Mahrs Bräu Christmas Bock

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

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.

Deep clear chestnut. Very fine beige head settles relatively quickly to a thin cap. Nose is rich, deep brown bready malt mixed with spicy German hops. Slight fruitiness to it in the form of some dried cherry and orange zest notes. Just a hint of rumminess, but it adds complexity rather than sticking out inappropriately. Beautiful. Medium-full in the mouth. Just waves of malt, cut sharply by a very welcome, robust hop bitterness. Very long and lingering. Great bock here. Wonderfully low carbonation lets the rich maltiness seep into every nook and cranny of the mouth. It’s really the hops that clean the palate for the next sip, and boy, I can’t wait to take the next one. Perilously drinkable. Please, oh please, let them brew this again next year. I promise to buy a keg.

I really enjoyed this festive bock. It was smooth and malty. A nice, lacy color. Hints of honey, caramel, vanilla all lend themselves to a rather nice and unoffending sweetness.

Pours a nice amber, topped by less than an inch of nearly white foam that sticks around briefly then fades almost completely away. Mild aroma of sweet and biscuity malt. Although it is pretty mild, I like the flavor - biscuity malt that reminds me of graham crackers, lightly sweet but really more toasted and fairly dry in the finish. Clean and smooth, with a touch of hops in the finish providing nice balance. Medium body, moderate carbonation. I don’t know what makes this a ’Christmas’ bock, as nothing in this beer really stands out. But taken all together - it is mighty fine.

Very enjoyable bock. Nice hop bite. Malty aroma. Nice golden color. It a good winter beer. I enjoyed it.

Light amber color, big bountiful head with some nice lacing. Aroma has some nice touches of spices, hops and honey. Sweet semi-malt and hoppy, honey flavor. Has a very smooth finish. Has some small undertones of a mead. A great find at Sun Devil Liquor in Mesa, Az

This is a very solid bock, and I have to say I’m thinking its under-rated! Bronze color with a good sized beige head. Light lacing. Aroma is ashy roast, toffeeish melanoidins and sweet candy. Flavor is similar to the aroma, with notable ashy roastiness that is smooth and understated, with no tannins. This all balances the full sweetness, allowing the finish to be balanced without alot of hops, but there’s a touch of spiciness to the finish. Rounded mouthfeel, very easy drinking. Plenty of caramelized earthiness in here.

Hazy dull gold colour. Deep fresh bread aroma. Full-bodied bock with luscious bready pale malts and slightly alcoholic firmness. Clean and rich. Delicious.