Online Tasting: Bocks (April 23-25, 2021)

Some early results from yesterday...

@DrZombies — Celebrator
67+R20=87

@zid — Grimm Maypole
58+M20=78

@TommyG22 — Lakefront Maibock
53+M20+R20=93

@BeerVikingSailor — Einbecker Mai Ur Bock
40+M20=60

@beergoot — Snüpinator
43+R20=63

My guess is the winning post will actually be today or tomorrow and will break 100. Time will tell!

 

Ciao a tutti sostenitori!
Buon sabato di sole!
Come seconda birra di questa degustazione ho scelto una bock in chiave trappista.
Il rinomato

La Trappe (OLA) - BOCKBIER - Bock (7%)

Prodotto, per pochi che non lo sapessero, in Olanda, nell'abbazia di Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Van Koningshoeven a Berkel-Enschot (vicino alla città di Tilburg).
0,33 cl. Bottiglia
Scadenza indicata in etichetta: 10/2021.
Già al naso note speziate (chiodi di garofano, anice stellato) e frutta secca (noci, mandorle).
Colore ambrato scuro, opaco, impenetrabile.
Schiuma abbondante, morbida e persistente.
In bocca, una bevanda avvolgente data da un corpo pieno, caldo e rotondo.
leggeri sentori tostati con una nota affumicata.
Really varied hints ranging from spices (especially star anise) for cooking, honey, dried fruit, chestnuts, caramel, sour cherry.
Surprisingly quite dry finish on the tongue (very welcome).
A hint of licorice, especially after drinking, pervades the palate, while the heat affects the body temperature.
Amber color, gustatory hints of walnuts, almonds, chestnuts and anise, definitely autumnal.
Alcohol well hidden by the explosion of a myriad of reflections of different tastes, very autumnal, but which still gives a certain importance to the drink.
Perfect match with cheeses and semi-cured meats or in any case with a delicate flavor, but also with spelled salad or with chestnuts (boiled or toasted).







I am keeping an american "bomb" for tomorrow that I have already drunk and of which I have kept a bottle in the home cellar,
Greetings from afar !
Sláinte!
Saluti !

 

You are not completely wrong. I like having a "Brotzeit" (a meal between breakfast and dinner) on weekends.

Radish, liverwurst, biscuit... Common in Bayern/Bavaria and I like it, too.

Sorry in advance. Obv. I had to use the translator for this, I hope it's correct

 

The commentary on these tasting threads by my fellow sots is an informed tutorial of whatever style is being sampled creating interest, at least for me, where none would have otherwise existed. Add in the seasonal nature and what's not to like? I plan on participating in all such palate expansion threads in the future, even *cringe* IPAs.

 

This is my all time highest rated beer on Beer Advocate. A special treat of a beer indeed!

 

Meant to join in yesterday, but never made it to my local brewer with a Bock on tap. Have two planned for each of the next two days, all new to me. Starting with a Helles Malt Liquor, listed as a Maibock here, by way of Austria

Castle Brewery Eggenberg 2019 Samichlaus Helles



Bottle Notes: 14.0% ABV, 11.2 oz. Brewed once a year on December 6, aged for 10 months before bottling. 2019 was the year for this bottling. This specialty is perhaps the rarest in the world. Samichlaus may be aged for many years to come. Older vintages become more complex with a creamy warming finish.

Appearance: Orange beige clear base, heavy carbonation throughout. Head fades quickly, bright white ring lingers along the rim. 3.75

Aroma: Harsh bitter heavy malt aroma, dark fruits back lightly, raisins, plums. Even more intimidated at this point than I was cracking the bottle open. 3.25

Taste: OK, the taste was a 180 from the aroma. Thick syrupy sweetness, like a fruit bread or bread pudding turned into liquid syrup, strongly fermented syrup. Strong malt, hint of caramel, raisin the one fruit that carries on beyond the aroma. 3.75

Mouthfeel: The most remarkable attribute, heavy visible carbonation is light to the tongue, devoured by the rich creamy syrupy texture. Highly sweet, near insanity level, the antithesis of balanced. The ABV feels like 20%. can't recall many beers packing this punch in my past. Perhaps I'm getting too old, but this beer is stronger than the limit I prefer currently. 4.0

Overall: Expected a strong experience being a heavy malt liquor, but this beer borders on absurd. The beer hits twice as hard as the 14 % ABV, is insanely sweet, the mouthfeel unique at the level of thick syrupy feel. I'm glad I tried it for the experience, but wouldn't seek this again. 3.25

My next three bocks are more traditional, though the second planned for today is barrel aged. Hopefully I will survive these back to back heavy hitters. Enjoying what I read so far, will carry on catching up from yesterday until I pass out.

