Let's Talk Bock

If you’re interested in a few cans or even a 12 pack, BM me your address. I was there last week and they still had a bunch. Would be glad to send some your way!

 

Tröegs Doppelbock is a very good Bock beer. I also enjoy Genny Bock, but not sure if it is a true Bock. Can anyone shed some light whether it is or it isn't?

 

The same with Munich in the beginning of March. They call it Starkbier Season and each of the primary breweries in Munich produce a seasonal dopplebock and hold festivals in their kellers. The German's call it the 5th season and the parties in the kellers are like mini Oktoberfests. Bands and everyone dresses in traditional tracthen outfits and it is a great time. Have been over there three times during this season and the beers will buckle your knees in favor and strength. I would even suggest this over going to Oktoberfest for the over 40 crowd.

 

I remember the Aass Bock.

 

I love bock beers and have been drinking them on and off since the 80s. Last month, I was down in SD and had Breakline from Rip Current. Excellent beer. You don't see it much, but when I find a brewery with it on tap, I order it.

Dopplebock is what got me into "craft beer" in the 80s.

 

Crap, this thread made me realize I haven't had a single Maibock yet this season. I kept meaning to grab Von Trapp's (not technically a Maibock? I'd have to check), but I didn't need another high octane 16 oz. beer in my fridge. I'll try to find it, but it may be out of season at this point.

I hope to grab some Ayinger Maibock on tap this weekend, and Idle Hands is holding their Maifest next weekend, which I plan on attending.

I too recall the Sam Adams Traditional Bock. I was going to respond in this thread that I recall Sam Adams making a few bocks that were quite good. Was there more than one?

I believe that Longshot pack also had the "Pliny the Elder clone", correct? If so, then that was from 2009!

If you're in Jersey, can't you just head to the Hofbrauhaus in New York?

 

Troegenator is definitely legit.

As to the Genny, see @jesskidden 's post here .

There was also a conversation on another thread, but the long and the short of it is that those breweries were making an American Style Bock substyle. It's pretty much a beefed up American Lager, usually with adjuncts and caramel coloring or porterine added, although some were all malt. A lighter take, as you could imagine- and the Genesee beer falls into that tradition- not a 'true' German bock, but it isn't meant to be.

 

That was the first MdV beer I remember drinking, and man was it good! Pricey, too- so it was only for special occasions . If I only knew just how pricey beer would become...

 

It is an American Bock as I discussed in post #32.

I provided a link where you can learn more.

Cheers!

 

Looks like I missed that one. Sorry, Jack.

 

No worries Michael.

Cheers!

Jack

 

Others have mentioned Einbecker Ur-Bock. It is not a Bavarian bock beer; Einbeck is quite a bit North of Bavaria. I had it fairly often when I lived in Germany in 1978, and took home a pair of krugs with "seit 600 Jahren" ("for 600 years") printed on them. It was their 600th anniversary, apparently. I have the impression that the original was pale ("hell"), not dunkel, but maybe they made both. Daniels, in Designing Great Beers, gives a nice history of Bock. Back then Einbeck's version used lightly kilned malt, 1/3 wheat malt, and was very strongly hopped and fairly bitter. They exported a lot, and when the Bavarians tried to imitate it they could not, so they transformed it to a sweeter beer. In my (unreliable) memory of my experience in Germany it was wonderful stuff, and moderately hoppy, but certainly not IPA level. The last time I tried a bottle here in America it was skunky (green bottles), a little syrupy and had an unpleasant sharp bitterness. Maybe they make it differently now, but definitely it suffered from transport and/or the liquor store's fluorescent lights.

 

Yeah, the BYO website used to be a more 'user friendly' website but it appears that they are now trying to use it as source of revenue.

I understand your reluctance to provide personal information in order to read the article.

It has been a while since I read that online article but part of the discussion was how American brewers used adjunct in the brewing of their Bock beers. This aspect provides a lighter body/mouthfeel to these beers vs. the German type Bock beers that have been discussed in this thread. The American Bock beers are also more economically priced. For example I purchase 12-packs of Genny Bock for around 10-ish bucks a 12-pack.

In my opinion, Genny Bock wins the 'bang for the buck' award when it comes to beer. Genny Bock is by no means an excellent/outstanding beer but I thoroughly enjoy drinking those beers and for 10-ish bucks a 12-pack it is a GREAT deal.

Cheers!

 

What is a krug? A “masskrug” translates into a one-liter stein of beer. A krug is 1/2 liter of beer?

Einbecker Brauerei made the original bock beer. Einbecker Ur-bock is consider traditional or true bock beer. Ur- means original. Urbock is more of a marketing name for beer.

 

Those are all lagers.

 

Just had a couple last night. We sadly missed it last year as it went so quick (ie. in the first couple weeks.) Really damn good beer.