Starkbierzeit 2022

Mahlzeit!

I really like this one! Very pronounced on the hop side, a little bit sweet but more than enough bitterness to balance it. It says "fruchtig-frisch" on the label and this is not a lie. Something reminds me of a Fresh Hop IPA.

Full bodied, decent aftertaste, I can't say anything bad about this beer.

Prost!

 

Last night I had another old favorite - Aecht-Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock. I rated this beer on March 09 and am copying that here because it still applies.


look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
composite: 4.59

.5 L bottle
Glass: 0.4 L Tulip (from Troegs)

Look: Deep brown with dark ruby highlights with held to a light. Opaque in the glass that I used (this tulip is wider than most). Initial 2+ finger beige head dissipates quickly to a thin layer. Excellent lacing.

Smell: Wow. Smoked ham and kielbasi. Bacon. Brown sugar and some dark honey. Toasted dark bread such as pumpernickel. The smoke is absolutely there and dominant but melds wonderfully well with the malts and the sweetness. I could almost just sit here and enjoy the aroma. Almost.

Taste: Smoke leads off (of course). Malty smoked meats transition to a smokey toasted caramel with chocolate notes. Some campfire appears. Dries out towards the finish but still smokey-sweet. Just like the aroma, everything here melds together very well.

Feel: Medium body with a slight lean towards the thinner side. Smooth. Slightly creamy.

Overall: Very well done and complex Rauchbier. And a very well done bock.

 

The Harrisburg Pa area stopped importing Paulaner Salvator for some ungodly reason. They carry just about EVERY other Paulaner product, except their best beer, as well as one of the BEST D. B.'s ever!
Makes no sense at all.
If I knew who to bitch to, I would, not that it would do any good.
Can't remember if it was Wilsbach Westy's, or the other distributor.
Salvator was available all through the 90's, then it disappeared.
That really bites me in the ass.
I've tried to come close by Homebrewing it, but it's just not the same.
If you are reading this, and it's your job to bring it in, JUST DO IT!
There are many Bock fans deeply disappointed!
The only way to score a case is to have my best bud bring a case with him from Delaware.
Bocks in general are hard to come by here in Pennsyltucky, except Genesee Bock which sux, but I have to get a 12pk each year it's released just because it's a cheap "Bock".
As bad as Appalachian Brewing Company is, they used to make a half decent MaiBock. Haven't been back there in years, cause they suck so bad, so I don't even know if they still brew it. I guess I'll have to check out their draft options come early spring?
Cheers to all of you who have access to this amazing beer style! Enjoy it, because there are people like me Jonesing around the country.

 

Over the past few weeks, I have spoken to two shop owners (of shops I consider to be among the best within easy reach). Both had the same attitude of, "oh well." Sad really, as the experiences actually changed my opinion of the shops. Not in a superficial way either, I walked the isles and saw the domination of IPAs and a lack of style diversity that seems new.

Maybe it has always been that way, maybe the past two years has pushed all three tiers to focus on the sure thing, maybe there are other dynamics at play. Hopefully we will return to more risk and adventure, and hopefully the market forces avoid a false feedback of people buying more of whatever is available. Regardless of quality, a narrow range of diversity will get boring and will ultimately be detrimental to us as a whole.

 

Yeah. I last purchased Salvator in Maryland.

Have you checked out the Paulaner Variety Packs? I could swear that I saw some that contained Salvator.

What about Troegs Troegenator? That's (technically) a doppelbock. If you can get to Troegs easily, you might find Cultivator there. That's a Maibock that they used to distribute.

St. Nikolaus Bock is an annual bock brewed by Penn Brewing out of Pittsburgh. You might be able to find that around Christmastime.

Where in the Harrisburg area are you?
How far are you willing to drive?

I have no trouble finding Augustinerbräu-München Maximator nor Weihenstephaner Korbinian. Nor Schneider Aventinus and Schlenkerla Eiche and Urbock. These might not be your jam, though.

