What's the deal with Bocks?

This thread has given me an even greater appreciation for our "beer scene" here in Cincinnati. We'll call your uber hoppy/barrel-aged/sour beer craze, and see you with our most awesome German brews! There's a reason our own Christian Moerlein was the 1st American brewery to pass the reinheitsgebot and to be sold in the "Motherland". As has been mentioned in previous replies, our Bockfest, which is the world's largest, will takeover downtown Cincinnati all this coming weekend; parades, german cuisine, and Bock beers from every local brewery will be the rage. Head just outside downtown to the country's largest beverage alcohol store and find pretty much every brew put out by Weihenstephaner, Ayinger and the like. We also boast America's original Hofbrauhaus, and the largest Oktoberfest outside Munich: Prost!

So... OP, jump on a plane this weekend and come find out what Bock is all about!

 

If your bock tastes like soy sauce, it's likely old. Not just a little old either. Probably several years old.
Normal 'ol bocks aren't super common over here or in Germany, but doppelbocks can be. At least if you're looking out for them. Celebrator, Optimator, Korbinian, and Salvator should be readily available throughout the US. In Bavaria, they're really only a seasonal, but they're on shelves if you hunt around. Celebrator is year-round if you actually go to Aying. Korbinian is always on (bottled at least) in Freising, too.

 

Really, either lager or ale yeast could be technically correct. Since (as others have noted) Bockbier originated in Einbeck in roughly the mid-13th century, it had to have been an ale. Of course, the lager version now makes up the vast majority, but one could always cite the historical perspective.

As you have noted, there are many variations of Bockbier. Some consider bock to be a single style with many variations while others tend to treat each variant as a separate style. The tax authority in Germany considers all bockbiers to be starkbiers, while we Americans tend to treat each different style as its own entity.

Traditional bock, while hard to find, still exists...but you won't find it simply labeled as 'Bock', but instead as 'Urbock' as "Ur" means original.

Other bock styles include:

• Doppelbock ~ double bock
• Dunkelbock ~ Urbock with additional roasted malt for a darker body
• Eisbock ~ doppelbock brought down below freezing to remove H²O & tannins
• Fastenbock ~ bock brewed for Lent. Think Paulaner Salvator
• Maibock ~ a pale bock. Also known as Helles or springtime bock
• Weizenbock ~ bock produced with ale yeast a minimum of 50% wheat
• Weizendoppelbock ~ a double wheat bock à la dopplebock
• Weizeneisbock ~ Wheat/Ice bock. Think Aventinus Weizeneisbock
• Weihnachtsbock ~ Christmas bock

 

A ‘classic’ Bock Beer that I enjoy drinking is St. Nikolaus Bock Bier by Pennsylvania Brewing Company. It is a winter seasonal and unfortunately has limited distribution.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/125/2272/

Cheers!

 

I'd like to try more Bocks. Not many original bocks around really. Genesee Bock Beer is an incredible value beer ($7.99/12pk), but it's hardly a great example. Not a standard bock, but I recently had Cultivator from Troegs that I quite enjoyed.

 

Genny Bock is not a 'true' Bock; I personally consider it to be an American Amber Adjunct Lager (AAAL).

I was recently in Lake Placid and I bought a 12-pack of Genny Bock at a Rite Aid. I did not get it for $7.99 but it was less than 10 bucks. Genny Bock may just be the best bang for the buck beer out there.

Cheers!

 

Fixed that for you.

 

You people will probably roast me for this, but I really enjoy Full Sail's Bock.
Flame away...

 

Best event each year, without a doubt.

 

Uh... the member* I replied to and quoted? This whole web forum thing isn't that difficult to decipher.

(*Maybe you're "ignoring" him, as the site lets you do with members you don't want annoying you, and you can't see the quote in my post?)

 

Took the words right out of my mouth.

 

North-East Germany.
When somebody mentions Bock,it refers to a Doppelbock.
Maibocks are referred to as is.

I see that Mönchshof Bock is listed under the "Bock" category here at BA.
Like i said, i have serious doubts that Bock/Doppelbock are separate styles.

 

Are IPAs and DIPAs separate styles? Kinda the same comparison, right?

 

That explains it.

I can't agree, not with beers like Einbeck Urbock out there. As I mentioned before, so many of the German styles have faded or blended, it's difficult to keep track, but there was a time when "Bock" was the style that all the others developed from.

 

And then there's Rhinegeist, which is entering the BockFest-ivities with...a pale ale. I mean, when you give your brewery a German-esque name, and when even the most hop-happy brewery in town is bringing a bock to the party...

That being said, I'm so looking forward to this weekend!

 

Is there an IPA-Bock? If not, then it just isn't popular right now.