Starkbierzeit 2022

Bock is a reference to strength and not really color. You didn't seem to think that the Foltzenator was too pale (the pics on Untappd make it look like it's in the same ballpark as the Flensburger). Abita's Andygator is a Heller Doppelbock... a pale Doppelbock (although they make the usual American mistake of saying Helles Doppelbock).

Having said that, your intuition seems spot on regarding categorization. I have not seen any reference from Flensburger claiming it's a "Doppel." It's a 16.3 Plato beer. I have no idea if there's a clear and real line drawn between Bock and Doppelbock by strength according to German convention rather than artificial beer style guides, but 16.3 Plato is right in line with standard Bocks as far as I've seen... and not in the region of 18 Plato that you usually see with Doppelbocks. I will put in a style change request for it if nobody here thinks I'm off.

 

And to think I didn't tag you this time.

 

Yeah, not a popular beer from the craft breweries. I am fortunate that Sly Fox still chooses to produce their Maibock (on a related note I have an article pretty much about done about Maibock; I will send you a link once it gets published).

Troegs in the past produced a seasonal they labeled as Cultivator Helles Bock as a distributed beer; I would buy a case of this beer every spring when it was released. Unfortunately due to poor sales this beer was discontinued as a distributed product. I have read/heard that Troegs in the recent past (and this year?) would make this beer for sale on draft at their tasting room.

I really wish that the Maibock beer style was a more popular selling beer style. One more reason to homebrew?

Cheers!

 

Thank you

 

Good point.. I have gotten fruit esters from DG before too.

Most probable reason is the bottles were old. I don't remember buying them and they don't have a date. They could very well be from 2019. Or maybe even (and I shudder to say it) 2018.

I read your review. Interesting how you wonder if it should have a style change to a Strong Bitter and I describe it as "more an Extra Strong Bitter than a Maibock".

 

You are correct - the colors of those beers are very close. Foltzenator might be a shade or 2 darker, but only that. I shouldn't have knocked the Flensburger on its color.

It was the sweetness of the Flensburger that made me think of Andygator, not the color.

 

I did notice that Columbia Kettle Works has Maibock on their taplist for their Adamstown location. I don't know how far away Adamstown is for you.

I will keep an eye out for Sly Fox's Maibock (Princess Jenny ?). I see Sly Fox beers aplenty here.

It is too bad that Cultivator didn't sell. I very much liked it. But I would see it out in February. Maybe Troegs should have waited to release it until a bit later in the year. Even if Troegs has it on draft at their tasting room, I'd likely demure - the tasting room is adjacent to Hershey Park and tends to be a bit .... overcrowded at times.

 

Ayinger Weizenbock

Tonight I had a repeat - I had Ayinger Weizenbock during Starkbierzeit and posted a description/review in this thread. I tried but failed to find a newer bottle. My description/review didn't change much. I am doing a copy/paste (with a very slight modification) of my earlier review so nobody has to go search for it.

It is a nice beer to have while watching the season 2 finale of Star Trek : Picard.
(And the premiere of Strange New Worlds)


0.5 L bottle
Bottle Date: L9002 (02 Jan, 2019 ?)
ABV: 7.1%
Glass: 0.5L Ayinger Weizen Vase
Pouring Temp: 14.2 C / 55.7 F

Look:
Opaque golden copper. I can see shadows of my fingers at the narrow part of the glass, but that's it. Initial 2-finger off-white head soon collapses to a thin but consistent cover. Decent lacing.

Smell:
Overripe bananas along with citrus fruits. Wheat bread. Hints of Ceylon cinnamon and kiss of cloves. Wheat "twang" on the end.

Taste:
Rich and doughy with fruity notes at the front such as bananas, overripe pears, with hints of orange marmalade and orange-blossom honey. Ceylon cinnamon and cloves jump right in and keep things balanced and a touch spicy. There is even a perfume or flower note in there. The finish is mildly sweet and rich. The cinnamon and cloves build as more of this tasty ale is consumed.

Feel:
Smooth and creamy with a body on the heavier side of medium.

Overall:
A nice and tasty Heller Weizenbock. Very flavorful. Especially for one this old. For me, this an excellent springtime and early summer beer. My ratings would most definitely have been higher for a fresher sample.

