Planning an Online Tasting: Bocks (April 23-25, 2021)

Wish I was seeing more Bocks around these days. No HB Maibock showing anywhere, Seipp's Columbia Traditional was just okay, and I bought one six of Lakefront Maibock that was delicious -- but the store only got one case and it evaporated.

Might have to splurge on Dovetail or Metropolitan if I see them.

 

Probably true, but I always look for something new.

Thinking on it, I haven't had Aventinus in a while...

 

The Hofbräu Maibock is really good. I’ll be getting a second sixer next week.

 

Be sure it's new stock -- I still see last year's six-packs on shelves.

The code should have a U, not a T in the string -- from experience, the fresh is always better.

 

I haven't seen Smoke & Ice anywhere either.

Oh -- and get that Einbeck outta the light!!

 

What's the date code on that Einbecker?

I (knowing exactly what I was doing) picked up a 4 pack of Einbecker from the Burnsville, MN Total Wine. It will be the subject of a bit of a rant when the time comes!

 

I just looked up Einbecker Maibock on the Binny's website. Says it's a spring seasonal and out of stock. Oy.

Oh, and they're only 4-packs anymore?

 

Thanks for organizing this Bock Tasting @TongoRad , looking forward to cracking three Bocks open later this month.

I went through a few of the easier to obtain Bocks during the Fall tasting, but have three on hand for the weekend, all new to me. Two "Bock Style", one a true Bock.

• Chicago, Illinois, US Off Color Beer for Burgers - Helles Bock style beer blended with bourbon barrel aged lager. 7.0% ABV (No can date - released week of 1/11/21 per Off Color social media).
  
• Vorchdorf, Austria Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus Helles - Helles Malt Liquor, listed as a Maibock on BA. 14% ABV (Bottled December 2019)
• Bridgman, Michigan, US Haymarket Cold Dark Night - Barrel Aged Dopplebock. 8% ABV (Canned 11/20/20)

Will likely go with the stronger Samichlaus as a stand alone on Saturday, pick up a burger to pair with Beer for Burgers to kick of Sunday and close out with the BA Cold Dark Night to finish off the festivities.

 

Mine is the "regular" bock - Ur Bock sans Mai.

 

Local brewery has a bock, doppelbock and eisbock. Looks like I'll be checking em out.

 

And they're 4-packs?

Hmm... that label isn't even listed at Binny's... maybe the reason for your dismay?

 

Well, I had low expectations of the Burnsville Total Wine to begin with. Let's just say they were exceeded. I'll be tasting it anyway during the tasting, if for no other reason to attempt (futilely, I'm sure) to shame Total Wine.

Of course, if someone has a different interpretation of the so-called "date code", I may eat crow. But, I'm not expecting that.

Here's for format of the date code:

Lxyyyzzz

My assumed decoder ring:

L=ignore
x=year
yyy=day of year
zzz=ignore

Anyone have a different decoder ring?

 

Want to swap? Got a local Eisbock and its origin beer, a Pale Doppelbock lager.

Hoping KC Bier drops their other Eisbocks between now and this tasting. There are a couple 'on deck' on Untappd.

 

All the Einbecker Bocks have come and gone late last year.

 

I'll post my complete lineup later, since I am thinking about picking up another local.to have another maibock. We'll see if I get around to it. (I do have plenty already...)

Right now I have

3 German
3 MN
1 WI

1 Maibock
3 Traditional Bock
3 Doppelbock

Outside of Shiner, Dead Man, and Michelob, there is not a single USA national or out of state large regional distributing a bock of any kind to MN.... at least not in the several stores for which I have checked their on-line listings. Pretty sad, and an indicator of the IPA (esp Hazy) beer monoculture made worse by the hard seltzer craze.

 

It doesn't make sense that your maibock would be from the 352nd day of 2014, so my decoder ring must be wrong.