 GarrettB (438), Seattle, Washington, USA
Aug 7, 2008
Yet another Christmas beer! No wonder I was looking a bit on the paunchy Santa side by New Year’s. This round belongs to the Bamberger Mahr’s Brau, an advertised Christmas bock. The thin, tan head quickly hollows itself out after the pour into a halo shape. The body is dark, but not oily (is this because it is a lager?) with a tree bark brown hue that omits entirely the red flashes I’m used to seeing on the stray edges of the beer in good lighting. A dry and chalky aroma emanates from the Christmas Bock, alongside a mature wine sweetness and a sizeable hit of malts. Again, I am startled by the absence of what I might take for granted in a dark ale - the presence of chocolate and coffee scents. But I find this omission refreshing. The vinous grape quality is unique, and the white oily fish and soy sauce character buried deep inside a muscat tunnel make for a curious but delicious smell. So far my senses had convinced me that, though dark, this bock was largely different from the dark ales I had become accustomed to, but the flavor was shockingly deep and heavy, back to the ale type, but with only a moderate complexity. It’s salty, grainy and lacking sugar, imparting a burnt bread savory flavor. A tinge of deep maltiness nicely paired with a quality lager corn note and the emphatic salty, burnt bread taste makes this a perfect beer for those like me that like salty foods. Really, quite amazing, and it gets only better with warmth.
pojo41 (314), Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA
Jan 3, 2009 Bottle. My Christmas bock was not a helles. It poured a deep dark brown with an off-white head that didn’t last long. Aromas of dark malt and caramel. crisp clean flavor of caramel malt with enough hops to keep from being too sweet.Very good mouthfeel. Easy drinking.
santoslhalper (311), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Jan 1, 2009 Generally I’m not a fan of pale bocks, but this one is delicious. Nice balance between sticky sweet malts and sharp, biting hops. Quite drinkable. One of the better examples of the style.
astrofrk (114), Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Dec 25, 2008 Copper. Small, fast head. Aroma: Blend of seasonal hers, malt. Flavor: Same + caramel, sweet. Bitter finish.
hellbilly (1014), scottsdale über alles, Arizona, USA
Dec 23, 2008 on tap at papago.
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hazy pale gold/straw color with a soft white head and an abundance of spotty lacing.
it smells quite dry... almost like a bale of straw mixed with a bunch of earthy yeast, lemon, vegetables and spices. it*s quite odd and definitely not what i was expecting.
the palate is dry yet there is a good bit of malty sweetness present. the flavor is rather hearty and robust with more vegetables, possibly cooked corn combined with straw, grass and yeast with a spicy hoppy finish. medium body is somehow heavy and slick.
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i*m not really sure what to call this... as there seems to be some discrepancies in every review.
6/3/6/3/12/3.0
Butters (733), Temporarily in Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Dec 8, 2008 500ml bottled on 48 08. Pours a clear dull gold with vibrant white head. Aroma is sweet malt, vanilla, and banana. Flavor is very metallic, like copper or brass and some notes of alcohol. Medium body with moderately low carbonation and a soft mouthfeel. Not horrible if you get past the $6 pricetag and the metallic, but thats quite a step...
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