Bock Thread (2025)

A Christmas present beer!

A good friend gave me a sixpack of Hofbräu Delicator as a Christmas present.

How this beer is described on the Hofbräu website:

“Hofbräu Delicator

Our traditional German Style “Doppelbock”. Dark brown in color with an intense roasted caramel malt flavor of dried berries and chocolate.”

Served in my Spiegelau Lager glass:

Appearance:

Pours a mahogany brown color with a BIG khaki colored head.

Aroma:

A variety of aromas: molasses, caramel, toffee,…

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with aspects as detailed above but in the background even a hint of dark dried fruits (raisin, figs). There is low bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Thin – medium bodied. There is a moderate carbonation level with a sweet-ish finish.

Overall:

This beer is quite good. It is on the hairy edge of being too sweet for my personal palate.

Cheers to my good and generous friend Matt!

P.S. Sometimes this beer is branded as being a Winter Spezial as discussed in this thread:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/hofbrau-winter-spezial-delicator.652032/

 

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/lets-give-lagers-some-love-2025.679494/

 

I like to make this bock from a recipe book. Sometimes I throw in buckwheat honey in primary.

Brasal Bock

Brasserie Brasal, La Salle, Quebec, Canada
Brilliant amber bock with shades of garnet has a creamy light tan head and huge malt aroma.
Malty with fruity hop background, followed by alcohol and roasted malt. Dry aftertaste filled with hops and malt. A glorious bock from Canada.
5 gallons OG 1.082-1.083/FG1.020-1.022 IBU 20 7.8% ABV
All grain:
Mash at 122 degrees for 30 minutes, then at 150 degrees for 60 minutes
14.5 lb Canadian 2 row pale malt
.5 lb dextrin malt
6 oz 80L Crystal malt
6 oz Vienna malt
3 oz Chocolate malt
Boil
1.5 oz Tettnanger pellets 4.5 AA at 90 minutes
.5 oz Hallertau Hersbrucker pellets at 15 minutes
1 tsp Irish moss at 15 minutes

1st choice Wyeast 2206 Bavarian lager yeast
2nd choice Wyeast 2124 Bohemian lager yeast

Ferment 47-52 degrees

 

Olde Mecklenburg Brewing - Bauern Bock.

The beer has a lot going for it! Malty and sweet, bready, notes of dark fruits and just a hint of bitterness to help round it out.

Listed as a doppelbock here on BA, but the brewery brands it as a "Country Bock", either way it is a very nice beer!

 

I'm drinking a bottle of Münchner Starkbier from Lupulin brewing in Big Lake, MN
Bottled in August 2023 22oz bottle. Keep in the fridge since I bought it at the tap room about 1 year ago. 11.1% abv. Aged in Woodford Reserve double oaked Bourbon barrels.

It's holding up well, it would be ok in the fridge for a while longer but I don't see it improving by aging any longer.
Lots a flavor: oak. vanilla, raisin, a hint of spice that's like a rye cinnamon flavor. There maybe a some caramel, chocolate and dark bread in the background.
Looks good and smells good.
Kinda of a thin mouth feel.
4.29/5 today
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/40035/613046/
BA Münchner Starkbier - Lupulin Brewing Company - Untappd

Yesterday I went to Northbound Brew Pub in Minneapolis.
Had the Doppelbock and eisbock poked.
I Thought the dopplebock un-poked was best.
Eisbock - Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub - Untappd

 

This bock by Jack's Abby is GREAT. Toasted toffee, hints of smoke, caramel, and not sweet at all. Maintains a somewhat dry finish. Excellent!

 

I enjoyed a glass of Ayinger Celebrator last night. Such a great beer!

 

I'm also drinking an extra layer right now and can confirm it's a smooth and flavorful brew.

 

Figure I'd join in the bock thread even though it's not exactly a fresh one:

Bock | West Side Brewing | BeerAdvocate



Cheers!

 

Really good Doppelbock here from Widowmaker: “Shadows in the Dark “!

 

Not a style I often reach for, but I enjoyed a DAB Maibock this evening. Maybe a bit sweet for my taste, but quite drinkable.

 

My favorite style, even if it's a bit old. I think they age well.

 

Wow. I found it too attenuated to be sweet. Very alcohol-hot. I enjoyed it, but I like other Maibocks more.

 

Wow indeed! While 7% abv, the alcohol didn't stick out to me at all. Just seemed sweet. All said, this isn't a style I have a ton of familiarity with so could be an IPA palate speaking. Cheers!

 

Is this available stateside anywhere? Or... are you drinking years-old beer?

 

[QUOTE="cheeseheadinMinneapolis, post: 8113429, member: 1212278"

Yesterday I went to Northbound Brew Pub in Minneapolis.
Had the Doppelbock and eisbock poked.
I Thought the dopplebock un-poked was best.
Eisbock - Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub - Untappd[/QUOTE]

That Northbound doppel I had a couple years ago was one of the best beers I've ever had. So overlooked by many. The Eisbock was fantastic as well. Two real gems....didn't have either poked though...