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Salvator Double Bock

May 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

Doppelbock time!

This week I picked up a 6-pack of Paulaner Salvator Double Bock.  Here’s what they say about it on their website: “This is the original Paulaner, the founding beer of Paulaner. The Salvator Double Bock is a bottom-fermented beer and has been brewed in almost exactly the same way since the end of the 18th century. It combines the most delicate of hops and dark barley malt to give a strong, characteristically malty taste and an inviting, gleaming copper colour.”

I was definitely impressed with the color. “Gleaming copper” is a pretty good description. Pours with a small, white head that dissipates fairly fast and leaves behind a light lace.

This is a nice, malty brew and it smells like it when you take a whiff! I expected a heavier feel when it hit my mouth, but as dark as it appears, it’s surprisingly light on the tongue. A decent amount of carbonation helps in that department. There’s a little fruitiness up front, but it quickly gives way and you’ll catch a hint of caramel that is well balanced with the hops. It’s easy for brewers to go overboard with a doppelbock, making it too sweet, but that is certainly not the case with the Salvator. There’s lots of flavor here from start to finish and is enjoyable all the way through.

It can catch you a little off guard – at 7.9% with this level of carbonation, it can hit your system quickly and give you a little buzz. I definitely suggest drinking this one during or after a meal!

This is another one I can see myself picking up from time to time and at $8.99 for the six, I’m happy to do it!

It’s not one of the best beers I’ve ever had, but it is rather enjoyable!

I’ll give this one a 5.5 out of 10! 

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Breckenridge Brewing Pandora’s Bock

April 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

OK, courtesy of Mother Nature, the second day of my shoot in NY was postponed, so I manage to stay on schedule this week!

I love a good Bock. Even when I wasn’t drinking beer other than the occasional social pint, I still missed being able to have a Shiner Bock, like I did when I visited my folks in Texas. Now, if I see a Bock on the shelf, I’m probably going to try it. I’m all about a  Belgian style, but I can’t resist a Bock, either.  

So this week when I noticed Breckenridge Brewing’s Pandora’s Bock on the shelf, I didn’t even hesitate. The packaging is attractive and with a name like Pandora’s Bock, I HAD to have it. It’s been a busy week, so even though I bought the 6-pack on Monday, this was the first chance I had to pour one. 

What they say: “Release the wealth of flavor and complexity unto the world. Bottom fermented at colder temperatures for a smooth yet assertive character.”
In the bottle, it does not smell like a Bock. I started feeling disappointed, because it smelled like a rich Coors or something. But once you pour it, it has a very pleasing, sweet aroma in the glass. It pours to a clear, deep, brownish-orange with very little head and leaves very nice lacing behind.

The malts will be the first thing you taste, and you’ll notice a fair bit of carbonation right away, too. Without it, this beer would be syrupy, I suspect. The taste finishes out with a mild hoppiness which is nice, but doesn’t really do anything to enhance the overall impression the beer leaves. It’s not a bad beer, but there’s really not much to it. For a Bock, it has too much carbonation. So much in fact, that you almost feel like you aren’t drinking a craft beer. Truth be told, this is what I expected from the Yuengling Bock. In both cases, I have been surprised. But Yuengling surprised me in a good way. The Breckenridge, not so much.

It’s another one that I would grab if I had a choice between it and a Miller offering, but it’s not one that will find it’s way into my fridge again.

On the other hand, if you’re trying to introduce someone that’s used to lighter beers from the  big breweries, this could be a good gateway. It may not be as good as what your average craft beer drinker holds as a standard, but to a newcomer, it would be a great way to introduce them to the dark side. At 7.5%, it might give them a little buzz – so you’ll get to laugh at the nOOb when it catches them off guard.

All in all I’ll give this a 4 out of 10. 

There are far better examples of the style out there! 

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Yuengling Bock

March 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When it comes to big brewers, there aren’t many I trust. Shiner comes to mind, as does Yuengling. I’m not sure what it is that makes me like Yuengling, but I do. So when I saw their Bock offering, I picked up a 6-pack. 

It’s not like I had high expectations. I never do with Yuengling. I know what I’m going to get – a beer better than Budweiser, that isn’t a craft beer. I expect more of an adjunct taste from a beer like this, but Yuengling is one of my go-to breweries when we’re hosting parties. So I figured, why not give this Bock a shot and review it?

Good news.

While not the best example on the market of a Bock, this is a good, drinkable example of the style. Easy to drink more than one and VERY wallet friendly. So no, it isn’t a craft beer, but it is definitely something I’m comfortable handing to a Miller Lite fan and saying “Try something better.” (Which I did and she loved it.)

What they say: “America’s Oldest Brewery proudly offers Yuengling Bock Beer. This seasonal release resurrects an old brewery tradition of producing a Bock in the late winter and early spring. Dark brown in color, this unique brew offers an exceptional flavor to be enjoyed by all. We invite you to to enjoy the taste of traditional, quality family brewing.”

 

My take:
This Bock pours a dark brown with a short, cream colored head that dissipates quickly and leaves some light lacing behind. When you lift the glass, you notice a very sweet smell. It’s almost candy-like and not at all what you expect. Again, this is not a craft beer, but for a big brewery, this is a very good offering.

I might even prefer this to Shiner Bock, which was a brew I couldn’t wait to see on the shelves on the East Coast.

 While there’s more carbonation than I typically like, it does go down smooth. The flavor is nice, but average for a Bock. It pairs up nicely with things like Hamburger Helper or pizza. Just enough to cut through those flavors, without being overpowering.

It’s kind of like drinking a Yuengling Traditional Lager, but with more flavor. It just has a certain feel that Yuengling fans know very well.  It’s hard to put into words if you haven’t had a Yuengling, but easy to understand if you have!

As long as they’re keeping Yuengling Bock on the shelves, I can see myself keeping a supply in the fridge. If you aren’t a fan of lagers and IPAs, this is a good alternative for the spring when you’re at the grill. Flavorful, while remaining light enough to enjoy on a hot day. 

SO while I’m happy to return to true craft beers next week, I’m glad I took this little diversion to the Yuengling Bock. It’s inexpensive and unoffensive. It made me a little sad that the 6-pack disappeared from my fridge so quickly.

Oh well, at least there’s a Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA waiting in there, too. It makes me feel a whole lot better.

Overall, I’ll give the Yuengling Bock a 5 out of 10. It’s a good, average beer that I think would surprise a few folks! 

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