St. Nikolaus Bock Bier - Pennsylvania Brewing Company

chinchill

South Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Poured from a 12oz bottle.
Clear, dark, red-brown ale with a good off-white head that fades slowly.
S: The aroma is mainly of roasted malts, with only faint hints of yeast and hops. Attractive but light.
T: The taste is well-balanced but a bit under-flavored.
M: Medium body seems a bit too thin, good, if slightly high, near-medium carbonation.

O: Certainly a good beer, but tame for style (versus European versions): a bock leaning towards an amber

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 02:54:25 | More by chinchill

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on 2013-01-02 in Columbia, PA

A - Semi-clear ruby brown with a 1-finger tan head that fades fast and leaves light lacing.

S - A hint of cinammon roll, some roasted grain, sweet, not very strong.

T - Toasted wheat bread, dried cherry, citrus, fig, earthy spice, hop bitterness. Dries nicely and leaves a sweet/sour and dark fruit flavor along with some roasted bitterness. I like the flavors.

M - Medium body and light-medium carbonation. Mildly smooth.

O - An enjoyable bock beer. Satisfying taste and mouthfeel. Easy to drink. Not too sweet or cloying.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 22:13:05 | More by Tucquan

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz.

Pours a deep brown, off white lacing.

Smells of caramel, figs, cinnamon and cloves.

Bready slightly toasty malts with some cinnamon spice flavor. Hint of bitterness like nuts in the aftertaste.

Medium body with mild carbonation on the roof of the mouth.

An interesting bock, decent flavor, and some "Christmas" spice to it compared to other bocks. I've had the stronger version of this beer as well and I prefer that, but this is pretty good too and I'd seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 23:47:04 | More by Cylinsier

argock

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into a Samuel Adams Perfect Pint glass. No freshness date.

A: Chestnut brown with nice clarity and a generous 1-2 finger off-white head with decent retention and very intricate lace around the rim.

S: Sweet caramel and toffee with some black cherry overtones. Also some bready aromas and crisp herbal noble hops.

T: A very tasty bock with bready but slightly sweet caramel maltiness, light cracker, and then light sour cherry in the finish. The hopping is not over-bitter at all and really nicely balances the malt components. The bitterness does grow through the beer and is more striking in the aftertaste. The roasted malt described on the label is most prominent in the first few sips but dissipates.

M: Medium body and carbonation with enough activity to keep it lively on the palate.

O: A really nice bock which is a great alternative to spiced winter warmers which I hate. Penn knocks another German lager style for at least a triple if not a homer.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 03:59:18 | More by argock

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Pittsburgh International airport the other day. A pleasant surprise to see a beer like this at an airport.

The beer pours a fairly dark brown color with fairly decent head retention and light lacing. Don't get a whole lot on the nose, just some light chocolate and a hint of burnt toast. The beer is a bit better on the palate, as I get light vanilla, chocolate, some underlying roasty malt and a hint of burnt toast. The beer is bit light and watery on the palate otherwise, and the finish is bit short as well. Acohol is completely unnoticeable in this beer, and so drinkability is pretty good.

Having just had the Ayinger Celebrator a few days ago, it's pretty hard not to be a bit critical of this beer. While it has decent flavors, the beer is otherwise light, simple and fairly one dimensional. Not sure this is one I need to try again any time soon.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2012 17:19:30 | More by johnmichaelsen

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.78/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap in a 10 oz chalice glass

Appearance – The beer is served a deep brown color with a small tan head. The head fades very fast to leave only a light amount of lacing.

Smell – The aroma was chocolaty with hints of caramel and honey sweetness. Mixed with these sweeter aromas was a nice backbone of a roasted malt and brown bread aroma with a very light almost earthy smell rounding it all out.

Taste – The taste begins of toasted malt mixed with a bit of chocolate. Upfront there is also some sweetness of a caramel taste. The chocolate grows a bit stronger more toward the middle with a honey flavor coming in as well. While it was on the slightly more sweet side upfront more toward the end it dries out a bit as some holiday spice and nut flavors come to the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer was on the average side in terms of creaminess with a carbonation level that was on the slightly lower to average side. It keep it rather easy drinking, but really was not too light to where it took away from the darker flavors.

