Bock Thread (2023)

Have they ever?
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/date-codes-for-imported-usa-german-beer.658248/

 

Ayinger ~ Weizenbock
A real fine treat this Sunday afternoon BA

 

Where'd you find that?

 

Holiday Wine Cellar ~ Escondido, CA
https://holidaywinecellar.com/

 

Cross post from WBAYDN, but I figured with the bocks it would fit in here as well.

Wife and I decided to try out Gilde yesterday. Nice place, great beers!

Started with a flight of the Spring Bock (Maibock), Bock^2 (Pale Dopplebock), Urbock (Bock), and Broyhans 23 (Hefeweizen). Really enjoyed the Urbock!


I enjoyed the Urbock so much I ordered a pint.

 

Perhaps the ones imported by B. United don't date them for some reason? Not sure why that would be but being in MA that's the only importer of them I see. Maybe Shelton Bros used to date the imports before they shut down

 

As often as I've checked Schlenkerla bottles over the years, I've never seen a date code -- or at least anything legible.

Never saw any of the cans B. United filled stateside, maybe they dated on fill?

 

Hofbräu Maibock

Hobräu Maibock recently appeared on draft at our local German establishment. I have enjoyed some the past several times that I have stopped by, including tonight (Monday). I am finally posting a (somewhat belated) review.

Summary: A solid Maibock. Quite malty with hops to balance and maybe a touch more. As @dcw6363 mentioned in an earlier post, this brew resembles an amped-up Märzen. The flavor and aroma profiles are mostly inline with my preferences for the style.



vom Fass (on/from Draft)
Glass: 0.5 L Willibecher

Look:
Bright and clear amber that can appear to drift towards orange. 2+ fingers beige to khaki head that refuses to significantly dissipate for a very long time. Lacing is OK. Tons of bubbles keep rising to the top of the beer and keep on doing so for some time.

Smell:
Very bready and even sweet malts that have some caramel notes but also a deeper toasted bread note as well. Somewhat spicy and earthy hops form a nice counterpoint that more than balances things out.

Taste:
Much the same as the nose. Toasted bread and crusts are dominant early, along with caramel and even some honey. Things turn dry, earthy, and mildly bitter fairly quickly, however. Fresh cut grass and hay are also present in the mix.

Feel:
Soft but slick and even a tad syrupy (though not overly so). An alcohol warmth can be felt. The body is between medium and medium-full.

Overall:
A pretty solid Maibock. Quite tasty and delicious. And surprisingly easy to drink for what it is. This very much resembles a significantly amped-up Marzen with hops enough to balance but not really dominate.

 

I definitely agree that the Hofbräu shares more similarities to a Märzen. In particular, an amped-up Märzen. The review that I posted for the Hofbräu states just that, actually.

Tossing another Maibock into the ring, I found Einbecker's Mai-Ur-Bock to bear similarities to an amped up Vienna Lager.

 

I am looking at 2 such cans right now (Schlenkerla's Fastenbier and Unfiltered Lager). I cannot discern a date code on either one.

 

This delight from Revolution
Cheers

 

Limited release, yet I see no availability near me... just down the street from the brewery.

30 IBU in a Bock seems a bit much to me, however... so maybe I'll just wait for Metro's Maibock.

 

The malt base as foundation, stands up to the hops. This avoids the sweet trap that so many fall into. Our local favorite Berkshire Brewing GOAT has a pendulum of sweet/not sweet, waiting for this years model
I hope you have access locally, and Hey maybe WMass got the outcast and you will have the gold!!
Cheers

 

I'd get that if it was bigger than 5.5, but...

 

Im with you, < 6 is my sweet spot.
Cheers

 

Hofbräu lists 31 IBUs for their Maibock. But it is 7.2 % ABV and quite malty so the IBUs are balanced out more or less.

https://www.hofbraeu-muenchen.de/en/beer/hofbrau-maibock

Edit: Were you referring to a "standard" Bock or a Doppelbock? Not a Maibock/Heller Bock?

 

Did you mean > 6% ABV?

I'd expect a Bock to be above 6% ABV and really at least 6.5%. Doppelbocks I'd expect to be higher. At least 7% (ignoring Celebrator).

 

Yes I did mean that.
Cheers

 

Traditional Bock. And you echoed my thoughts about malt to bitterness value.