In case you missed an earlier post, I am in Lancaster County, PA.

 

Yeah, I can get those but Tröegenator has lost its appeal to me.
The Penn's St. Nickolus Bock is Amazing, but is only around for about a month tops. Korbininian is nectar of the Gods, but a case is far too expensive!
Dock Street used to make Illuminator, contract brewed by Lion of course, but the stuff at the brewery was on point!
I'm just pissed Pa stopped carrying the original and my favorite Dopplebock.
Heck, even Celebrator is very hard to find these days!

 

As for the above mentioned Bocks, yes they are my jam, totally!
Can't even find Maximator anymore.
I live right outside of Harrisburg.
My old E.V. only gets 50 miles round trip, so I don't venture far.
I'm not a fan of any Tröegs. All too hoppy in my opinion, except Naked Elf and I haven't seen that in a while.

 

I can see that about Troegenator. It's appeal comes and goes for me, as well.

St. Nick Bock is good and, yes, unfortunately only around for about a month. I make sure to pick up at least 6 pack every year. I first had it on draft back around 2008-ish. I just reviewed it as a matter of fact (I am drinking some right now) and just read your review of it.

 

If you can, go to Breski's. It's outside of Middletown, on Eisenhower Boulevard. Breski's has Maximator, Korbinian, both Schlenkerla's, Aventinus, etc. By the bottle ($4-$7 apiece, roughly) and maybe also 4/6 packs. They also carry St Nick Bock when its out.

The Wegman's out in Mechanicsburg used to have a pretty decent selection. This was a couple of years ago, though. They did carry Ayinger beers consistently so they might have Celebrator. I know that the Wegmans in Lancaster has Celebrator. And Maximator.

 

As I hinted at in my posts to the Crazy Spicy Chef I am currently enjoying some St. Nikolaus Bock by Penn Brewing. This has been a Christmastime staple for me since I 1st had it on draft around 2008. I had some leftover from Christmas and its about normal Christmas temperatures tonight.

St Nick (my family likes to call it The Santa Claus Beer) is a nice and solid bock.


look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
combo: 3.84

1.5 x 12 oz bottle = approx 0.5L
Glass: 0.5L hand mug/stange (Troegs)
Serving Temp: 48-50 F

Look:
Clear dark mahogany bordering on chestnut brown with a 1" beige head that dissipates to a solid covering.

Smell:
Roasted grains and toasted dark bread. Some molasses. Hints of coffee.

Taste:
Toasted caramel and pumpernickel (including the crust) with dark honey. Has hints of spices in the background. Quite malty. Finishes dry with a slight astringency and an ever-so-slight bitterness

Feel:
Smooth and easy to drink with a body that to the lighter side of medium

Overall:
This is just a nice solid bock. Well made and balanced. This is one of my go-to Christmas beers and has been since I first had it back in the 00's. I make sure to pick at least a 6-pack (if not more) every year.

 

Yesterday (Saturday) I went to Redcow in Saint Paul and a full pour of:
WarPigs, High Celebrant Doppelbock
I liked it a lot. It went good with my whitefish fish and chips. It's a sipper beer.
Sweet, sticky, plenty of caramel and stonewashed dark fruit. At times it almost tasted barrel aged with a hint of brandy or bourbon flavor. Not for some as they would think it's too cloying sweet.
I want some cans if I can find them.

 

Our Wegman's (within 40mi. of the Pitsford mothership) has significantly cut back on volume and diversity. VERY few beers from Germany, and only the more prominent Belgians are available anymore. On the positive side, the "local" selection has improved in volume (not style diversity).

 

Monty Python - Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - YouTube

 

Now, I like cats and yet that scene still brings a depraved chuckle.

Back to the beer; yer preaching to the choir, see my earlier post 146...

And last one for the day. Good O'l Jack...

Look at the bright side - YouTube

 

That's my go to beer store, just down the road. Pickins in the Bock/Strong Ale category are slim.