Bock

[delhalew]

http://www.bjcp.org/styles04/Category5.php
http://beeradvocate.com/articles/295

maibock/hellasbock
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/33

Doppelbock
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/35

Eisbock
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/36

[delhalew]

One of my favorite Maibocks is actually fermented with an ale yeast, rather than a lager yeast. Regardless, a Maibock it is.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3450/3246657818_116f341241.jpg

[delhalew]

Say Doppelbock, Susy.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wTjGT4mvsPQ/TDtUp1XzKWI/AAAAAAAAAZY/oHNOFGIo3XY/s1600/Celebrator1.jpg

[MeMyself&Me]

I generally find bock and maibock to be a bit boring. Doppelbock on the otherhand is something else. Celebrator is great. I do prefer Salvator though.

[delhalew]

I generally find bock and maibock to be a bit boring. Doppelbock on the otherhand is something else. Celebrator is great. I do prefer Salvator though.

http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/b/be/beer-paulaner-salvator-doppelbock.jpg

[delhalew]

Bells makes a good American craft brew Doppelbock.
Consecrator.
http://bythepint.com/sites/default/files/images/bells-consecrator-doppelbock-beer-review.preview.jpg

[MeMyself&Me]

Bells makes a good American craft brew Doppelbock.
Consecrator.
http://bythepint.com/sites/default/files/images/bells-consecrator-doppelbock-beer-review.preview.jpg

I'll have to look for that one. Haven't had it.

[MeMyself&Me]

If any of you homebrewers were at Bluebonnet this year, you probably had my Doppelbock on tap at the BCHA booth.

[delhalew]

If any of you homebrewers were at Bluebonnet this year, you probably had my Doppelbock on tap at the BCHA booth.

What is Bluebonnet?

[C&CDean]

My first bock beer was Dinkelacker. It's still my favorite.

[C&CDean]

Also, does anybody remember Michelob Bock? Bud Bock? I used to drink them back in the day.

[delhalew]

Also, does anybody remember Michelob Bock? Bud Bock? I used to drink them back in the day.

Most likely, Bud with caramel coloring.

[JohnnyMack]

Spaten Optimator is my favorite. Dopplebock is another great style for food pairings.

[OhU1]

Shiner Bock is the ultimate!!! ;)

[delhalew]

Shiner Bock is the ultimate!!! ;)

:D

[MeMyself&Me]

What is Bluebonnet?

It's a regional homebrew competition that dubs itself the largest 'single-site' homebrew competition in the world and it's held in the DFW metro every year in March. If you like craft beer, it's a great thing to check out whether you brew or not. If you do check it out, don't skip the Friday night events.

[delhalew]

It's a regional homebrew competition that dubs itself the largest 'single-site' homebrew competition in the world and it's held in the DFW metro every year in March. If you like craft beer, it's a great thing to check out whether you brew or not. If you do check it out, don't skip the Friday night events.

Sweet. I am a new homebrewer. When I have my chops down, it will be nice to have such a competition close by.

[MeMyself&Me]

Sweet. I am a new homebrewer. When I have my chops down, it will be nice to have such a competition close by.

Ahhh, that explains why you didn't know about it. I thought all us homebrewers in this area knew about bluebonnet. There was something like 1600 entries in various categories this last March I think. I recommend entering everything you make, good or bad, into whatever competitions you can find. Knowing your going to enter it always makes you keep high quality and practice in mind... ie no mailing it in and your beer will always improve. Also, unbiased critique is a great way to improve your craft.

[delhalew]

Ahhh, that explains why you didn't know about it. I thought all us homebrewers in this area knew about bluebonnet. There was something like 1600 entries in various categories this last March I think. I recommend entering everything you make, good or bad, into whatever competitions you can find. Knowing your going to enter it always makes you keep high quality and practice in mind... ie no mailing it in and your beer will always improve. Also, unbiased critique is a great way to improve your craft.

Yeah, I've been drinking craft brew for 15 years, but the reason I would like to enter beer is, I don't know what diacytl, DMS, or other off flavors taste like because for the most part, they don't exist in the beers I've been drinking.

Sorry for the inside baseball for those who have no idea wtf I'm talking about.

