Tag Archives: bock

GRAND TETON HOWLING WOLF WEIZENBOCK

Decent 2009 cellar-reserved bottle-conditioned ‘strong wheat beer’ with pleasant citric acidity and surprising mocha tenacity bides time as loud 8% alcohol luster gets heard. Creamy caramel-cocoa-chocolate malts ride above peppery clove-spiced fig-sugared vanilla sweetness and orange-bruised banana tartness. Molasses-like Sugar Daddy keepsake forges doppelbock-like character over musty yeast-creased candi-sugared Belgian ale peculiarity.

ABITA BOCK

Drab sunset-hued Mardi Gras fave fails to impress from its washed-out pale amber hue to its ridiculously inappropriate mildness. Astringent honey-soured caramel malting, musty orange-banana-cherry trickle, phenol spicing, and caraway seeding make for ineffectual Maibock or Helles bock traits.

 

SARANAC ROGGEN BOCK

Fine German-styled rye lager counters cracked wheat sweetness with dry fig-plum-walnut dryness. Marble rye malting and bittersweet prune swoon lead to dour sour grape finish. Though lacking alcohol binge of more assertive bocks, moldy fruit moistness and vegetative earth tones add to its resolute peculiarity.

SAXER DARK BOCK

Bodacious 7.2% alcohol strength leads the way for amazingly consistent, rust-hued, chocolate malt-flavored bock. Soft silky head and web-like texture provide champagne-like flow (minus nose-tingling carbonation). Sweet barley and candied mocha blend with bountiful floral bouquet to create interesting barleywine palate that’s neither too heavy nor overwhelming for gentler tastes. Brewery defunct: 2005.

BAMBERGER MAHR’S WEISSE BOCK

Fine frothy-headed bock leaves lavish Brussels lace and heavy carbolic fizz atop buttery wheat-dried citric-hopped effervescence. Soothing prune-raisin-cherry tartness underscores medium-bodied fare. Just a tad less busy, bold, and filling than most German bocks while in need of more pronounced adjuncts at port-like finish to put it over the top.