New Glarus Uff-da Bock

Brewed by New Glarus Brewing Company
Style: Dunkler Bock
New Glarus, Wisconsin USA

From a twist cap 12 oz. long neck brown bottle with a blurb on the right side of label. Poured a dark blackish brown with some faint red hues, a small tan head that quickly settled into a fine lacing. Aromas of burnt chocolate and roasted grain, a light fruitiness and whiffs of alcohol. Moderate carbonation, for me, too low, a softly crisp, smooth medium bodied mouthfeel, because of the low carbonation, there is a heaviness in the mouthfeel. The taste is best thing, for me, about this bock, burnt chocolate poured over dark fruits, a touch of cream, the alcohol provides a nice warmth in the palate and a dry, sweet roasted grainy finish. For me, the carbonation is too low, keeping this from being a first rate bock. I think more carbonation would bring a little more needed lightness to the body and would only help the taste.

Bottle. Dark brown with faint amber highlights and an off-white head. Rye and other grains dominate the aroma along with a touch of yeast. Taste follows with bran cereal notes becoming more pronounced along with some mild brown sugar. As I finish this I am wondering if this may count as a serving of fiber under the FDA guidelines.

Bottle. Thanks Bob Mack for the sample. Pours a dark brown with a medium off-white head that quickly dissolves with minor lacing. The nose is strong in chocolate and coffee, with some pleasant spices as well. The flavor is very strong on the coffee, almost like a coffee stout, but not as heavy a beer. The alcohol is masked by the flavor.

Pours dark brown with small beige head. Alcohol, caramel, and coffee aroma, too much coffee for me. Nice palate.

Late 2005 bottle from StewardofGondor, drunk on 6/10/06. Careful pour reveals medium-high to high clarity. Wonderfully deep magenta highlights, with brass and earthen tones near the edges and surface. A chestnut-coal brown from most outward appearances (not held to the light). Head is medium-beige and fades quickly to cover, providing ample lacing. Rich nuttiness is alleviated immediately by creamy vanilla tresses tipped by chocolate covered prunes. Inviting and boisterous for its strength, neither coffee nor bock-like wininess is overdone (or underdone). As usual, New Glarus shows off its strong-point (balance). Taking a sip, I’m surprised by the thick, chewy, nearly imperial stout-like cakey malts. Gooey chocolate and graham crackers roll about in the mouth, as yeast and melanoidins dry things out, while simultaneously adding that strong, dark fruitiness that adds complexity. On the very end, a hint of chocolate-tipped cigars is felt as the (roasted?) malt adds a touch of tobacoo/ashiness. With some time, the thickness lets up a bit as bready malts replace it. But the prunes and raisins never fail, and certainly the chocolate goes nowhere. I’ve seen doppelbocks that arent as strong as this stuff, but to its credit, it remains drinkable, not alcoholic and balanced in its attenuation. The carbonation is another plus here, as it seems natural and is very engaging without being intrusive. It’s been a while since I’ve had such a balanced and complex bock as this. Most just pulverize you with malt or deliver too much breadiness and oiliness. I could see a bit more crisp yeast bite on the end making this that much more special, but it’s difficult to gripe here. I’m getting peanut skins and very light tobacco on the finish, with the lively, lightly acidic dark berry notes leading all the way to the end and balancing the malts perfectly. New Glarus does it again.

Transparent dark brown with a minimal head. Dark chocolate, roasted burnt malts, raisins. caramel sugar, coffee. Lightly carbonated, medium bodied. Nice chewy palate. One of the better bocks that I have had.

Rerate. 12oz from the brewery, no date. I see this has been changed to the new "Dunkler Bock" category. Sits deep brown with a one finger beige head. Aroma of roasted and toasted malts, grain, vanilla, sweet raisins, and a bit of yeast. There seems to be a bit of a house aroma of most NG beers, and this has it--I must say, this doesn’t bug me at all like it does with the New Belgium brews. Flavor is again chocolatey and toasty malts, raisins, brown sugar, some indiscriminate nuts, coffee, and grain. Vanilla is very much in the background at best. Moderate carbonation with a medium body. Still quite nice. Old Rating follows. Bottle, no date. Pours a deep ruby-brown with a small beige head. Aroma of raisins, coffee, burnt sugar, caramel and roasted malts. Taste is the same with the coffee coming through a bit more. Very slight alcohol burn is noted on the finish, dry roasted malt finish. Light carbonation, medium to full-bodied. Very good bock. New Glarus is great. 9-4-8-3-15--3.9

Bottle courtesy of hopdog! Pours a dark, nearly opaque, brown. Small tan head, Nose is alcohol, caramel, dark rum soaked fruits, brown sugar, and chocolate notes. Taste relaxes on the alcohol and turns out rather pleasant and blanced. Sweet malts, soft roasty notes, chocolate, caramel, touch of brown sugar, dark fruits and light coffee -ish tones. Body is slick and smooth. Mild carbonation and medium overall feel. Finishes with lots of brown sugar and caramel notes. Light toasted malts, dark fruits and choco notes round this out. Rather nice bock!