Overall – A pretty nice holiday brew. Not overly spiced and when combined with its roast and good level of carbonation and thickness made for a good easily holiday drinker.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2012 01:23:09 | More by Darkmagus82

barczar

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear deep amber with caramel highlights and a solid one finger light khaki head that lingers, leaving lacing.

Aroma is toffee, caramel, and bready, toasted malt. A slight nuttiness surfaces.

Sweet caramel malt carries the flavor, with toasted bread crust leading to a fairly dry, bitter, slightly spicy finish. Cola flavors surface as it warms

Body is moderate, with moderate carbonation. There's a slight alcohol warmth.

Overall, fairly one note. More malt complexity would really improve the experience. Somewhat weak.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 05:46:16 | More by barczar

Ryan011235

Ohio

2.55/5  rDev -35.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into an A-B flute on 2/27/12

Dark brown in the glass with rust and copper highlights. The two finger head crackles away in no time leaving little in the way of retention, save for a fizzy collar. Only a few specks of lacing.

The aroma is earthy, showing notes of toasted grain and chocolate. It has the semblance of cereal with some manner of chocolate or cocoa added at the industrial level.

The taste is similar to the aroma, though it has a slightly more notable roasted presence. That said, there's a generic taste to it; the grain and modest cocoa offset seem dull and one dimensional.

The feel is rather smooth, accented by a rolling carbonation that gets a tad more pointed toward the finish. Speaking of, the finish is earthy and a bit dirty.

This isn't totally bad; I'll finish the bottle, but it's easily on the lesser side of average. It's merely forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 05:20:25 | More by Ryan011235

57md

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark chocolate brown with little head. Sweet malt is definitely present in the nose. Excellent combination of roasted and sweet malt flavor with a mild bitter finish.

This is a fitting seasonal offering that I look forward to every time Christmas rolls around.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 06:57:41 | More by 57md

IronLover

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark brown in color with reddish hues and good clarity. Poured with a very light brown, creamy foam that reduced to a soapy cap that left creamy sheets of lacing on the glass. Great aroma! Lightly roasted malt, chocolate malt and nutty aromas with a hint of coffee at the end. Creamy, light, delicate feel. Surprisingly light bodied. Roasted malt and toffee flavors up front, smooth chocolate thru the middle. Light ripe fruit flavors, a hint of burnt malt and a bit of bitter hoppiness at the finish. Lots of different flavors and aromas going on. This was much better than I expected it to be.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 22:43:58 | More by IronLover

Bierman9

New Hampshire

3.68/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a pint of this at the Georgetown Deli on 25JAN12 during a lunch-stop enroute to Ft Indiantown Gap.

My shaker pint glass contained a clear, deep, deep chestnut offering. Carbo was steady and plenty, and the head was creamy and tan, leaving good lacing. The aroma was malty caramel and a hint of sweetness. Body was good, with it being a medium all the way, and the feel was pretty smooth.

Light sweetness was the first flavor-component noted. It was malty good, with more caramel and some toffee playing on the palate. It had what was almost a toasty character to it, though the hopping was quite restrained at the finish. A decent accompaniment to my buffalo chicken sub, all in all. Prosit!

3.68/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1433

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2012 19:38:05 | More by Bierman9

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Rich, tight head that settles slowly and rocky. Leaves a blanket of chunky lace. Reasonably clear broth that is light ruby-brown.

Disappointing smell. There's an element of unwanted sourness (especially in a Bock). Also, I detect a decaying meat smell.

The flavor is a huge improvement to the smell. None of the negative attributes show up here. Instead, there is a caramel malt flavor without much sweetness. This stays true to its roots, but there is a subtle hop bitterness in the swallow that provides superb balance for the style. Thin with a high carbonation, but this also fits the profile.

Get by the smell and you have a near perfect example of an American styled Bock.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 23:10:58 | More by smcolw

frenchblood21

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From bottle into tulip.

Appearance- Dark brown...no head whatsoever. Decent lacing.

Smell- Brown sugar, malt and honey hit me right away. Yeast and hops come through in the end.

Taste- So much different than the nose. Much more hops. Malty with honey and spices.

Mouthfeel- Great feeling in your mouth. Just right.

