Holsten Festbock

Brewed by Holsten-Brauerei (Carlsberg)
Style: Dunkler Bock
Hamburg, Germany

Serve in Dimpled mug, Snifter

Robe brune foncée très claire surmontée d’ne mousse beige éaisse qui s’estompe. Arômes de caramel et de malt. Saveurs de caramel et de noix.

[can at Berlin restaurant, Montreal] Clear, very dark brown with a thin flanel blanket top. Weak aroma of only noble hops. Lagery and spicy, melanoidin flavour with significant bitterness from malt, mingling with an alcohol flavour, fading to aluminium can. Medium body, warming, medium carbonation, clean.

Can (500ml). Dark brown-ruby color with thin tan head which disappears quickly. Aroma of roasted malts, coffee. A very flavourful and a rather strong dark beer. Body is a little thin. Alcohol is well hidden. Bitter finish. Without being great , this is a rather decent beer.

Can - October 2005 Pours black with a ruby huey. A white head dissapears too quickly only to remain a fade of its former self. The aroma part is the best on this one. Aroma is sweet, chocolate, grainy. Taste is sweet, but watery, medium carbonatation, too simple, very flat. Mouthfeel is thin. This one wasn´t bad but was boring and forgetable.

Can (500ml). Poured very deep clear copper with a large foamy beige head. Aroma is frankly vegetal - some dark roast malt, maybe even fruit, but earthy and composty. Taste is decent - mild dark malt, a touch of sour wine, some hop bitterness and prunes. Mouthfeel is average body at best, somewhat metallic. Hides its 7% well, at least. Another Holsten ehhh, better than some of theirs.

Looked like coke and was surprisingly thin for a 7% bock. But not too shabby somewhat maltish, sweet and a touch metallic (drank from a can)... leaves little lingering impression, but not unpleasant.

Clear brown colour with thin tan head.Mild malt nose with slight bread hints. Mild malt and alcohol taste with lingering mild malt finish.

A flavourful and strong dark beer. Looks very appetizing in a textured mug.