Yuengling Bock Beer - Review
Bock beer is sacred in Texas, so it’s only natural that we turn up our noses when we see a mass market brewer attempt the style. Something watery and half-baked just won’t do down here, and I know it’s not only Texans that feel this way about the malt-forward beer made for spring.
But Yuengling is America’s Oldest Brewery, and with that comes honor and respect, and I must admit, I quite like Yuengling’s Amber Lager since it landed here in Texas a few years ago. As far as mass market beers go, it’s top notch.
But the Bock is so specific and so loved. It’s malt-forward, but complex; it offers a full and rich mouthfeel, but begs to be quaffed in spring and summer while similar beers have their hold on fall and winter. And expecting so much from our beers (and our money) we have some reserves about Yuengling’s Bock.
The only way to find out is to Bock up and get to drinking, so let’s waste no time with this 5.3% ABV seasonal Bock beer from Yuengling.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Deep, deep copper color, clear, and topped with a rich, beige head. Very beautiful and very dark.
On the Nose--Caramel and roasted malt mingles with the slightest Noble hop character. I must say, it smells very authentic.
On the Palate--The first thing I’ll say is that it’s very smooth, checking that very important Bock box, because a traditional Bock should be smooth. And it should also be malty, and Yuengling’s is. First come the roasted notes from the Munich malt, and then the sweet and creamy caramel rushes in before a floral hop note slows the sweetness and lingers through the dry finish. The floral hop bitterness is clean, and it balances the complex and rich malt, preparing the drinker for another sip.
Final Thoughts:
I’ve already disclosed that I don’t mind a Yuengling lager every now and then. I think they make a pretty good lager compared to their macro counterparts, and I must say that their Bock beer only heightens that sentiment. A Bock needs to be malty, sweet, full-bodied, smooth, and gently balanced with Noble hops. If that’s my checklist, then Yuengling has every box (Bocks?) ticked.
There’s a complexity in the malt that can’t be denied, and the floral hops bring that necessary Noble character to the lager, of which it is—some microbreweries don’t make a lager but an ale. And speaking of lager, this one has that distinct Yuengling flavor, which shows continuity in the product, which is important to us in the Brew house.
It’s a surprisingly good Bock beer. Some may have qualms with the lower ABV, being only 5.3%, but most craft brew interpretations sit about there, with a few famous ones even lower than that, so I say this one is right in the middle.
It’s easy to get uppity about macro brewers, especially for us craft brew lovers, but this beer is worth a try. It’s seasonal, smooth, malty, and a good fit for a Bock-loving Texan.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew