I just can't get into Maibocks

I just got the Ayinger Maibock on tap locally in Rochester, and really enjoyed it. There might be hope for distribution elsewhere. Nicely fruity and bready, with subtle but nice hop character.

 

In the Kansas distribution area, I've liked Free State's Brinkley's Maibock and Boulevard's Boss Tom's Golden Maibock. But I believe I rated Dead Guy Ale higher than those two. I've only had 6 different maibocks, and the other three were forgettable.

 

Don't sweat it. You're not alone. I appreciate a well made maibock, but I don't love them.

 

The O-fest, doppelbock, dunkel and premium lager are the only ones licensed to be distributed into PA but I think its been as long as a couple of years since I've seen any Spaten on anybody's shelves in SE PA. Wonder if this is a sign they're a brewery in trouble?

 

Never had it, but one of my good friends swears it's the best he's had, too. Hopefully they can keep their QC straight.

 

Dead Guy's Ale isn't a Maibock, it's an APA. The guys at Rogue are on crack.

Les Trois Mousquetaires has a nice Maibock. I am looking forward to getting my hands on Ayinger's example.

 

When I was there over Christmas, things had improved (or rather, recovered) markedly. Was glad -- and relieved -- to see/taste it!

 

I'd say it's a sign that ABInBev is dropping the ball (which could be trouble for the brewery, in and of itself). @grantcty says he sees Spaten products in plenty near the Twin Cities.

 

I'll add my vote to this as well. One of the best beers I've had.

 

its an interesting style! deadguy ale is what i would start with as im sure others have said cheers!

 

That's great news. On my first trip they were hands-down my favorite brewery in town. On my last one...not so much.

 

Stupid question, but is Maibock even a proper "style"?XD
In franconia, some brewers release the same bock as "Bock" and "Maibock" depending on season.
With pale bocks, i could name you lots of worthwhile examples from franconia.........

 

Not a stupid question. For some reason, people over here love to try and classify every single style -- probably because of the BJCP and new brewers' tendencies to use "styles" for marketing purposes. Every Bockbieranstich I ever went to simply called their beer "Bock." Now, Munich may be different...and there are certainly a handful of Doppelbocks, Weihnachtsbocks, and other seasonal variations in Franconia, but more often than not you're going to find just Bockbier.

 

At one point it was the Spring released Heller bock, but it seems that there are more and more Heller Bocks that don't rely on a season for their availability.

No, we haven't. See most of the comments on Dead Guy and you'll find that it's not a Maibock by any real recognition. The "ale" part of your post should have been a red flag from the get-go.

 

hey their keyboard warrior! cheers!

 

When I visited Munich for Frühlingsfest the tents (usually only 2 for this smaller fest) and Bierhalls were advertising Maibock. Even Hofbrau has their Maibock labeled as such.

 

The folks who organize the European Beer Star Awards view it as a style:

“12) German‐Style Heller Bock

Colour: light yellow up to amber

Maibock is a category of bock beers

Malt aroma and flavour: noticeable

Body: full to medium, high alcohol content

Hop bitterness: medium

Hop flavour and aroma: low to medium

Bitterness increases with gravity

Fruity esters: low

Diacetyl: very low

Analytics:

Original gravity: 16.0 – 17.9 °Plato

Apparent extract: 3.0 – 5.0 °Plato

Alcohol: 5.0 – 6.4 % by weight, 6.0 – 8.0 % by volume

Colour: < 30 EBC”

Cheers!

 

Munich sure may be different, since marketing plays a way bigger part there than with the tiny village breweries in franconia, which just go buy tradition and what the brewer thinks is right, which in my opinion is a way better way of doing things.
One of my favorite Breweries, Brauerei Herold Büchenbach, has two beers:
Büchenbacher Beck'n Bier and Büchenbacher Beck'n Bockbier. The latter one is released in winter and in may, so in the Gasthof they call it Maibock sometimes. It is a dark amber in color. And very,very,very delicious.

Looking at the situation in Munich and to some extent also the USA, I would go so far as to call Maibock a "marketing phenomonon" and not a beerstyle.

Seeing the criteria of the European Beer Star Award- how is this different from a Heller Bock? Seems silly to me, and aiganst the brewing and naming traditions i came to love in Franconia.
Several Bocks i know which are released in may, some of which are also labelled Maibock, do not fall into those criteria...