Ramstein Maibock

Brewed by High Point Brewing Company
Style: Heller Bock
Butler, New Jersey USA

04.29.06 TAPNY, but this is not my first sample of this excellent maibock. Like the Eisbock, this beer from High Point is highly anticipated and consistently outstanding. Unfortunately, it’s just about impossible to get your hands on outside of North Jersey or a couple of select pubs (none of which are EVER at the Jersey Shore). The aroma is one that returns memories of great experiences, those being previous opportunities to sample this very beer. Full of sweet-tart apple aromas and flavor enhanced with vanilla, tropical fruits, and a milky sweetness that lasts throughout. This may be the first time I’ve used ’milky sweetness’ but it truly is that -- sweet like whole milk, almost creamy, and yet never becoming cloying -- it’s not a sugary sweetness. The finish is all malt with the pilsner coming through in a glorious bite of grasses and herbs, touch acid-tart. Lovely beer.

Pours a clear medium to light amber with a nice fluffy off hwite head that fades slightly. Aroma of baked bread, light munich malts, toasted malts, and lightly nutty. Flavor has a very subtle smoky medicinal taste, but is mostly hidden by light munich malts, hints of caramel, and lightly nutty, with a decent bitter finish. Maibocks are one of my least favorite styles but this one was very well made and enjoyable.

I must concur with other raters thus far. This beer is exceptional! It pours a glorious golden color with a good lasting off-white head. Aroma of apples, vanilla, and sweet, sweet caramel. Tastes much the same, with a heavy body that is lusciously sweet and coating. Finishes cleanly. This is a bit unbalanced towards hops when it is too cold, but displays its finest qualities from cellar temp all the way up to room temp. I drank this all day yesterday (literally) and it did not get cloying. This is super-drinkable. What a fine beer!

Handbottle from dickinsonbeer. Hazy amber body with a tiny off-white head. The aroma is cotton candy, honey, dough, raisins and very light herbal hops. The flavor is lightly sweet, cotton candy, slightly fruits (golden) and light caramel. Medium/light body is soft, round and lightly carbonated. Very nice stuff. Thanks Paul.

On tap at the brewery, this is an amazing beer. Very tasty, with near perfect balance and character. Extremely drinkable for a beer of this strength. My favorite Ramstein brew. Excellent.

This is a Spring drinking beer for sure. On draught at Circa (where else), crisp, flavorful, toast and toffee and caramel in a refreshing lager format. Nice.

Look in the dictionary under Maibock, and this is what you will see. Only an incredibly great lager house can make them like this. Handbottled sample from dickinsonbeer, filled completely to the rim. Pours with a nice bubbled head, golden, gets still quickly. Toasted almond aroma, with faint tree bark. Caramel sweetness held in check by a flowery, pencil-shavings noble hops taste, all perfectly melded together so you can’t tell where the malt begins and the hops take over, or is that the other way around? A dash of salt in the flavor, too, which I find n some bocks. Warm and toasty in case your Spring is delayed, this is a true comfort beer. Slightly sticky and oily palate, as prescribed. Delicious.

Poured amber with a thick tan head. Good head retention and creaminess. There were hints of citrus, caramel malts and honey. Very sweet and malty taste which was quite bready. Very sweet citrus finish that was slightly bitter yet effective. Mouthfeel was near perfect because the flavors were well balanced and the alcohol was there but not overdone. Very easy drinking Maibock.