Bocks available in Minnesota (2021)

the Andechs doppel was very good.
Yoerg Black Forest is a very good beer
GOUDEN CAROLUS ‘CUVEE VAN DE KEIZER’ IMPERIAL DARK ALE is a interesting beer too

I might go deep into WI this weekend Bock hunting for the online tasting. But I am overloaded with beer now. I don't even know many different bocks I have in stock now.

 

I bought two or three 6 packs. it's good but not as good as it was in 2018. very few places have it, and it seemed like they got a small supply

 

Forgotten Star. In Fridley has a Maibock and a dark bock on tap, I have not tried it.
https://www.forgottenstarbrewing.com/beer

 

2018 is a looooong time ago.

This one tastes okay to me:

 

2018 was a great year for Lakefront Maibock, the very first bottling was best, it had some haze in it.

 

I am old (not as old as you, you geezer), but I remember that they had bottled a Maibock sometime between the 1999 - 2005 era.

 

I remember having this one:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/741/3352/
It was ok but the current one is better. The last year they brewed Big Easy it was NOT very good

I remember having this one a long time ago, But don't recall much about it.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/741/3479/

 

Beaver Island's Maibock is going on tap at the tap room today. Sadly, no cans this year.

 

Lakefront first came to “the Cities” in 1997*, via All Saint’s Brands, but pulled out in 1999 (unable to supply new markets while meeting growing, local demand — common practice for microbreweries of the time).

They returned in 2002, and I fondly (and not-so-fondly) recall the 2002 and 2003 batches of Bock and Big Easy, along with the wayyy stronger “Holiday Spice”, a Bock-like spiced lager.

The Bock had a couple of good batches along with and a couple of not so good batches (by “not so good”, I mean that they were under-attenuated and basically rushed, or ‘green’). When they were good - and the 2004 and 2005 batches both were - they were sweet, bready, pretty much non par for the style — albeit doppelbock strength at 6.7%.

I recall Big Easy as always being a big, hot mess of a beer, with the strength varying quite a bit, year to year. But considering the fact that it can be a difficult style to rein-in (and that the brewery didn’t seem to care that BJCP nerds would ding them if it was off-style), “party beer, excellent!” was really what they were aiming for; Hell, they even packaged it with them damned Mardi Gras beads!


*I’m 99% sure of the initial year of entry, and 100% on the second. I very clearly recall that 7oz ‘nip’ bottles of their “Beer Line Barleywine” (1999) in the single bottle selections around town for a good year or so after they first pulled out of the market.

 

Ya I Liked Holiday spice it seem like a strong flavored beer back then. A few years I had a bottle when we opened X Mas presents.
You sure you don't need more bock beers? I am overloaded

 

The last time I had it, I bought a case! $2.99/six on closeout at Sentyrz... good times all summer long with an ice-cold, 9.5% spice bomb.

Hah! Can you ever have enough?

I have a few more for the weekend tasting (plus a case of Schell Bock to last into summer), and then I am done for the season. But I bet a local would take you up on the extras for a local-for-locals, in person trade.

 

I have found that Schell's Bock has fallen off quite quickly this year. I have gotten foam baths from that beer. Didn't taste right either. I think it is pasteurized so it should not go bad.

 

Released 4/30/21, at Arbeiter Brewing, "Brocken Bock"

 

Last Bock of the season: Waldmann Bock



Gonna be a short summer. I’m already looking forward to next Bock Season.

Cheers

 

Had a 4-pack of Copper Trail Wanna Bock. Stupid name but a good beer. A bit bigger than what I want in a maibock but it went well with everyone.

 

I'm no connoisseur of the style, but I picked up a doppelbock (Xuul) from Oliphant today, and I'm enjoying it quite a bit.