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Oderbolz Bock

March 1, 2003 Black River Falls, WI
Reviewers: Charles Finkel

Pioneer Brewing Co.
Black River Falls, WI

Available: WI, IL, MN, FL

Oderbolz Bock is brewed in the German tradition, with noble hops balancing a large amount of malt. This traditional bock was named in honor of the pioneering spirit of the previous owners, the Oderbolz family, who owned the brewery from 1856 to 1915, at which time they closed the establishment after suffering tragic personal losses.

Alcohol by weight: 6.25
Color: 14
Bitterness: 20
Gravity: 1075

Before Prohibition, Wisconsin had more breweries than any other state, and bock beer was a signal of spring. It was damned good and Pioneer Bock still is! The color is a deep amber with copper highlights and the nose is a bouquet of earthy flavors. The palate it is round, filling, and beautifully balanced with a rich lingering aftertaste. We served it with black bread, smoked raw milk cheese, herring in cream sauce and potato latkes.
- Charles Finkel
Pours like a thick shake. Deep garnet color with malt-accented aroma. As good a hand-crafted bock beer as I’ve had brewed in America. Straight down the middle, dependable German-style bock beer. Nice job. No bells, whistles or fringes adorning this brew. It’s true to style and invites a bock buzz with a smile.
- Charlie Papazian
Russet/claret color with a barley-white head. The aroma has an immense fruity character with figs leaping out of the glass. The fruitiness is balanced by a resiny hop note. Like a genuine Bavarian bock, it has a big bready and malty palate with rich, tart fruit and a solid underpinning of hops. The finish is long, vinous, with a final blast of bitter hops. A meal in itself, as any self-respecting Lenten beer should be.
- Roger Protz

Charles Finkel
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Charles Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.

Charlie Papazian
Author of the New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, founder of the Great American Beer Festival and a Beer Examiner at www.examiner.com, Papazian is a leading voice in beer and brewing.

Roger Protz
Roger Protz is the author of Complete Guide to World Beer and 300 Beers to Try Before You Die. He is a respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

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