Left Hand Rye Bock

Brewed by Left Hand Brewing Co.
Style: Dunkler Bock
Longmont, Colorado USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Snifter

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Murky and dark brown-burgundy. Light tan head is thin but enduring. Full-bodied, smooth and velvety. Very soft and creamy carbonation. Sweet malts, with notes of toffee, fig newtons, raisins, sugar-coated cereal and pears. Yeasty, chewy and wholesome. Earthy hops were slightly zingy and citrusy (orange); just a little bitterness in the aftertaste. Rather flavorful beer.

UPDATED: OCT 4, 2007 2007 bottle. Head is initially large, frothy, light brown, mostly lasting. Body is hazy dark amber, bottle conditioned. Aroma is moderately malty (toasted bread, caramel, cookie, roasted nuts), lightly hoppy (herbs, resin), lightly yeasty (cobwebs), with notes of toffee, clove. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly acidic, moderately to heavily bitter. Medium body, velvety texture, lively carbonation, lightly to moderately alcoholic. I think the original (anniversary) batch was a little better (more going on in the nose?), but this latest tweak is still pretty darned good stuff...especially nice malt character (very German-smelling, which is rare in American renditions, so did they use double decoction, I wonder?). Bitterness is just a little excessive, but that’s better than being overly sweet. This is Left Hand’s best beer. The only thing I don’t like is the damned corks...every single corked LH brew I’ve ever had has been nearly impossible to get out of the bottle (pliers are required). Doesn’t affect the score, mind you, but still annoying.