The Terminus of Bock Beers

Bayerischer Bahnhof -- or the Bavarian Station -- is the oldest railway station in Leipzig.  The station was built by the Saxon-Bavarian Railway Line and it opened in 1842.  Shortly thereafter, the station was taken over by the Royal Saxon State Railways, which used it as the "gateway" to the south.  At the height of the station, nearly a million people a year would board trains for destinations in Bavaria, Austria or Italy.  The station continued to operate until the Second World War when it, like most of Leipzig was damaged or reduced to rubble by Allied bombers.  

The station did arise again out of the ruin, but a lack of funding prevented the station from fully achieving its old glory.  It was not until the end of the twentieth century when efforts were undertaken to fully restore the old railway station.  The rejuvenation of the station also led to new things, including beer.

The new station included a new restaurant and brewery, Bayerischer Bahnhof.  The brewer specializes in Gose beer, which is a beer style that is brewed in Saxony.  However, it also produces other styles of beer, such as the Holzbock.   The name "Holzbock" is German for "Wood Bock," and it is also the German word for "tick."  Setting aside that last bit of information, the beer is brewed with 80% Vienna Malt, 20% Melanoidin and Carotid malts, along with hops from the Czech Republic and Pilsner yeast.  The beer has a 2 week fermentation, followed by a 6 week lagering. The last two weeks of the lagering are done with strong toast oak chips.

The Holzbock pours an orange color, with a large foam resulting from the substantial carbonation of the beer.  The beer has an interesting flavor, suggestive of grass, and hay.  These elements are a little interesting and, quite frankly, odd for an oak-aged or "oak-storaged" beer.  Some of these flavors, also carry over to the taste of the beer, along with flavors that suggest a little Brettanomyces or wild yeast.  Brettanomyces does not necessarily bother me (or most Belgians, for that matter).  It is just not what I would have expected in the beer.  Nevertheless, I also was able to detect what I did expect from the use of the oak chips, and that is a certain oakiness in the beer.  Overall, I think that the beer was good, but that it probably should have been aged in oak barrels, rather than adding oak chips.  The aging in the barrels would have allowed for a more refined oak flavor and also allowed for perhaps better control with respect to wild yeast.  Still, the fact that this review is being posted means that I liked the beer enough to share my thoughts.  

I found this beer at a store in Elkton, Maryland, which is the only place where I have seen it.  It had been sitting in our basement for a few months and I don't remember how much the beer cost.  Most likely, the beer was probably between $12.99 and $16.99.

ENJOY!

The Brew Kettle Big Horn Bock

Germany has a rich beer history, going back centuries.  For example, during the 14th century, brewers in the town of Einbeck brewed a dark, lightly hopped but very malty ale.  A couple of hundred years later, in the 16th century, brewers in Munich adopted the beer style, but adapted it to the lager style.  Supposedly, Bavarians would pronounce the town "Einbeck" as "ein Bock," and, hence the beer of Einbeck got its name, "Bock."  (It should be noted that "ein Bock" also means "billy goat.")

Thousands of miles away from Bavaria, The Brew Kettle brews its "Big Horn Bock."  This beer is not brewed in the traditional bock style; instead, it is brewed in the helles style.  The "helles" style dates back to the Spaten Brewery, which began to brew lighter beers, which it dubbed as "helles," which is German for light colored.  The brewers referred to their beers as "helles" to distinguish them from doppelbocks.  Eventually, brewers tried to strike a balance between the two beers, brewing a bock beer in the helles style, which is also known as a Maibock.

The Big Horn Bock pours an amber color, which what a little surprising to me, because I expected a more golden color.  However, amber colors are certainly within the Helles Bock style.  The aroma of the beer is relatively light, especially compared to some of the recent beers that I've reviewed.  There is a slight malty nose to the beer.  The taste of the beer heavily emphasizes the malts, with almost no hop flavors to be found.  I expected a little more of a hop flavor, but, I was certainly not disappointed in any way.  This is a good beer that reflects its style.

The Big Horn Bock is a very drinkable beer and it is a good beer for people who do not like hoppy beers like pale ales.  Although the beer is available in bottles, those bottles are sold at The Brew Kettle restaurant in Strongsville.

ENJOY!

For more on the history of bock beers and helles beers, check out Wikipedia.  For more about the Maibock or Helles Bock style, check out the Beer Certification Judge Program.