Faxe FestBock

Brewed by Faxe Bryggeri (Royal Unibrew)
Style: Dunkler Bock
Fakse, Denmark

500mL can consumed on 11/6/05 with Muzzlehatch and tiggmtl. Beige-auburn with a touch of very light mahogany, crystal clear with an off-white, foamy head that provides light cover but ultimately recedes to a ring with no lacing. Fair amount of large bubbles rise. Aroma is sweet, caramel malt, some touches of corn sugar notes, and a hint of grains. A touch of caramel covered apples. Flavor begins with a surprising amount of real malt notes. Even a touch of light smoke stemming from the toasted grains. Vienna malt graininess is noticeable, as well as a hint of honey and then mostly caramel on the end. Carbonation is forced, of course, but not overabundant, while the texture borders being syrupy, but attains a light wateriness on the very end to ward this off. Alcohol is only lightly apparent. No hops apparency. Yeast does not seem very bocky, more of just a strong vienna. Medium-full body, with little if any flawed notes. Does not have the typical too-quickly-fermented plasticy/corn notes of this brewery’s other beers.

Can, at home. Dark brown with white head, mostly diminishing, good lacings. Aroma moderate malty (bread) and hoppy. Flavor moderate/heavy sweet and moderate bitter, long duration. Medium body, oily, lively carbonated, moderate in alcohol. Really good, but not a typical bock.

500 ml can quaffed studiously while playing intently at Trivial Pursuit with tiggmtl and ClarkVV. Fairly dark, clear brown with just a bit of lasting head...decent malty-caramel nose, bit ashy....body is too sugary, caramel prominent and more ashiness, but quite drinkable and certainly a pleasure after the previous few samples of swill...moderately full body, clean finish. Better than expected for sure.

This is really bad. Looks like cola and smells way too sweet - like they added saccharine to the malts. First sip is decent, but with each passing sip (or swallow), the flavour becomes increasingly overpowered by a metallic bitterness that lingers. As the glass emptied, this became almost undrinkable. This is a beer for teenagers and those who just want to get ripped on a high alcohol can of crud. Horrible.

Can (500ml). Poured deep brown with an average cratered light brown head. Roast malt, some raisin, touch of hops and moss - better than I expect from the "get me drunk fast" specialists. Taste is sweet mild roast malt and grape juice, not much hops but the linger is a bit bitter - the alcohol is very well behaved. Pretty light bodied and somewhat carbonated. Decent but not exciting - easy to drink, though.

50 cl can. No yeast in bottom. Dark brown colour, little white head. Malty and hoppy aroma. Nice taste of roasted malt and a bitter aftertaste. Lacks taste compared to other bocks. But absolute the most interesting beer from Faxe.

[can]
Pours a surprisingly dark brown colour wih little head and no lacing. Aroma is quite alcoholic and roasted. Flavour is roasted malt with little carbonation. Surprisingly good.

/,7 % alcohol, but the alcohol is not unpleasent present, only a bit warming. A nice clear tasting and strong beer.