios; I thought it combined some of the best aspects of Duvel and Orval. I haven't seen Helios in an eternity.

 

Yeah, that is another old time brand they discontinued.

They had issues in the past with the Brett overcarbonating the bottles over time - bottle bombs. They did change the process to 'fix' this potential issue (pasteurization?) but the beer was never the same after the change. I suppose they decided to just stop making it at that point.

Cheers!

 

I am also crazy about Aventinus.

I also agree that Moonglow was a great take on the Weizenbock style. I used to pick up a case every year when it was brewed. I was sad to see it discontinued. I thought that it did reappear a couple of of years ago during the fall.

Just like Jack wrote, if Moonglow does get brewed again I will pick up a case of it. Just like Old Times.

 

Ayinger Maibock

Well, Easter hasn't arrived but the warm weather certainly has. Therefore I gave in to my impatience and curiosity and broke open some Ayinger Maibock tonight.

The quick summary - this is a pretty good beer and is very easy to drink. This would go well on a warm day (like today). But the brew is not what I look for in a Maibock. I prefer ones that are quite malty with hops to balance. This beer isn't any more malty than a Festbier. In fact, it feels like an lightly amped-up Festbier.

One thing that I did notice was that I did not pick up the alcohol presence as much as others have done for this beer.


1.5 x 333 ml bottles
Glass: Festmug
Temp: 48-54 F
ABV: 7.0%


Look:
Bright and clear light gold. The Fluffy and creamy head starts at 2+ fingers and just stays around forever. When the head does dissipate a bit, it leaves excellent lacing.

Smell:
Sweet bready malts with maybe a very light touch of caramel. Notes of fresh cut hay with a little floral zest and perhaps even a pinch of pepper.

Taste:
Much the same as the nose. The breadiness is accentuated some compared to the nose and some notes of crust in it. The floral zestiness and the pepper are also accentuated. The sip finishes a tad malty and somewhat spicy/zesty. Some alcohol can be noticed in the aftertaste.

Feel:
Soft but also slick. A very mild warmth can be felt from the alcohol. The body is light-medium.

Overall:
A quite quaffable and easy to drink springtime (or summertime) bock.

However, for my preferences for the style this beer is too light in the bready malts department. I prefer Maibocks that have a goodly dose of bready or toasted malts balanced with an appropriate strength of hops. This beer really seems like a lightly-amped up Festbier.

 

How 'bout a 2015 Samichlaus for the 2023 thread?
A Dopplebock (Malt Liquor) that drinks much to the likes of a North Coast ~ Old Stock Ale BA

 

Ettaler Curator Doppelbock. Pretty decent doppelbock. Not my favorite by any means as it almost feels a bit thin but still worth a purchase.

Still on the hunt for the Ettaler Heller Bock but I haven't seen it reviewed anywhere outside of the northeast this year so not holding out much hope in Texas.

 

I tried this beer a few times in the last few years. Terrible just terrible every time. What style of beer is this anyway?

 

Dunkler Doppelbock. Is that not obvious from what you quoted?

 

Sure doesn't taste like one to me.

 

In honor, respect, and envy -- to be completely honest, of @grantcty and his trip to the Starkbierzeit in Munich -- the original this afternoon.



Not as dark as it used to be, but still a great rendition of the style it launched. Always worth return visits.

 

For info, came across the L 354V Maibock earlier today at a local Binny's so it should be around the area now, hopefully, in case you are still searching for it.

 

Thanks -- I was talking with my local Binny's guy yesterday and he's still not sure when he'll see it. Big shrug here.

Which Binny's were you at?

 

Ya I know what the bottle states but to me this tastes like a odd dunkelWeizenbock.
I wonder what type of yeast and or malts they use in this beer.

 

The picture of the bottle shows "Historic Recipe" on the label. I wonder if this is involved. Depending on when said recipe is from, it could very well include wheat. But I am only guessing. I am unfamiliar with Ettaler's Doppelbock and Ettaler in general.

 

Weihenstephaner Korbinian

One last day of Lent and one last Doppelbock*. This time Weihenstephaner Korbinian. This is a great doppelbock. Very bready, very chocolatey, and not overly sweet. The essence of "liquid bread".


*OK, not really. I will likely revisit some that I have already posted about in the next couple of days.


0.5 L bottle
Glass: 0.5 L Festmug
Serving Temp: 48 - 54 degrees F
Bottle Code: 8201
ABV: 7.4%


Look:
Chestnut brown that is dark enough to be opaque. The foamy and creamy dark tan head starts at 2+ fingers and stays that thick forever. Lacing … there isn't room for yet.

Smell:
Dark bready malts. Rich semi-sweet chocolate over top of figs and pumpernickel bread.

Taste:
Very similar to the nose. Chocolate with figs and hints of raisins. Pumpernickel bread. A mild earthy note appears and keeps things in balance. The sip finishes malty with an dry chocolate/cocoa note. The alcohol cannot be detected.

Feel:
Smooth, creamy and mouth-coating. The body a shade or two thicker than medium.

Overall:
A top-notch doppelbock. Most definitely "liquid bread". This has those bready and dry chocolatey notes that I like in doppelbocks. It is sweet, but in a malty way that is nowhere near cloying.

 

Hammerzeit from Enegren is the best Bock in CA

 

There has been a fair bit of discussion about Ettaler Curator Doppelbock. I personally have not tasted this beer. I did a quick web search to see of there is a clone recipe for this beer and if you are willing to ‘sign up’ you could read a recipe for Klosterbrauere Ettaler Curator clone:

https://byo.com/recipe/klosterbrauere-ettaler-curator-clone/

There is a description of the beer provided: “This doppelbock is much darker tasting than others, with massive aromas and flavors of fruitcake, port, figs and raisins.”

This beer does indeed read to be quite ‘different’.

Prost!

@cheeseheadinMinneapolis