Spring Seasonals: Saisons vs Bocks

JK, this is simply my opinion but it seems to me that lagers just are not popular with the craft beer drinking crowd. Since Bock beers are lagers they seem to be just another beer that is not appreciated.

I will be buying a 6-pack of Troegs Cultivator Helles Bock (cans) and Straub's Maibock this season but I am a outlier in that I enjoy drinking lager beers.

Cheers!

Jack

 

I'd take a bock over a saison 365 days per year.

 

I really enjoy both and usually drink both...but if I had to choose I'd definitely go with bocks.

 

In general, I prefer any type of well-made lager over a saison. Not a lot of bocks widely available in Michigan though.

 

The same myth about bocks being the dregs of brewing tanks is similar to the sometimes repeated myth that English pubs filled casks of mild from the runoff of drip trays.

 

For some reason, I am a total sucker for Maibocks of all kind. I think it's just something easy to drink, light, and still has good flavor. A local brewery in town has a Ryebock on tap that I love.

 

I'm a serious bockhead. Mai, doppel, eis, weizen, whatever. Bring on the malty goodness, and year-round, too!

I also enjoy some saisons, but I've found that plenty of them focus less on yeast to bring in hop flavors, and that renders them undrinkable for me.

 

Going with the OP's Anchor observations: I only had Anchor's saison once but I didn't care for it, but the issue with their bock is that you could never find fresh versions over here. I've recently seen old Anchor bocks put on the shelves as the current seasonal. I prefer their bock, but in general, I'm more of a saison fan. I don't drink seasonally, I'm just at the mercy of seasonal releases.

 

Haven't had any Saisons yet.

Digging Bocks, though. Haven't had any Maibocks but I would reckon that I'd like them too given that I'm a big fan of SW's Hopfenweisse.

 

I love both styles but have had more exposure to different saisons. I would love to expand my bock repetoir, so any recommendations on some that are pretty widely available would be great!

 

Can't really give you many pointers on U.S. Bocks. Although I hear Tröegs have a pretty good one and I think there was some talk about a some good traditionals at Trader Joe's (you may wanna look at this thread for reference)

If you come across a reasonably priced Weihenstephaner Korbinian or Vitus, Ayinger Celebrator, Schneider Weiße Aventinus (both the normal one and the Eisbock) I'd rec those. You may also be able to find something from Andechs if you're lucky. While those generally don't have a bad shelf life I'd suggest looking at the best by, though.

 

I wish SN would at least bring the Bock back as a spring seasonal, in a mix 12 pack or something. That was a great beer.

 

Just finished reading Farmhouse Ales by Markowski. Saisons all the way for me. So much variety it is not a particularly cohesive style IMO, but I've just had so many good beers under that monicker. Most bocks I've had have been pretty average and forgettable to my taste buds, but to each their own.

 

If you are in Houston (or most larger Texas cities), you have a very good, fresh locally-made bock available to you now as a spring seasonal: http://www.saintarnold.com/beers/bock.html

Several of the doppelbocks recommended by BeerVikingSailor are also available to you, as are the Gordon Biersch-made bocks at Trader Joe's.

 

Maibock in the spring for me!! Love a good bock beer too in spring. Nothing wrong with Saisons too.

 

You're not alone! I really like lagers as well. I'll happily drink a good pilsner any day.

 

Yeah, but the majority of BA folks are not big fans of lagers (as a general rule).

Cheers!