HopTown Imperial Pale Bock

Formerly brewed at HopTown Brewing Company
Style: Doppelbock
Pleasanton, California USA

(On cask at the PP Real Ale Fest 2006) The reddish-orange body is topped by a medium thick head with little lacing left behind. The aroma is slightly sweet, full of apricot, lemon and tea notes. The flavor is very similar, but much sweeter. Medium bodied and silky smooth.

I could get about two sips down. With half pints of this stuff priced like full pints, I came very close to demanding my money back. I couldn’t taste anything elso proerly afterwards. This beer is so sugary sweet and syrupy and disgusting, with a strong alcohol presence. Whoever had the bright idea to make an imperial maibock is an idiot - it misses the point of being a light, slightly sweet springtime lager that’s very drinkable- HopTown’s beer is far from anything I’d expected or wanted to be surprised with.

On tap at Cato’s in Oakland. Nothing like what I would have expected. No awesome malt flavors. Harsh alcohol flavors. Massive unfermentable dextrin malt flavors. At least it wasn’t overly hoppy. Not good! Undrinkable.

(on-tap @ Cato’s) pint is a hazy, gold-tinted orange with a small white head that retains well and leaves ok lace. nose is a bit of toasted malt wrapped up in a cloud of solventy higher alcohol notes and medicinal phenols. tastes like a pretty ok maibock with a shot of vodka thrown in, maybe poured in a glass that had been sprayed with cheap perfume. ok, I didn’t expect much from an "Imperial Pale Bock", and even still I was dissapointed. hot, solventy finish, overly subdued malt - yuck.

Tasted on tap at the Bistro. This American Strong Ale pours a medium orange color from the tap. Small sized white foamy head. Aroma is fruity and sweet, with floral and earthy hops. Medium bodied American Strong Ale, in the lines of a very ramped up ESB/bitter. Malts are caramel, fruity and sweet. Hops are grapefruit and citrus, a touch earthy. Nice balance. Very smooth taste. Nice beer. Lots of hops and lots of malts. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish I clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.