Viking Brewing J.S. Bock

Brewed by Viking Brewing Company
Style: Heller Bock
Dallas, Wisconsin USA

slightly reddish copper color, had a thin white head that reduced down to some slight lacing, cloudy and a bit of sediment floating throughout. mildly sweet aroma, mostly malts, but just a hint of wet grass. a tingly mouthfeel was the first impression i got from this brew. the taste was even and crisp, very lite on the palate, with the malts being the ending flavor, but some hops beingthe residual taste on the palate. a very flavorful bock, especially for a helles, i have had others that were not as full in flavor, whereas this added some spices to the tail that livened it up a bit

Copper color is on the light end for a bock but is, contrary to some protestations, still within the style range. Didn’t encounter the "Viking Beer With No Carbonation" problem with this one -- formed a small-to-medium white head upon pour that eventually dissipated. Pleasant malty aroma with some sour grain notes. Hops adds dryness to the flavor without overbittering; some sour grassy notes and also some caramel malt sweetness but not as much as the aroma had promised. A touch of charming hop spiciness shows up as it warms. Could use a bit more body, though oddly, it seems to take on more body as it gets warmer. Finishes with a slightly watery palate that, again, becomes more substantial as it warms. An average bock that seemd better the last time I had it -- maybe it wasn’t as cold then??

Not true to style but an ok winter beer. Like most of this brewery’s offerings the texture is watery and the brew lacks sufficient carbonation. Appearance is similar, with somewhat deep amber tint. Aroma is a simple malt, but the flavor has some complexity in that a slight bock-like caramel sweetness makes its mark, along with nuances of pink grapefruit and aged rum.

not the most attractive beer, kind of a reddish amber with little or no head lighter in color that a bock should be. Not much of an aroma from the mug I am using. Taste is nice and malty but not as dark or strong as I envision bocks. I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy this beer but not terribly complex or interesting. satisfying though

Wispy hop aroma, some sulfur. Strange hint of spiced (cinnamon) apple. I have to admit I’m a little scared to taste this. Flavor is better than the aroma. Most of the really nasty smells blow off after a minute or two. Straightforward, moderately malty lager, not overly bockish. Not nearly as bad as I had feared, from the first aroma.

Gitchee Gumee Brewfest 2005. This is more me for a bock, with a good brown color. The aroma is of bread and earth. Flavors speak well of more bread and honey butter. A good malt finish.

Aroma is very enticing! Strong wafts of caramel and tangy granny smith apples. Pours a copper-red, with some cloudiness (sediment?). Flavors are suprisingly hoppy, although a rich caramel malt is prominent, with only a faint hint of apple. Aftertaste is a bit more bitter than I expected as well, and the other flavors cut out abruptly. Body is interesting in that it initially is very full and thick, a little gritty texture, but then fades as it goes down the throat to clean and watery. Doesn’t seem much like a bock, but it is a very pleasant brew.

I picked up some apple as well, but I don’t think they are intended to be there. There was a terrific bock aroma when I opened the bottle, but after pouring it I couldn’t find the aroma again. Light red. Considerable dry malt in the aftertaste. The flavor is strange, not like a standard bock at all; almost a mix of different lager styles as Wawood suggested. I wonder if this could be infected, or if there was a problem with the cap; Viking has issues with both of these defects.