Let's Talk Bock

I had a few glasses of that last year- really nice stuff. It actually brought to mind the old Aass Bock, dry with a toasty/almost roasty backbone to it.

 

It’s also been available in cans at the brewery this spring and last, but I realize that’s not very helpful for folks not nearby. @TongoRad

 

Yeah, that pretty much confirms a big pullback. Unfortunately for me they're still too far from reach; my sister's in Bethlehem, so even minor distribution could've worked.

 

Most people don't realize that Rogue dead guy is a bock and a lager. Even though it says ale on the can? Its an underrated style. Check out Heater Allen brewing; they do only traditional German style lagers.

 

@Troutbeerbum I don't drink them as often as I'd like to, mostly because of their seasonal availability. I see you are in Maine, you should have access to this amazing bock below (Von Trapp Bock Bier)

I know I just spoke to you about this very same beer but I just need to repeat myself....probably the best US-made traditional bock I've ever had (at least since that fantastic LongShot Traditional Bock from 2008)



Cheers!

 

Great pics all around! However, I must say Super Bock is by no means a bock. I love that beer though, probably my favorite Portugese lager.

 

I remember my Grandfather (RIP) used to reminisce about Schaefer, Rheingold, Ballantine Bock beer. He described it as a "heavier" lager that was "stronger" in alcohol content (as a beer geek, I already knew this). He said they would always have some around Easter time. Too bad Pabst won't grow a pair and remake some of these classics using their deep brand portfolio.

 

Yep, that Sam Adams Longshot beer was excellent. If the Von Trapp beer is close to that beer I will have to be on the lookout for it.

Below is something I posted in a past BA thread:

There was a Traditional Bock that was part of the Sam Adams Longshot 6 pack a number of years ago that was OUTSTANDING. I have posted numerous times in BA threads: “I wish that Sam Adams would make the Traditional Bock part of their year round portfolio” but it was for naught.

For the interested reader you can read about Alex Drobshoff’s Traditional Bock here: http://www.byo.com/component/resour...nors-boston-brewing-companys-longshot-contest

Cheers!

 

Von Trapp Bock was very good

 

They did put out a Lone Star Bock a few years ago (note that it was brewed at MC's Ft. Worth brewery) but that was probably more in hopes to get a tiny piece of Shiner Bock market share rather than an attempt at reviving the classic US bock style.

Pabst own Bock, as well as Stroh's Bock (unusually an all-malt US bock) were pretty well respected into the craft era.

The final version of Ballantine Bock, coming out of Falstaff's Narragansett brewery were pretty damn sad. One of those bocks that if you drank it straight from the can, you'd have no idea it wasn't the brewer's regualar AAL.

 

For those of you with a Hofbrauhaus nearby, you should be ashamed of yourselves if you aren't going down there and drinking them out of Maibock this month.

 

shiner bock is way to sweet for me even though the style is sweet. Definitely go German if first time with this style.

 

Hofbrauhaus is literally the only reason I want to go to Pittsburgh

(I'm only half-joking )

 

Rogue says that it's "in the style of" a Maibock, yet they use their house Pacman ale yeast: https://www.rogue.com/beers/dead-guy-ale

 

Someone had to do it...so here goes:

Mmmm, Ass Bock!

 

The Einstok holiday Dopplebock was damn good.

 

Believe me, you're not the first .

 

And the distinction between Bock and Oktoberfest is mostly seasonal rather than stylistic.

 

I think my path to American craft beer went something like this:

English pale ales
Lots of German bocks and mostly dopplebocks
Belgian dubbels and tripels
SNPA
And then the gate was open to the rest of American craft

I've gone back to fresher English beers and Belgian styles but find the dopplebocks I used to drink to be far too sweet for me now. Celebrator was my go to back then.

 

I want to argue with you on this one but I'm at work and I'm out of energy....give me a little bit