Maibock or May Bock is a delicious style that is not only brewed specifically for spring, but its aroma and taste are perfect reminders that warmer weather, springtime blossoms and lying about in grassy fields are right around the corner (don't tell the folks in the northeast that...they're already planning a groundhog roasting). Last year at the Big Texas Beer Fest at Fair Park in Dallas, Franconia Brewing Company in McKinney, TX, tapped a cask of their Maibock at their booth...might be the best beer I'd ever had.
Another tasty beer for sping is a regular bock beer. First brewed in 14th century by German brewers in the town of Einbeck. A few centuries later, Munich brewers adapted the style, and, duee to their Bavarian accent, pronounced "Einbeck" as "ein Bock" which translates to a billy goat. The beer became known as "bock." To this day, as a visual pun, a goat often appears on bock labels. This past Sunday I was enjoying a wonderful bock at Wynkoop Brewery here in Denver. True, it was snowing outstide, but the clean caramel and sweet malty taste made me wish I had a chocolate bunny or a couple of peeps to bite into. Even though a bock is a lager beer, it still has enough refreshing qualities to lend itself to warming afternoons...or snowy Sundays.
Then there's the dopplebock. A big, bready, malty beer style that, if done properly, will make you feel like you've eaten a loaf of bread. Munich's Paulaner Friars originally brewed this beer to provide them sustenance while they fasted during Lent (hence, a springtime beer). They called it Salvator. Probably my favorite of this style is Ayinger's Celebrator. Such a big bock, there are little goats hanging around the bottleneck.
So now that it's spring...get out there and suck up some of those delicious springtime beers...and a few chocolate bunnies, to boot.
So now that it's spring...get out there and suck up some of those delicious springtime beers...and a few chocolate bunnies, to boot.
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