Germany’s Spring Lager

The Spring Equinox has come and gone, and all is abloom in the south. Traditionally, in Germany, a wonderful, dark lager that had been aging deep in caves to become a strong, malty brew was brought forth at the beginning of spring.
The zodiac sign of Capricorn is given to the time frame between Dec. 22 and Jan. 20. The word bock also means goat in German. The two points are valid; most bocks are brewed late in the year, and are kept in caves or cellars to ferment until spring. Also, most bocks from Germany make use of a picture of a goat or ram on their labels.
Although the style of beer known as bock may have originated in Einbeck, Germany, in the 14th century with the name ‘bock’ being a transformation of the name ‘beck’, it is the town of Munich in Bavaria that claims most of the credit for the style, the beer that is known as bock today, and all subsequent sub-styles of bock that have been produced since the 17th century.
A hearty brew, sustaining and warming, bock is a lager beer of strong tastes, deep amber colors and higher alcohol content than many of Germany’s other styles of beer. Malts dominate the flavor, with sweetness to varying degrees, but they offer just enough hop presence to keep the sweetness from becoming cloying. Alcohol is often present in a bocks taste and smell, but it blends well with the strong malt content of the beer. Although the color, taste, mouthfeel and alcohol level may make these beers seem like an ale, bocks are bottom-fermenting lagers, but spend considerably more time in the cold storage than would your typical yellow lager beer.
If you think an all-malt lager is a shock for your typical macro light beer drinker, then the powerful malt and alcohol combination of a traditional bock might knock one out. Still, true bock beers are hard to come by in this country. However, a great beginner bock is available.  from the Mahrs Bräu in Bamberg, Germany is a perfect starting point for moving into the world of highly malted lager beers.
This bock is lighter in color than most, pouring a dark golden hazy color, with a small head of white cream and leaving a thin layer atop the beer, fizzy at first then little to no streams of bubbles from the glass. The aroma is quite nice, giving a variety of scents: honey to begin, with possibly vanilla, followed by fresh bread and maybe even a hint of caramel, definitely German malts.
The flavor is where the beer really stands up and becomes a winner, as bock flavors emanate from an almost non-bock looking pint. Malt and sweetness dominates, but does not bother the palate. It’s a caramel/toffee taste, not too far removed from a sweet cup of tea, even a nutty bit shows up later on, as a dryness takes over. The dry finish has some lemon and hop nuance, but this just adds to the enjoyment of the beer.
This is an extremely enjoyable beer, with complex changes in aroma and flavor as it warms to room temperature. Definitely easier and lighter than most bocks, it might even fall into the category of Helles or Maibock (lighter bock), but the Mahr’s brewery calls it a bock, so why not. Just enjoy the gift from Germany, and be careful, at 6.5% ABV, it might sneak up on you and kick you in the face, hence the goat. Enjoy the brews … Cheers.
Gene’s Haufbrau has more than 200 beers in bottles or on tap. Gene’s is located at
817 Savannah Hwy. 225-GENE. E-mail the Beer Snob at publisher@westof.net.