(Photo by Jeff Quinn) At some point, when no one was really looking, an entire season just fell off the
Bocks are a specific type of strong lager historically associated with Germany and specifically the town of Einbeck. These beers range in color from pale to deep amber tones, and feature a decided sweetness on the palate. Bock styles are an exposition of malty sweetness that is classically associated with the character and flavor of Bavarian malt. Alcohol levels are quite potent, typically 5-6 percent ABV. Hop aromas are generally low, though hop bitterness can serve as a balancing factor against the malt sweetness. Many brewers choose to craft these beers for consumption in the spring (often called Maibock) or winter, when their warmth can be fully appreciated.
Each year, the first round of the World Beer Championships is reserved for British and North American ale styles. Following
I have always had a particular fondness for the emphatic malt character, smoothness and underlying elegance of noble hops in
94 Capital Eisphyre, Capital Brewery (WI). 9.8% ABV (3/10) Deep copper color. Rich brown sugar, dried fruit, and praline aromas
This is a subcategory of the bock style. Doppelbocks are extra strong, rich and weighty lagers characterized by an intense malty sweetness with a note of hop bitterness to balance the sweetness. Color can vary from full amber to dark brown, and alcohol levels are potently high, typically 7-8 percent ABV. Doppelbocks were first brewed in the 17th century by the Paulaner monks in Munich. At the time, it was intended to be consumed as “liquid bread” during Lent. Most Bavarian examples end in thesuffix “–ator,” in deference to the first commercial example, which was named Salvator (savior) by the Paulaner brewers.
Bocks are a specific type of strong lager historically associated with Germany and specifically the town of Einbeck. These beers range from pale to deep amber tones, and feature a decided sweetness on the palate. Bock styles are an exposition of malty sweetness that is classically associated with the character and flavor of Bavarian malt. Alcohol levels are quite potent, typically 5-6 percent ABV. Hop aromas are generally low, though hop bitterness can serve as a balancing factor against the malt sweetness. Many of these beers’ names or labels feature some reference to a goat. ␣is is a play on words, in that the word “bock” also refers to a male goat in the German language. Many brewers choose to craft these beers for consumption in the spring (often called Maibock) or winter, when their warmth can be fully appreciated.
Driven by the never-ending nostalgia craze, several old-time brands have risen from the grave, including: Duquesne (1899-1972) Once king of
Nowadays, beer lovers can turn to seasonal brews at virtually any time of the year. New season-specific styles, such as
The Flavored Beer category has some potential overlap with Specialty Beer, and the determination of category is the brewery’s decision. Entries in this category are beers flavored with either conventional (fruit, honey, chocolate) or sometimes unconventional ingredients (chilies, peanut butter). The base beer may be related to almost any classic beer style, and the union of the base beer’s character with the flavoring element is a critical aspect of the beer’s success.