[MeMyself&Me]

You'll probably know diacytl when you come across it. It's actually good in small doses in the right beer... and really bad in others. Pilsner Urquil is a good example of a beer that has diacytl in a pleasant way. If you want to create diacytl on purpose, use S-04 yeast and ferment below 64F and drink young. I seem to always get diacytl with that combination.

DMS, you won't get at all with extract (unless via infection) and if you're an all-grainer, I don't think you'd ever see it if you boil at least an hour. The precursor to DMS is only present in very small amounts in modern malts. That's one of those things that homebrewers spend way too much time worrying about.

[delhalew]

I'm still expanding equipment. I'm three batches in doing partial mash. Will be ready for all grain soon. Everybody drinks the hell out of my beer, but I taste something I don't like. I think it will go away when I get more control over fermentation. 69-71 degrees is just too high for what I've been brewing. Maybe, I should do some Belgians in the meantime.

[MeMyself&Me]

Belgians are a good plan if you don't have a fridge to ferment in this time of year. Keep in mind the beer temp is going to be quite a bit higher than the temperature of the air around it during active fermentation cause the yeast do make its own heat. I'd go for Saisons, Triples, and Belgian Golden Strong Ales. All three do will with high temps and in the case of Saisons, extremely high temps. The problem with those is that they're best with a bit of aging so you'd be making beer now for winter. :( Not that you can't drink it early if you want too! :)

Really though, the single biggest improvement you can make to your beer is temperature controlled fermentation. If I'd known how much of an improvement it would be, it would have been my first equipment upgrade. Don't get me wrong, I loved my beer before I had the fermentation box but it got a LOT better afterwards.


Back on topic, sort of, one of the reasons I finally got the fermenter box (just a converted fridge) was because my wife's favorite beer back then was Morretti La Rosa which is more or less a doppelbock even though it doesn't claim to be. Not as good as Salvator, Celebrator, or Optimator, but it's pretty good.

[delhalew]

Belgians are a good plan if you don't have a fridge to ferment in this time of year. Keep in mind the beer temp is going to be quite a bit higher than the temperature of the air around it during active fermentation cause the yeast do make its own heat. I'd go for Saisons, Triples, and Belgian Golden Strong Ales. All three do will with high temps and in the case of Saisons, extremely high temps. The problem with those is that they're best with a bit of aging so you'd be making beer now for winter. :( Not that you can't drink it early if you want too! :)

Really though, the single biggest improvement you can make to your beer is temperature controlled fermentation. If I'd known how much of an improvement it would be, it would have been my first equipment upgrade. Don't get me wrong, I loved my beer before I had the fermentation box but it got a LOT better afterwards.


Back on topic, sort of, one of the reasons I finally got the fermenter box (just a converted fridge) was because my wife's favorite beer back then was Morretti La Rosa which is more or less a doppelbock even though it doesn't claim to be. Not as good as Salvator, Celebrator, or Optimator, but it's pretty good.

That settles it Belgian it is. Did you see the Belgian Ale thread?

My idea was that, whenever we try a new beer or think of something of note, we can resurrect the appropriate thread. So please add some of your favorite beers. I have been using these threads to put together shopping lists of new beers to try.

[delhalew]

A list...everybody likes lists.
http://www.beerinfo.com/index.php/pages/bestbockbeer.html

[C&CDean]

Spaten Optimator is my favorite. Dopplebock is another great style for food pairings.

They had Spaten Optimator at a pint night a while back. Good call, and cool glass to take home.

[OhU1]

Delhalew - great threads. If you haven't done one on Barley Wine that is a worthy style. I'm having a 2007 Sierra Nevada Bigfoot right now and it is awesome. (I have cases of old Bigfoot stocked in my closet going back to 2005).

[delhalew]

Delhalew - great threads. If you haven't done one on Barley Wine that is a worthy style. I'm having a 2007 Sierra Nevada Bigfoot right now and it is awesome. (I have cases of old Bigfoot stocked in my closet going back to 2005).

Barleywine it is. That will be tomorrows.

[delhalew]

I don't ever recall having a Golden Bock, but I've been enjoying the hell out of these this summer.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/55243
http://www.coasttocoastbeers.com/images/sierra_nevada/glissade_bottle-bottom.jpg