Springtime In The Abbey
by The MonkSpring may bring to mind thoughts of the opposite sex and the birds and the bees for some people, but for us Monks it means something totally different — Maibock (and other bock-style) beer!
True maibocks tend to be lighter in color than other bock beers, like dopplebocks. They’re also usually a bit more hoppy and spicy than a dopplebock. (Dopplebocks are the most likely style of bock beer that most folks have tried.)
The prototype for the dopplebock is Paulaner Salvator. Salvator was originally brewed by monks and served during lent as a replacement for food.
Photo by dubswede
Modern Maibocks (Mai == May auf Deutsch) aren’t as heavily flavored as dopplebocks, but they keep all of the alcohol intact — the better to fortify a hungry monk through a fast!
Here in Texas we’re blessed with spring specific bocks from two breweries, as well as options from outside the state.
Bucking Bock is Rahr and Sons Brewing’s spring offering. Highly flavored (a little spicy, a little sweet) and with a nice alcohol kick, it’ll keep you warm on a cool March evening.
With the exception of last years AMAZING Summertime Wheat, this is my favorite of Rahr’s beers. I wish they made it year-round.
Saint Arnold’s spring beer is called, appropriately enough, Spring Bock. The Houston-based brewery is widely known for its seasonal beers, and Spring Bock doesn’t disappoint.
(Photo Courtesy Saint Arnold Brewing Company)
Spring Bock is lighter than Bucking Bock both in flavor and alcohol content, but still an excellent beer! Saint Arnold has taken an unfortunate turn toward “mass-marketifying” some of their year-round brews, but the seasonal releases (and special releases like Divine Reserve) keep the faith, as it were, with their fans.
The last of the trifecta of spring beers today comes to us from Anchor Brewing in San Francisco.
(Photo by yeasty123)
Anchor Bock Beer is darker in color than both of the other beers we’ve discussed so far, and while flavorful, the lower alcohol content makes it not as true to the Maibock style as the others we’ve discussed. Not a bad choice, but I always recommend drinking the local beer if it’s palatable and appropriate.
Summer is just around the corner, and that means seasonal pilseners and wheat beers! It’s never a bad time of year to be a beer drinker!
May the beer gods look down upon you and smile,
The Monk
Tags: anchor brewing, Beer Abbey, bock, rahr, saint arnold, spring, The Monk
3 Comments, Comments or Pings
Bernie
Nice Duckie.
Mar 31st, 2008
Adam "Whistler"
This Easter my brother in law and I cracked open a vintage (last year’s) Salvator that got lost in the back of the fridge from the previous Easter. It’s one of my favorite spring beers to enjoy along with the egg dying and such.
It is just me, or is Anchor Brewing overrated? I haven’t ever been that impressed with their offerings.
Apr 1st, 2008
steph
Mmmmm . . . Bucking Bock . . .
Apr 1st, 2008
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