Bock, a beer of springtime
Had some Shiner Bock the other night. Not bad: Smooth, dark but not as malty as I expected.
I read about the history of bock in Garrett Oliver's "The Brewmaster's Table." He says that bock beer had been made in the northern European city of Einbeck but was copied in Munich and eventually perfected in 1612 by the Bavarians.
We thank them.
The beer was put down in December, then tapped in the spring.
Before Prohibition virtually all American lager breweries produced bock beer, Oliver says. Anybody remember any bock beers of bygone years?
Howsabout bock beers of today; any favorites?
Comments
Troegs Troegenator Double Bock is a favorite of mine. Also, Anchor makes a pretty good Bock as well
Posted by: Jason | April 15, 2008 11:58 AM
DeGroen's Doppelbock
Posted by: Mike | April 15, 2008 12:36 PM
If you can find it, Genesee makes a Bock that's not that bad. Plus the can is lime green with yellow flowers and a goat. My wife thought it was a can of soda and put it in her lunch cooler and almost left the house with it.
Posted by: Dan | April 15, 2008 2:40 PM
I always have liked Shiner Bock. On another topic, I highly recommend Balashi, which is brewed in Aruba. I'm down there now and had a few last night. It's very good.
Posted by: Jeff Q. | April 15, 2008 5:29 PM
Troegs is really solid. I also think Sam Adams did a decent job with their double bock. Tommyknocker makes a pretty decent one too. Shiner is a bit bland for my taste, I just don't find it all that engaging.
Posted by: Pat | April 15, 2008 10:40 PM
I remember Schmidt's Bock from my long-ago beer can collecting days. National Boh even made one.
I agree with Jason - Anchor Steam Bock is a good one.
Shiner's very good - it's rumoured to be Lance Armstrong's favorite (for all you cycling fans) - but it's "Bock Lite" compared to others which are much more malty / smoky.
Posted by: TimD | April 16, 2008 7:35 AM
Had my first Shiner Bock in San Antonio. It's good stuff. I wish you could get it at more Baltimore bars.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | April 16, 2008 11:52 AM
For anyone pissed about rising beer prices, ask Jeff Q what he's paying for bottles down in Aruba. I went a few summers ago and 8 oz Balashi's were $5. The rest of the island was fairly inexpensive, but not the beer.
Posted by: Greg S | April 16, 2008 2:55 PM
I have yet to try the Shiner Bock. Also the Anchor Bock, I would like to find both and give them a try. Otherwise, here are my recent samples.
Samuel Adams Winter Lager (Weizen Bock) - Boston Beer Company
Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock (Dopplebock) - Brauerei Ayinger
Paulaner Salvator (Dopplebock) - Paulaner Brauerei (Schorghuber)
St. Nikolaus Bock Bier (Dunkler Bock)- Pennsylvania Brewing Company
Birra Moretti La Rossa (Dunkler Bock)- Birra Moretti (Heineken)
Rogue Dead Guy Ale (Heller Bock) - Rogue Ales
Butt Head Bock (Dopplebock) - Tommyknocker Brewing
My personal favorite is the Ayinger. Sweet, thick and a very profound but pleasant aroma. Try it Rob.
Posted by: Justin | April 16, 2008 3:27 PM
I like Shiner Bock as well. Can't get it too many places, but the Phoenix in Ellicott City serves it.
I went to Aruba on my honeymoon and really enjoyed the Balashi. Don't think you get get it here though.
Posted by: ghylock | April 16, 2008 4:03 PM
Greg S
Aruba is one of the most expensive islands in the Caribbean, not sure how "the rest of the island was very inexpensive" given the $13.00 Big Mac's and $30.00 pizzas.
Posted by: Rick | April 18, 2008 7:06 AM
Sorry to be the lone dissenter, but I don't care for Shiner Bock. Had it a coupla times, nasty every time. Isn't Shiner a Dallas brew?
The Anchor Steam Bock isn't bad though.
Posted by: Rob in PCB FL | April 18, 2008 1:55 PM
Spring is also time for Marzen beers. I will once again offer up a shamless plug for Clipper City's BaltoMarzen. This is easily one of the best of a line of great beers from Clipper City. Note: I did not refer to it as a great local beer because good beer knows no geography.
Posted by: bryanintimonium | April 18, 2008 3:06 PM
In response to Rob, Shiner Beer is from Shiner, Texas which is roughly 260 miles from Dallas. Shiner is closer to San Antonio and Austin. There is some good beer in that area as the Texas Hill country was settled by Germans and several towns have German names. I went to a wonderful microbrewery there some time ago but I have forgotten the name of the beer and the town. Shiner Bock isn't bad but there are better ones out there.
Posted by: Duane | April 20, 2008 10:11 PM
Jason and Justin have recommended some fab Bocks: My fave's are Troegs Troegenator Double Bock, Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock, and Rogue Dead Guy Ale Heller Bock. Yummy... I'm thirsty!
Posted by: Rowan | April 21, 2008 2:22 PM
When I was in college (early 80s), Pabst still made a (canned) Bock from time to time. I tasted like a maltier PBR IIRC.
I spent a summer in Madison, WI, where I was introduced to the joys of Huber beer, which at $5 a case (longnecks) was a deal in 1989. I understand that they still make a bock every year.
Beer writer Lew Bryson swears by Stegmaier Bock from the Philly area, it is an old school regional brewery a la Gennessee.
Of course in the Philly area you also have some phenomenal bocks from Victory Brewing.
FWIW, you can still get Einbecker beers in the US - I just had an Einbecker "Mai-Ur-Bock" last Friday.
The two "local" Gordon Biersch outlets also feature fantastic bocks from time to time - downtown DC (brewmaster Jason Oliver, a former Oliver's brewer, although no relation) and Rockville (brewmaster Jim Sobczak, formerly of the Rams Head in Annapolis). Worth a journey.
Posted by: Volker | April 28, 2008 2:03 PM
I remember my Dad would drink Bock beer in Chicago in the 70's I remember Most Milwakee brewers had one. And some of the now defunked Chicago brewers like Falstaff and Meister Brau.
Currently i am drinking Michelob AmberBock. It is very somooth and rich. I would recomend it to anyone. And being brewed by Anheuser-Bush. It shouldn't be hard to find.
Enjoy
Posted by: Brian Geise | May 17, 2008 3:15 PM