Mahrs Bräu Christmas Bock

Brewed by Mahrs Bräu
Style: Heller Bock
Bamberg, Oberfranken/Bayern, Germany

Nice for a change, but not, in my eyes (or mouth), a true bock. More flora than malt. Pours a little light. Good fruit comes through with some yeast notes.

Reminds one of a Maibock. Cloudy and straw-coloured. Full, vineous and malty nose, lots of honey, maybe cognac -- a bit like a Belgian ale with less yeast. Taste isn’t too complicated: sweet with a bitter, slightly alcoholic finish. Even after a year of storage, tastes fresh and organic. Oily, heavy, slightly sticky body. Nice.

Not quite up to the standards of a premium bock. Herbal, bread aroma. Amber colored, with a large but quickly fading head. Flavor is an odd mixture of herbs and bock sweetness.

Slightly hazy very effervescent faded golden hue. Head is white, thin, mostly diminishing. Big bready nose, french toast and honey maltiness. Herbal butteriness blends in with the focused breadiness in most friendly manners, gentle fruity (notably citrusy) undertones. Excellent mellow hoppiness, floral and herbal. Neglectable acidity, just enough sweetness. Good execution and balance if it doesn’t seem to fill a purpose, much less feel like anything related to christmas.

Orange-yellow with a thin head. Light aroma with mellon and alcohol at the edges and perhaps a ginger note. Flavours that are only hinted at in the nose come through full force in the taste. A touch of zest, strong mellon, ginger and dried fruit. A long ginger-fruit finish.

Expired March 2005 bottle. light fruity aroma, touch of gingerbread. Pours an murky orange, minimal head. Light colour for a bock. A refined and tasty brew. Yeast flavours, sweet fruit. Alcohol is well hidden. Yum.

Pours dark golden with a foamy white head, that mostly recedes. Sweet fruity aroma of figs, caramel, dark bread, and a hint of spices (cinnamon) that probably weren’t added to this German beer. Taste is sweet and spicy, with a nice warming quality. A dusty yeast quality, that some people may not appreciate. Spicy finish that is moderately sweet, moderately bitter, and lightly acidic.

Pour is deep golden with a head that was at first big then faded to an off white skin...smell was sweet and yeasty...horrible bitter taste...blech blech blech...aweful...