How To

How to Identify Bock-Style Beer

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

Bock-style beer originated in Einbeck, Germany, during the Medieval period. Its high calorie content was used to sustain monks during the Lenten fast. Bock is probably a corruption of Einbeck and is also German for "goat," which may refer to the extra "kick" of this style of beer. The following steps will show how to identify a bock-style beer.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Observe the color of a bock beer. It may range from a light copper to brown with red highlights. It has good clarity and the large, creamy head is an off-white.

  2. Step 2

    Taste the flavor of a traditional bock. The Munich and Vienna malts provide a rich, toasty flavor and a low amount of hops, allowing for a slightly sweet finish. The alcohol content is 6.3 to 7.2 percent and the carbonation is moderately low to moderate.

  3. Step 3

    Recognize a maibock, also known as a Helles bock. This version is more pale with a less malty flavor and may be more bitter, although the hop content is still relatively low. Maibocks usually have a peppery, spicy quality with a color ranging from light amber to deep gold.

  4. Step 4

    Study a Doppelbock. This Bavarian beer usually has a dark color ranging from deep gold to dark brown and an alcohol content that may exceed 10 percent. It has a strong malt flavor and darker versions may have a sweet chocolate aroma with little or no hop flavor.

  5. Step 5

    Examine a Eisbock. This specialty beer is made by freezing and removing the ice to increase the alcohol content above 14 percent. Eisbocks are a clean lager with a sweet malty taste and no hop flavor. The small head is caused by the extremely high alcohol content.

Post a Comment

Post a Comment
  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This

Related Ads

Food & Drink
Bethenny Frankel,

Meet Bethenny Frankel eHow's Food & Drink Expert.

Get Free Food & Drink Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US

eHow Food and Drink
eHow_eHow Food and Drink