 

Curiosity sent me on a short hunt. And the rewards are rich.



https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mrnx0veRjIM2Ar67ZRXYYGoojxfvhwsnc

 

Schneider Weisse Aventinus Eisbock


Tonight is another repeat - Aventinus Eisbock. This is nowhere near a Maibock, but its raining tonight, its in the 40s, and I did want to see if I can pick up an earthy notes in the beer. steveh had asked me about that, and this is the 1st time that I have gotten back to Aventinus Eisbock.

I did detect earthy notes in the beer. Not a lot, but they are there in the malty undertone that this beer has. I had to look for them, because I enjoy the other flavors (and scents) so much that I tend to stop with those.

Since this is a repeat, I copied, pasted, and slightly modified my previous review/description.



0.33 L bottle
Bottle Date: 21.210 and 160721 (guessing 16 July, 2021)
Glass: 0.33L Schneider Aventinus Eisbock Vase
Pouring Temp: 71.1 F / 21.8 C


Look:
Opaque chestnut brown with a 1 and a half finger creamy beige head. I cannot see my fingers through the glass; at the narrow point(s), I might be able to see the shadow of my fingers if I hold the glass to a light. The head settles to a thin but complete covering that has good lacing.

Smell:
Ripe bananas. Spiced plums and pears. Rum-soaked dried dark fruit. Dark wheat malts, like whole wheat bread. (Dark) brown sugar. Noticeable cloves with some cinnamon and maybe nutmeg.

Taste:
The ripe fruits lead off with the brown sugar and the cinnamon and create a richness that persists through the sip. Cloves quickly join the ensemble and keep the sweetness in check. The cloves and the bananas increase as one drinks more and more of this wonderful ale. A malty undertone that is a mixture of whole wheat bread and some earthy notes ties everything together.

Feel:
Slick and mouth-coating. Some tingly carbonation. Medium-heavy body. A nice alcohol warmth is present and grows over time.

Overall:
A wonderful beer. This is unbelievably smooth for such a high ABV and is also complex and packed full of flavor. A very nice sipper for a rainy night.

 

Paulaner Salvator

Yet another repeat. This time for one that I had not too long ago. I used a different glass this time and I am picking up some chocolate powder notes that I had not noticed last time. I also detect more earthy notes and less sweetness.

I am copying my earlier review and making some minor modifications to it.



1.5 x 0.33L Bottles
Bottle Best By: 2022-aug
Glassware: 0.5 L Stange
Temp at Pour: 55.8 F / 13.2 C


Look:
Light and clear mahogany that leans to the red side. Initial 1-finger beige head that dissipates to a very thing coating. Some lacing, but not a lot.

Smell:
Sweet and malty. Dark fruits, toffee, and some lightly toasted caramel. Notes of honey and light brown sugar. A faint earthy tone can be detected.

Taste:
Definitely sweet, but not as sweet as the nose. Dark fruits and toasted caramel. Hints of nuts. There is an noticeable underlying earthiness that is lightly bitter. I also pick up faint hints of dry chocolate here and there.

Feel:
Smooth and slick. Somewhat syrupy. The body is on the full side of medium.

Overall:
A solid doppelbock that is on the sweet side.

 

Schneider Weisse Aventinus

For the last day (night ?) of Fruhlingsfest I went with ... one more repeat . And an old favorite. I wanted to do a different bock for each day of Fruhlingsfest.

I posted about Aventinus during Starkbierzeit, so I am gong to copy that post/review and make a couple of changes.



0.5 L bottle
Bottle Date: 19.241 [110719] => 11 July, 2019 ?
Glass: .5L Schneider Aventinus Weizenbock Vase
Serving Temp: 55.2 F / 12.9 C


Look:
Medium brown that is opaque from the yeast. I can't see my fingers at all through the glass, not even at the narrow point. 1.5" beige head dissipates slowly to a 1/4" cover. Nice lacing

Smell:
Spiced plums and pears. Rum-soaked dried fruits such as raisins and currants. Rich brown sugar. Overripe bananas. Bread dough.

Taste:
Cloves bite at the front, which keeps the sweetness dampened and balanced. Rich toffee and toasted caramel with plums, those rum-soaked dried fruits and the overripe banana. Whole wheat bread. Some pepper and maybe a dash of cinnamon. Finishes somewhat dry with lingering sweetness and cloves.

Feel:
Rich and creamy with a body that is on the heavier side of medium.

Overall:
A phenomenal beer that earns it's World Class reputation. Although one can smell and taste rum-soaked fruit, the alcohol is quite well hidden. Very easy to drink. Dangerously so. Goes down smooth as silk but will then hit you like a sledgehammer if you aren't careful.