Triumph Winter Bock

Brewed by Triumph Brewing Company
Style: Dunkler Bock
Princeton, New Jersey USA

Date: 02/26/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

muddy dark red, frothy beige head, dark fruity aroma with earthy character, big body, lots of dark caramel malty sweetness, great fruity character, touch of gritty brown sugar sweetness, light bitterness,

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 4/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

Unlabeled bottle sampled on 2/26/07: Pours a slightly hazy dark copper with a wispy-lacing tan head. Toasty aged dark caramel malty aroma has a touch of German lager yeast. Body starts fairly full and earthy caramely sweet with some light fruity notes and a touch of bready yeast. Nicely balanced and true to style.

@New Hope–on tap-pours a big foamy white head that laces and amber color. Aroma is medium malt-faint caramel, medium fruit. Taste is medium malt-caramel, slight flat hops. Mild carbonation.

Unlabeled 750ml: Poured a hazy amber color with a small creamy beige head. The aroma had nice notes of aged caramel, raisins and other dark dried fruits. Light chocolate notes. The flavor was fruity with some notes of brown apples. Also notes of ginger bread cookies and golden raisins. Semi-dry with a moderate bitter finish. Some warmth.

On tap at New Hope. Pours a hazy deep amber with a thin lasting head and nice lace. Aroma is toffee, sticky sweet caramel, lightly nutty, and hints of herbal hops. Good full body with lots of toasted malts, caramel malts, and light nutty chocolate with some fruitiness. Good moderate body and mouthfeel. Good dark bock, but definitely not a doppelbock which I thought it was going to be- just a darker strong bock. Nice.

07.01.07 Growler from New Hope. Light brown color without much head but this growler is a week or so old. Some agitation brings forth a small top of loose beige foam. Aroma is not encouraging, a bit vegetal, murky, tannic, and woody. The flavor is toasty and full of rich malts, not all of then tasty. Earthy, hints of peat (probably my imagination), wet dirt (which I like), old herbs, and Goobers. Mouthfeel is pretty full and moderately astringent and this stuff is reminding me of so many generic _winter beers_ from the various micros of the US (think Smuttynose). Not nearly as good as Jay Mission’s dunkel - I wonder if he did this one, too?

Triumph New Hope. Clear copper body with a silky beige head. Buttery aroma with elements of brown butter and dark butterscotch. Also has notes of dark bread crusts and sweet fruit and candy. Flavor is of toasty Munich malt, medium sweet and clean. Sticky sweet palate. A decent bock overall.

On tap/growler from New Hope. Deep reddish brown hazy color that has a small head and a barleywine-ish look to it. Aroma of lightly roasted grains, a bit of wheat, and some hints of fruit/spices. Taste is very sweet & Grainy with a chewiness that doesn’t disappoint. Nice bock, pretty damn good winter brew. Well done by the guys at Triumph.