2023 Bock Thread

@cheeseheadinMinneapolis, this is not a drill!

 

@dcw6363, excellent work. Thank you for getting us going. @cheeseheadinMinneapolis loves bock beers more than I ever thought was possible. This thread should be named after him. This is likely the premier bock beer in Wisconsin. As @dcw6363 appears to indicate. Perfect for today. Perfect all year.

 

@GreenBayBA -- is this 2023 Lakefront? I've been keeping my eyes open, but haven't seen it yet. Always one of my favorites.

FWIW -- Drinking a Goldfinger Zlotonator right now. A decent take on a German Doppel by an Ami brewer.

 

It is. Best by 6/1/23.

 

ISO!

 

10% eisbock in suburban Chicago. Pollyanna Jötenheimr. From Untapped:
"Eisbock is the apex of lagerbier. Our White Whale, Jötunheimr is an Eisbock Lager that we freeze distilled on a balmy -11F Illinois night to transform an 8.0% ABV Bock Lager into a 10.0% ABV Eisbock. Freeze distilled by our St Charles distillery."

Tasty

 

@dcw6363 I also found the Ayinger Maibock and it has the same L2301 bottle code as your's. I used to homebrew this beer using a clone recipe and never had the opportunity to find the real thing for comparison to what I brewed. Now that I have it I can only go by memory from 6-7 years ago to make a comparison, and I think I was very close with my homebrew. The real 2023 one? It's delicious.

My local German-inspired brewery, Territorial Brewing, just released their Penetrator Dopplebock two weeks ago. It tasted young to me, so I'm going to wait a while before judging it again. Supposedly it will be canned this year. We'll see.

 

Where have you found Ayinger and Augustiner Maibock in the past? I think this is the first year Ayinger has been imported, and I don't think Augustiner ever has been.

FWIW -- local distros are still trying to pass off last year's HB Maibock if you really want some.

But I'll let you know when I see the new stuff!

 

Yep.

And IIRC the only Augustiners I've ever seen have been the export Helles and Doppelbock, so don't get your hopes up for a Maibock!

To be honest, in the last 10 years or so, the only import Maibock I've ever seen (as a seasonal) has been Hofbräu.

 

Just take a trip up here. You won't even need to set foot in Wisconsin. You could arrive in northern Illinois, (Door County, WI), purchase a case, then head back.

 

Wait, what?

I already live in Northern Illinois and we get Lakefront distributed pretty regularly -- it'll show eventually.

FWIW -- I grew up (and still live) right at the Cheddar Curtain -- my favorite Packer is Ron Kostelnik from way back when (know him?). I'm a surrogate Wisconsinite and can blend in perfectly. You may have even seen me at Kroll's. Ain'a hey.

 

You're lookin' him up, aren't you?

 

This is one of the better bocks I have had this year. But it doesn't have the perfect flavor profile for me. It kinda lacks the stone washed dark fruit flavor I like in a dark Doppel.
https://lakefrontbrewery.com/beer/birthday-doppelbock

Sprecher dark doppel is solid also.
I have not been drinking much beer the last few weeks. I am going to bed to rest. Will be back later.

 

Andygator is a decent USA high distribution bock. It's not on par with the German companies who ship here in mass distribution, but it's a solid maibock. It's a little more on the tart and grassy side but still has decent malt.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3/1565/

 

Seriously, how many import Maibocks are you seeing -- especially in mass distro?

About all of the Maibocks I ever find anymore are American-brewed.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/user/beers/?ba=steveh&pf=style:33:38

Oh, and Andygator gets a +11 rDev from me.

 

You sound like one of us. Hopefully you will be in my area soon.

 

I sure did!

 

Was Two Roads Accelerator cancelled this year ? I got it the past few years around this time but I havent seen it around this year and its been removed from their website. I miss it if its gone. I liked the robot on the label.

 

I always look forward to the release of Sly Fox Maibock which occurs at the production brewery along with a goat race. This event will occur May 7th this year (2023).

