Capital Maibock

Brewed by Capital Brewery
Style: Heller Bock
Middleton, Wisconsin USA

Malty, smooth, and pleasing. I enjoyed two draughts after an unseasonably warm late spring day in Madison, after two hot cans of Berghoff lager. Went great with a couple of games of darts. I generally don’t like bocks, so this one surprised me.

Full deep clear yellow beneath a average smooth white head with some retention. Hint of flowery hop, but gets lost in the slipstream of malt that overtakes everything. Toffee and sweet malt. Full and creamy, very quaffable, long residual sweetness. Toffee. Reminds me of the Hofbrau maibock more than any other in US. Too easy to like this beer since it’s made about two miles from my house.

Light brown color. Very subtle aroma of fruit and malt. Flavors of sweet malt and smoke. Gets better as it warms; reminded me of a Belgian ale.

The easy head was white, rather light and short lived. Nice golden body with hints of orange. Active bubbles. Smooth, a bit sweet and maybe very slightly fruity in the end. Minor alcohol. Not bad, but not very exciting either.

Dark amber with hints of orange and a smaller head. Roast, toffee, some caramel, and small hops in the nose. Mellow roast malts, muted toffe. Slightly candy like. Sticky palate and a sweet finish of alcohol.

Amber color, off-white thick head, a little lacing. The aroma is very subtle with fruit & some light malts. The flavor is very standard with a little sweetness coming through more than anything. A bit of alcohol comes through but oveerall lacking complexity yet balanced and medium bodied.

On tap, Barrymore theater, second beer for the Arlo Guthrie concert. My series of notes said this was a yellow to gold color with minimal head and easy to drink.

On tap--amber with a quickly diminishing head. Sweet aroma. Initial taste is very sweet, followed by...more sweetness. Not much hopping but who cares? Rich, full mouthfeel. Malt lovers rejoice.