Mendocino Spring Seasonal Bock

Brewed by Mendocino Brewing Company
Style: Heller Bock
Hopland, California USA

The appearance is a glassy, honey-colored orange. Spotty lace, minimal watery head. A pale malt with a very mild, spicy hop. Roasted malt aroma with a naughty splash of liqueur alcohol. The aroma is very light but good. A hint of roasted toffee flavor in the malt, with a conspicuous layer of alcohol. becomes more burnt, more bitter as it warms. Not bad. Pale malt blooms at bit at the end. A smooth, buttery feel. A mild sting on the way down. A mild, roasted bock. Not too bitter, but strong. A solid beer.

Pours amber. A malty aroma with a little something else I can’t put my finger on. Malty flavor a bit too much. A bit heavy and sweet. A little astringent.

Clean hay with hints of fig. Dark amber, headless. Fig and honey with a piney finish, a bit of toffee at midpalate. These aren’t my favorite flavors, but they do complement each other very well. Good transition and balance. Well made. Alcohol is noticeable, but not overstated. This is a good bock.

Bottle: Pours amber with a light head. Nose of sweet caramel and light fruity hops. Nutty flavor with more fruit and caramel and a lightly toasty bitter tail. Not too bad, not usually a fan of the bocks.

Copper/amber. Off white head. Malt forward brew with notes of cookie, caramel, toffee, bread, spent grains and just a hint of hop bitterness on the end. Medium to medium/full body is smooth with some richness. A bit heavy for FL Springtime, but a decent brew.

From a bottle poured brown with a small head. Malty flavor with a quick finish.

Murky amber color with a thin off-white head and good lacing. Aroma is fruit (hint of apple) and caramel malt. Sweet taste up front, followed by a rich malt, then finishes dry and tangy.

Pours orange-amber with an off white head. Aroma is toasty malt and caramel. Flavor is sweet malt, grain, and toast.