Gordon Biersch Heller Bock

Brewed by Gordon Biersch Brewing Company
Style: Heller Bock
San Jose, California USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Stein

Smelled faintly of alcohol, looks nice. Flavor is pretty smooth, but with just a hint of strength. Really quite drinkable.

Draft @ Washington DC location as Helles Bock: Pours a transparent bright golden with a stringy-lacing froth of white head. Aroma of rich, sweet pale malts with a touch of noble hops. Body starts with good fullness and smooth, finely dissolved carbonation with a sweet pale maltiness and some fresh noble hoppy bitter balance. Doesn’t have that corn flavor that I commonly find in Heller Bocks, which is definitely a good thing.

Draft @ Annapolis: Poured a darker shade of amber with not much head. The aroma was malts and nuts. The flavor was nutty and sweet malts. Overall, another easy drinker by this brewer.

On tap-Annapolis location-Copper colored w/o much head-similar to the Marzen; some malt flavor, roasted almonds, caramel. Nothing special, not bad, just pretty basic. There were a lot better things on tap during my visit.

On tap at their Annapolis location. This beer is different than the blonde bock I have previously had in bottles. Unfortunately, not a lot to set it apart. I wish this had the same complexity as their wonderful Czech Pilsner, but the pale malt was simple, big and chewy without a whole lot going on. Still, the beer was fine and even enjoyable.