Facile fizzy bock needs better distinction as sour malt astringency, dull honey midriff, and palest caramel splurge fail to ignite. Listless mocha finish turns quickly acidic.

Off dry chestnut-hued bock brings soft mocha-raisin pith to consensual burnt hop dissonance. Dry orange-lemon peel bitterness and woody bottom fortify delicate fig-date finish countering recessive brown sugar dalliance.

Typical easy pounding domestic premium beer sweeter and more yeast-infested than macrobrewed Michelob premium, but nothing ‘special.’

Lackluster amber-hued moderate-bodied dark lager with ambiguous bock traits allows solvent phenol hops to detract dryly washed-out cocoa-molasses backslide, refracted brown-sugared fig-plum sedation, and lemon-tinged moldy orange souring. Resinous chocolate-covered hazelnut-pecan astringency gets cardboard-y.

Brownish maroon bock sprawls coffee souring across deep chocolate resonance and roasted hop dryness but meager pine tinge concealed. Brewery defunct: 2007.

Early astringency nearly inhibits honey-roasted malt creaminess, chocolate cherry splurge, and dried raisin imminence of turbidly tawny bottle-conditioned medium body. Yet imaginative sweet ‘n’ sour mocha-molasses variance perfectly suits sharply spiced banana-clove finish.

Cocoa-soured pumpernickel breading surrounds premature green grape and sugared fig accents to oaken-dried quince finish, picking up mineral grain earthiness. But expectant prune-like bock luster hidden beneath sputtering chocolate-caramel malting.

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.

Indistinct spice-hopped wheat-backed amber-cleared lightweight closer to weak dirty-grained pilsner, lacking expected wintry floral accents and firm bock strength. Earthy rye constraint, sugarplum vestige, and gooey malt souring lack resolution.

Complex 8% alcohol dark amber wheat-based bock surrounds initial yellow grape waft with floral yeast tangent, melon-y fig-prune-banana snip, and pivotal clove-cinnamon spicing. Aggressive bruised orange midst builds above Belgian candi sugar-like sweetness ’til barleywine-bourbon warmth surpasses sour mocha torrent.

Original ’03 sampling found mahogany-hued porter-like bock bending distant mocha and roasted hops into fizzy off-dry peat malt finish. But better ’05 tasting brought bittersweet prune-raisin liveliness to bruised cherry, brown chocolate, and macadamia resilience, impacting fine barleywine continuance.

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.