Overall- I could never drink a whole 6 pack of this stuff, but one or two on a cold night does a body good.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 01:52:05 | More by frenchblood21

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: ½ inch head, moderate carbonation, dark brown in color, clear

Smell: toasted malt

Taste: toasted malt, chocolate, and slight holiday spicing

Mouthfeel: slightly sweet, moderate carbonation, medium bodied

Overall: An ok holiday offering. I could certainly drink a six but for the price, I think I may pass. None of the flavors are overpowering and I think this beer could use a bit more ummph.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 14:22:18 | More by tigg924

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-dark brown with a slightly ruby tint. thin tan head

S-syrupy holiday spices. somewhat fruity. faint smell.

T-comes in with a solid taste of pumperknickel bread, caramel, and winter spices. the after-taste is strong, matching with some creaminess and bitterness. good flavors and strong flavors.

M-creamy low carbonation with a slightly dry finish

O-doesn't quite stand up to the test of time. its actually a great bock, but it seems to taste more and more syrupy as i drink this. i'll admit that i've ordered this several times though. its definitely not a bad beer when options are limited.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2012 03:04:26 | More by AdamBear

nukem5

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It's in my kegerator right now about 1/4 full ,1/4 bbl, and just relised I had never submitted a review for one of my fav local holiday beers.

A:Pours a great coffee color with a thick pillowy cap of foamy goodness laying on the top invitingly.

S: The aromas present are as folows,Caramel, coffee, rich dark malts, and some fruity flavors almost cherry.

T: Taste is of mostly the same but there is a quality and balance in there that begs drink me, the taste is very malt oriented with accents of coffee, caramel, and the fruity character possibly from the yeast used.

M: Mouth feel is of a medium bodied beer with a good carbonation level some tiny legs clinging to the walls of the glass.

O: Overall I do enjoy this annually with friends and family, it has become tradition in this home for this holiday beer to be around. Thanks to the crew at the Penn Brewery for the great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2012 00:54:48 | More by nukem5

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bought a variety case last winter. Kept in my beer fridge for a nice cold night like tonight. Poured into a favorite mug of mine.

A: pours a clear amber with ruby highlights. Moderately strong carbonation throughout. Nice head that fades to an 1/8-inch coating. Some suds cling to the side of the glass as volume goes down.

S: notes of caramel, chocolate, toast, bread, and caramelized sugars. Mostly malts going on in this one.

T: tastes of caramelized brown sugar with dark fruit and a touch of spiciness. A very well made beer.

M: medium tasting with nice even bitterness. Wish this had a bigger body and a more fuller feel.

O: a very solid offering from a nice Pennsylvania brewery. Will go back to this one anytime again. Prost!

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 22:59:02 | More by jwhancher

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours a dark ruby brown with a small ivory head.

Aroma is nutty, slightly roasted, woody, earthy, sweet and malty.

Taste has a distinct nuttiness that is enjoyable. Vanilla sweetness complements earthy oak flavors.

Medium bodied and sessionable.

Quality Bock

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 18:29:05 | More by TheMultiYeast

deltatauhobbit

Maine

3.78/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pour an amber/light brown color with a good sized head, fades at a slow rate and leaves a thin cap on top, only small bits of lacing on the glass.

Smell is heavily caramel malt, dash of molasses and sweetness, there is faded hop presence that adds a touch of bitterness to the nose.

Taste is quite smooth with a subtle slickness, caramel malt is the primary, not overly sweet but just the right amount with a subdued hop bitterness in the aftertaste to balance things.

Overall a very solid Bock, it doesn't reinvent the wheel but it rolls just fine, definitely hits the spot during the Holidays.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 22:02:31 | More by deltatauhobbit

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: very dark red. or brown. it's hard to say exactly. looks like more of a brown. head started off super thick, but the retention isnt exactly lust-worthy. good lacing though.

S: earthy hop undertones interact with caramel and a slight burnt brown sugar. some roasted in there too. not a ton, but similar to the roast you would find on a roasted chicken.

T: nice and roasted off the bat. a moderate amount of bitterness backs the roasted grain. a little bit of toast too. probably munich malt. super clean flavors. solid bock lager.

M: moderate carbonation level. i would call this a solid medium body. not too much or too light.

