The Basics of Bock Beer Styles
By David Nilsen
When we think of German lagers—or lagers in general—we tend to think of easy-drinking, moderate-strength beers we can drink one after another—Pilsner shining a brilliantly clear gold. Festbier the color of autumn sunlight. Schwarzbier as light in body as it is dark in color.
Germans love their beer, and they love to drink a lot of it (though less than you might expect, and certainly less than they used to), which means most German styles are moderate in alcohol, like the popular styles I just listed.
But that’s not the whole story of lager. The Bock family is full of lager styles that are burly and robust while retaining their drinkability. From rich and malty Doppelbock shepherding us through winter to bright but ample Maibock that welcomes us in spring, Bocks throw a wrench in the popular perception of what the word “lager” means.
Here are the three most common classic Bock styles:
Dunkles Bock—Also commonly just called “Bock", these malt-driven brown lagers are moderately strong and feature toasty, bready malt flavors, sometimes with a hint of caramel or dark fruit. Hop bitterness is low, and there is little to no hop or fermentation character.
Maibock—When well-brewed, these beers pull of a balancing act between robust flavor and lightness of step, encouraging drinkability while offering a bit of lingering warmth against the last vestiges of chill from late winter to early spring.
Doppelbock—These beers are strong and hearty, with robust malt flavors leading the way while hops and fermentation stay out of the sensory spotlight. Flavors of dark bread, bread crust, and toast form the foundation for darker versions, with dark fruit caramel, and even cocoa as more subtle accents. Alcohol warmth can be noticeable. While these beers offer the impression of sweetness, good examples will be well-attenuated and finish quite dry
Where did the name “Bock” come from? The word has a few meanings in German; one refers to a male goat or ram (it's from the same root as the English word “buck,” referring to a male deer). There has been some joking suggestion over the years that due to the strength of Bock styles, they were said to “kick like a goat,” and the name just stuck. Ayinger even hangs a small plastic goat around the neck of its Celebrator. The real story is rather more boring—it’s most likely a corruption of the name "Einbeck", the town in northern Germany whose beers Munich brewers based the first modern Bocks upon.