 

It’s really a special beer. You get the tart, earthy juiciness from the lingonberry mixed with the layered malty complexity and booziness of a quality Eisbock. Wish I had a few more.

 

Are you encouraging me to add my first official "review" to this site after a decade of being active here to turboboost to Steinland? That would make me 2 away from hitting 100. You devil!!

 

I had intended to post this last night but I faded fast and went to bed early. Bull n Bear Brewery released its first Doppelbock, Syndicator, last week and I had a pour yesterday. For its initial foray into the style I was impressed.

It pours a somewhat cloudy, copper color with ruby hues, and it sports a modest, creamy, ecru-colored cap and thin sheen of lacing. The smell features a lot of fruit: plum, raisin, and a hint of fig, along with a heavy chocolate malt presence. The initial taste is fruit-forward with rich, tangy, stewed plum and raisin. But as it warms it bit the chocolate really emerges; it's flavorful but not overly sweet. It finishes with a healthy dose of spice. The flavor is spot-on for the style. Unfortunately, the carbonation level was lower, and it wasn't quite as creamy, as I'd hoped. But the 8.2% ABV is well-hidden and it drinks verily easily. Overall, Syndicator is a promising first effort at a Doppelbock. I'm confident that Bull n Bear will improve the mouth feel and I look forward to trying it again.

4.08/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Prost, everyone!

 

For someone who seems to love reviewing beer, I was surprised to see you don’t archive your thoughts with “official” reviews.

 

Cross post from WBAYDN.....bock out!!

I think I will just say up front, that....
a) this is my fav bock glass - very unusual!
b) Wooly Pig here in Ohio is killing it with their beers - this Manganator doppelbock is freakin' delicious and a perfect after (3 miler) hike brew!

Short review.....big frothy cramy head, bad pour on my part, aroma of big bready biscuits, toffee, raisins, figs and other dried fruits.....no hop presence at all, and the look of the beer is about as great as the smell....super delish!

If you are ever in central Ohio, and want a treat, go visit Wooly Pig in Fresno.....awesome! Rated at a solid 4.5 across the board!



don't set this sucker down just anywhere!

 

La Trappe brews a Bock!?
Why won't they let us have nice things?

 

Nows as good a time as ever! Yield to the peer pressure, do it!

 

Starting today with a Heller Weizenbock from Plank.

This beer looks gorgeous. Clear amber/orange/gold with a rich white head that laces nicely as it slowly dissolves into a thick film.
This is like a hefe on steroids with everything bumped up to 11.
Lots of almost overripe bananas, some cloves and other spices, a bit of lemon & orange zest, heavy peasant white bread and a treacle sticky aftertaste.
A very good Weizenbock, but too sweet and sticky to be great

 

I am lucky to have a local bock to share, Bierkeller Bockbier

His forte is outdoor biergartens, but crowlers are available, which is fortunate when the weather is uncertain. This bock comes out in March. Lovely clarity, full white head and lacing. Pear, light floral, grassy aromas. Fruity hops, light mineral flavor, white pepper, cut grass. Nice hop bitterness, not sweet, good carbonation. Great to enjoy fresh, even better when available on tap al fresco.

 

Sounds like what we might call "brunch"? Its a favorite excuse to begin day drinking in the US as well

 

It's the Bavarian version of a coffee break -- but almost exclusively with Weizenbier. You get funny looks if you order Kafe.

 

Thanks @TongoRad for putting on this cool tasting!

This will be my "cheap bock beer" post for the weekend.....try not to get too excited!

3.2 - mediocre pretty much sums it up.....drinkable, but after the Wooly Pig, it kinda tastes like "bock water"





on to the "good shit!" haha