D: a solid bock sampling from penn. very enjoyable brew with clean aromas/flavors. glad i picked this one up in my make-shift holiday/winter mix-six.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 03:20:22 | More by Jimmys

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Deep ruby red, appears to be clear when held up to light. Pours a tall medium brown head with tons of lacing and good retention.

Aroma: Sweet and bold. Dark malts, roasty, worty, sweet molasses. Some spices. Rich malts is the overall theme here.

Taste: More bitter than expected from the aroma. Still lots of sweet malts showing up though. Lots of molasses, some chocolate and toffee.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. Oily overall, a bit of drying from the bitterness thanks to the roasty malts and hops.

Overall: A winter classic. Very pleasant and easy to drink for a stronger bock.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 16:49:00 | More by soulfly1492

BeerBuckeye

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a somewhat dark brown/majogany with small 0.5 finger head.

S - Nice and malty, sweet caramel malts, light fruits, a hint of chocolate, very sweet smell.

T - Good amount of roast and hazelnut flavor, fades into sweet fruit, before finishing with a touch of more roasted malt and a tinge of hop bitterness.

M - It's thin but robust. Very smooth.

Overall - A solid bock beer here. Good blend of roasted malt and sugary fruitness.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 01:15:31 | More by BeerBuckeye

cooch69

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a nice deep mahogany with some ruby red highlights. The head on this one is really tiny. Less than a quarter inch of off white/tan head which leaves a nice ring around the edges for the length of the drink.

Nose on this one gets the senses going.
At first dry and roasted followed by nuts, mostly filberts. A nice dose of caramelized and brisk malt snapiness. Some brown sugar caps it all off for a wonderfully complex nose.

I've had this one two years ago as I could,nt find it last year. So I knew what to expect when I poured this one. Just a rediculious amount of goodness is contained in this bottle. My first sip almost brought me to my knees.

Really dry roasted and nutty at first. This one turns out to be semi-sweet with flavors of caramel, brown sugar, cocoa powder and even a slight bit of banana.

The mouthfeel on this one is a solid medium. The carbonation was perfectly in sync as well.

This is the definition of a winter session beer. For the colder months of the year, especially here in the good old northern US of A this beer has a nice solid body and tons of delicious flavor, yet is so drinkable at 7.5% abv. it is dangerous.

Enjoy this one in front of the fireplace and forget the rest of the night.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 04:26:22 | More by cooch69

VOW22

Pennsylvania

4.93/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into a tall pilsner glass from a 12oz.brown long neck bottle.

Pours beautiful clear ruby red color,thick/rocky tan head.Good retention with lots of lace sticking on the sides of the glass,lots of strings of tiny bubbles racing towards the top of the glass.

A delightful fruity and spicy aroma,woody,very malty with a sweet carmell/roasty/light burnt,smoke and hints of chocolate,very complex and inviting. Addicting nose. Can't seem to keep my nose out of this beer. Ah.

A delicious,complex taste,malty and sweet carmell/toffee tastes, also
chocolate,a bit nutty,a nice tartness,finishes crisp,clean with a lingering spice.

A medium mouthfeel,very creamy and a treat for the palate.
Very tasty and enjoyable.I will drink this all nigh, but will have to watch the ABV does not sneak up on me. This beer gives me something to look foward to every Christmas season. A built in X-Mas gift for anyone looking to purchase something for me this holiday season. This is a must try for everybody. You need to try this Seasonal Christmas Superstar from Penn Brewery.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 01:37:19 | More by VOW22

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to jlindros for sharing this bottle with me. This is batch 002 from 2006 and was brewed back before the brewery closed and reopened. Poured into a tulip.

A - Pours a cloudy garnet with a light white head that leaves spotty clouding and a little side lacing.

S - Nice fruits and sweet malts as well as older hops. Brown sugar, molasses, and light chocolate.

T - Very nice and complex. Front has alot of smooth, sweet darker fruits that have really mellowed with aging. Past them is more sticky malt sweetness followed by older hops.

M - Nice carbonation for something thats 5 years old. Its somehow light and crisp!

O - Really enjoyed this older beer. Glad I got to try it from jlindros at his place. Aged very well considering the ABV.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 20:06:12 | More by rudzud