Here is photo of a mug of Sly Fox Maibock from last year's event:



And a photo of one heat of the goat races:



For the interested student you can read more here:

https://www.morebeer.com/articles/Brewing_Maibock

Cheers!

 

For the cheeseheads, and maybe northern Flatlands and visitors:
Great Dane Bock Stock
https://www.greatdanepub.com/bockstock-2023/

Fitchburg location only it appears for this one:
https://untappd.com/b/great-dane-pub-and-brewing-company-eis-maibock-22/5237413

I have crowlers of Velvet Hammer and Uber in the fridge. But I'm not drinking them for now.

 

If domestically-brewed bocks are uncommon in Wisconsin, I fear all hope for the style might be lost. It was once, far and away, the most popular US seasonal beer style.

 

Last one I had was Drewry's -- HQ just over the border in IL, but brewed in WI.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/33419/639536/?ba=steveh#lists

That said, there are many WI & IL breweries making some great Maibocks & Doppels, as has been mentioned.

 

Sad to say, but Capital has been having trouble over the last few years. @grantcty

What was once a great lager brewery is no longer.

Maybe Kirby will brew his Maibock at Wisconsin Brewing again.

Also, watch for Sprecher -- and Point even had a good one in the past, if they're still brewing it.

Oh yeah, and New Glarus' honey Maibock, Cabin Fever, is pretty good.

 

Is Schell brewing their Maifest this year? Or Summit? There's used to be big and boozy -- like Hofbräu, but I'd heard they mellowed it out.

 

more WI bock news
Turtle Stack (La Crosse) has there new and first Dopplebock on tap. I have not sampled it.
https://untappd.com/b/turtle-stack-brewery-dopplebock/5209631

608 Dopplebock is gone all drank up, I didn't get a chance to try it.

Earth Rider bockfest is March 11
https://www.instagram.com/p/CouxzXZO1fk/

 

A few folks discussed Doppelbocks.

I attended the annual (except for the past couple of pandemic years) German Bierfest at the German Society of Pennsylvania yesterday and I enjoyed a number of Doppelbocks including a couple served via cask (gravity pour):

Below is a photo of two German beers: Weihenstephaner Korbinian on the left and Andechs Doppelbock on the right.



Prost!

 

Ayinger Celebrator is my favorite Dopplebock, one of my favorite beers period. One year, I would like to go through Lent consuming nothing but Celebrator and water.

Distributed Bocks available here I’ve enjoyed and recommend (brewery alphabetical order).

• Ayinger Celebrator
• New Glarus Cabin Fever
• Pollyanna Jotunheimr
  
• Weihenstephaner Korbinian

I’ve had a few other local solid bocks, but were sadly one offs. Haven’t had Dovetail’s Maibock, though thought their Holiday Bock was slightly above average (3.5).

I am on the lookout for a Roaring Table or possible Art History stab at the style, and perhaps will make it to Wisconsin to try Lakefront’s or hunt down Ayinger’s Maibock since I love just about every beer they put out. I typically avoid malty beers, but enjoy them in the crisp March / April air.

Prost

 

OMB’s Bock Party (f/k/a Fruh Bock) is phenomenal. One of my all time favorites.

 

Adding two more local recommendations previously distributed:

• Miskatonic Brewing Company's Hallo, Mein Name Ist Weizenbock
• Off Color Brewing Beer for Burgers

 

RT brewed a great Doppel collab with Black Lung last year, but I haven't seen a return yet.

FWIW -- Lakefront distributes to Illinois, so it should show up soon.

 

Olde Mecklenburg's Fruh Bock is one I look forward to every year, probably my favorite of OMB offerings. not sure how I feel about the rebranding of it as "Bock Party"

 

Kinda' miss the half liter bottles, too.

 

What was the date on the Ayinger Maibock?

Cheers!

 

Thought this was a regional forum after reading many of the posts. National distribution? Abita, probably. But nobody has mentioned Rogue Dead Guy.