Bock Thread (2025)

Ok. 3rd time a charmer...it's beautiful!

 

That's quite a grouping. Have you found all of those this winter/spring?

 

Yes! Mostly at Halftime- a beer 'supermarket' in Poughkeepsie NY.
(Except the Genny Spring Bock. Haven't seen it yet; this one last year's)

 

7 of them are available year-round.

 

Tasty one from Treehouse!

 

Maximator Augustiner Bräu München

Enjoying this doppelbock on a beautiful Easter morning.

 

Bottled 11-06-2024... getting any aged flavor from it? More caramel, earthy, or cardboard-like notes?

 

No, no cardboard or other staleness, nicely bitter.

 

Bitter? Not what I'd expect in a Doppelbock.

Rich, toasted dark bread crusts and melanoidin sweetness with a dry finish, but bitterness should only be enough to keep the sweetness in check.

I have a year-old HB Winter Spezial I should sample in comparison to see how it's aged. Maybe next weekend.

 

As promised (another dirty, thankless job).

Hofbräu Winter Spezial (Doppelbock):
BB -- 10/11/24

L -- Dark brown with Ruby highlights and a strong, dense, off-white head.

S -- Earthiness of an aged beer sort. Some mild dark fruit.

T -- Wet cardboard and caramel up front that lingers into a peppery alcohol note in the finish and aftertaste. Some caramel in the AT. There's a sharpness to the aftertaste that's sort of solvent, definitely not clean.

F -- Soft to lightly syrupy mouthfeel with a robust body.

O -- While the Winter Spezial bottled in 2023 isn't entirely undrinkable, it's definitely fallen off and showing its age. The typical clay-like earthiness and damp cardboard character are sure signs. I'll have to research that solvent note, possibly alcohol in a stale form.

 

Treehouse “Smoked Bock “!

 

I picked up some Hafbrau Maibock, and this is fantastic. I have reviewed this before, but man such a well made beer.

Copper brown color, that is brilliantly clear. A dense head that lasts forever. Baked sourdough bread, this is like walking into a bakery. Just enough honey sweetness and light earthy hops. Well carbonated, that becomes smooth and ultra clean. I can down this in big gulps, and have another...which is exactly what I did. Great, while reading out in my courtyard.

 

Careful there comrade! I know what you're saying, but check that ABV before it's too late!

 

'Tis the season, so I'll play. '25 Roaring Table Maibock. Honey to bready malts. Dry finish. Medium robust body. Very nice to-style.

 

Too late, went through two. I actually forgot this was a bit higher in ABV. I know Maibocks tend that way, but I was really digging this on one of the last really beautiful afternoons I'm going to have...as the pave melting summer is going to hit soon, ha.

 

It's definitely delish, just very sneaky.

Our Spring has been elusive this year. It's bound to jump right into Summer when we least expect it.

 

Hey Champ, what are the dates on your HB Maibock? Still waiting to see it around here. I have the feeling the local distro is holding back -- or waiting to drop his last year's leftovers. Again.

 

Instead of the old codes they use to have, I see 1/21/2026, assuming BB date, and assuming that is a year pasted bottled on (I know that might not be the real case), but it is this years. Probably around 3 1/2-4 months. Which I'll take, again with my half baked assumptions ha.

 

Yeah, they switched to easier-to-read codes a few years ago -- and your assumption of a BB date and year past bottling is correct.

I think last year they were bottling in November (so 11/23 for the Spring 24 release).

Thanks for providing the info.

 

Bonn Place Brewing (Bethlehem, PA) - Fastnachtator