Hofbräu München Maibock

Brewed by Staatliches Hofbräuhaus München
Style: Heller Bock
Munich, Germany

Strong lactic sour milk aroma on initial pouring. Bronze amber colour. Bitterness and sourness from lactic lasting through the malty breadiness. Not particularly pleasant perhaps a bad bottle. Dry finish. Not sure of alcohol not given on bottle.

Picked up a bottle of this from an off-license off Landsberger strasse, München, Germany.
Felt inspired after a first time at the Hofbräu, took this one back to our hostel and downed it just before I rid myself of the pent up aromatics of the day at hand, ahem, took a shower.
Produced itself a bright, shimmering copper in the glass, tawny in the depths. The head rose and fell quickly as my glass was in desperate need of a clean. I guess it would have presented well as the carbonation seemed minute and slow to release. Aroma seemed fruity, dominantly fruity - which is not the prerequisite of the style - though a dark honey, tree-bark and dusted, toasted malt addition made this sumptuous. It repeats in the mouth, quite sweet, heavily toasted and honeyish with evident herbal hops in back. Body is medium, it’s not robust though it has good presence and is highly viscous on the tongue and in the swallow. A supple fruit edge like the aroma, vinous, tangy, faintly citric adjoining the hops as it presses the palate. Finish has a ripe fruit tang - mandarin - and a soft, vine clipping bitterness before it drops off with a good, well-pronounced warmth from that alcohol. It doesn’t show until the end but it is definitely not shy, though not at all disturbing. Polished off, satisfied at my notes, I went down to the hostels bar to join others from around the world to enjoy litres of shitty cheap lager and maybe a few laughs. Best of the day. (50cL, 28/11/06, tasted in June ’06)

Pours a syrupy brown with little head. Has a very smooth body, and nice sweet aroma. Flavor is a little too sweet for my taste, but would be a good desert brew perhaps.

OOOH, the munchen maibock of it all. Hoping for something smooth and not too hard hitting since I see it is 7.2% alcohol. Pours transparent yellow brown orange - that’s 41K ohms. Fetidness of alcohol and flavor of stalwart hops. A little viscous in my steeler stein. Strong, like a McEwans ale. Finish lingers a bit with an overwelming impression, just a little too much. Nova Paka Valdstejn is a better Heller.

Had this on a couple of occassions by the liter. Sweet, golden bock. I’m just disappointed that I missed out on dopplebock season. Oh well, maybe next time. Buttery toffee flavor. A decent go to beer while visiting the Chinesischen Turm.

Alse a good maibock but not the best. Not very spectaculair.

11/11/06: Bottle.
Amber body. Creamy head, which quickly dissipates; lacing clings to glass. Sweet caramel flavor with roasted nuts.

green bottle. Brown color with an off- white head. smells a little buttery, butterscotch maybe? a little spicy, peppers. very malty flavor. very smooth and light. I would enjoy this beer more if I had more to fill a stein. One 330mL bottle just doen’t cut it. Three at a time is what this is made for!