Stoudts Blonde Double Mai-bock

Brewed by Stoudts Brewing Co.
Style: Heller Bock
Adamstown, Pennsylvania USA

This seasonal beer was picked up in 12 oz. bottles at Bullock’s on Sandy Plains Road. Once opened and poured into a goblet, the beer looked very clear, and possessed an attractive deep golden color. The head formed to one finger thick at first, but died down to a bubble collar soon. The carbonation visible in the body was on the light side, with slowly rising streamers of small bubbles.

The foremost aroma was that of restrained noble hops with a grassy and spicy character. Deeper inhalation revealed the underlying malt sweetness as well as provided hints of perfumey alcohol within. Taste was similarly layered, with a good deal of balance between the flavors. There was a little bit of corn like graininess here (or it may have been the residual honey), but it fit in well with the sweet malt. The smoothness imparted by lager strain of yeast was evident in the soft mouthfeel. The carbonation was bit stinging in the aftertaste, until it gave way to salty warmth.

Maibock is not a style I have come across frequently, so I can’t speak for the faithfulness of this beer to the claimed style. On it’s own merit, I found it to be an enjoyable strong lager.

Added honey is very apparent in the aroma and taste. Has that pilsnery bitterness that I hate but that’s just personal. Yeasty taste, full bodied and very carbonated. Glad I had a chance to try this but not my favorite of the bunch for the night.

amber in color. thick creamy frothy white head. smells like a pilsner with sweet light malts and a hint of hops. full and smooth palate. grainy, honey flavor. very sweet and full for such a light looking beer.

Pours a deep gold with a thick, long lasting head of creamy bone-colored foam. The flavor is delivered smoothly and is full and well rounded. Sweet malt and hops fall into balance in this one. Not too bad.

12oz Pours a light copper with an half inch of head ans lasting lacing. Somewhat weak aroma of sweet grain. Flavors of honey with a mild hop finish.

I’m a little confused here. I can’t decide if I really *like* this beer or not. One thing I don’t like is the buttered sweet potato aroma, with medicinal hints - it just doesn’t appeal. The flavor brings this beer back on par - with a fullness that is surely aided by the honey. The finish is solid, round and sweet. The hops only sneak in on the back end.

Dark copper orange pour with a small, but lasting white head. Earthy malt aroma, overall pretty weak. Creamy mouthfeel and medium bodied. bittering yet sweet finish. Alcohol evident in the finish. Little bit of yeast. Overall, not really that great in my opinion.

This beer is a rich, delicious, sweet, blond bock bier, that is brewed with pure honey. Honey works extremely well in this beer, adding some nice subtle touches of sweetness in aroma and flavor, some slickness in mouth feel, and a nice boost of alcohol. Stoudt’s Honey Maibock pours to a beautiful, bright, deep golden, blond color, with a thick and creamy white head, and a moderate amount of carbonation. This nose in this beer is very inviting, with lots of good sweet and pale malt aromas, paired with a light touch of honey sweetness, and some peppery alcohol. The palate is rich and full on the tongue with lots of sweet and pale malty flavors. The body is slick and full as it softly slides down. Stoudt’s Honey Maibock finishes with more sweet and malty flavors up front, then ends with a slightly warming, slightly cloying, soothing burn. This is an outstanding Maibock with really wonderful pale and sweet malt flavors, with some nice honey undertones. I love relaxing with this beer and slowly savoring it. Honey Maibock also makes an excellent desert beer, and would match well with a number of deserts, especially ones with caramel.