St. Nikolaus Bock Bier - Pennsylvania Brewing Company

PittBeerGirl

Pennsylvania

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

On-tap at Bocktown. Actually my first experience with this beer though I have had the option of trying it many times.

A- Crystal clear Mahogany body that is served with a nice 1 finger light tan colored head. Head retention is great and traces of lacing are left all the way down the glass.

S- A little bit of sour fruitiness with a hint of cinnamon and German malt.

T- At first the fruity tartness comes through but it is quickly overshadowed by the big spicy presence that becomes the dominant flavor of the beer. Mainly cinnamon but other spices are in there too (maybe nutmeg). The malt comes through a little more for the finish and has the slightest roasted flavor but is mostly cinnamon.

M- Has a nice, light drinkable lager body with medium carbonation. Just what one would expect.

D- This is an awesome beer. I was able to finish two pints of it fairly quickly and i wanted more. One I will definitely be consuming more of this holiday season. Also the 7.50% is completely unnoticeable.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2008 01:44:50 | More by PittBeerGirl

Biscuit033

Pennsylvania

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

A: Dark auburn with a 2+ finger head that leaves some lacing.

S: Bready malts, earthiness, and some sweet caramel hints.

T: Caramel, bread, and earthy/minty hops.

M: Full and creamy with a clean finish.

D: Nice winter beer. The alcohol creeps up on you but the beer is something that I would order more of at a bar.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2008 23:49:31 | More by Biscuit033

JamesS

Indiana

4.22/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very nice dark copper color, with some light coming through, with good head and some nice lacing. Nice malty scent, earthy, but not as deep and strong as I'd like. Excellent taste, very thick and smooth, a lot of malty goodness, a real earthy flavor with some nice caramel finishing. It goes down very well for a higher gravity beer. An excellent Christmas bock.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2008 01:48:39 | More by JamesS

shaebs99

New York

4.38/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a nice brownish color with a touch of red in the light. A tan foamy head leaves some lacing throughout.

Smell is of dark and roasted malts with a hint of spiciness (from the yeast/alcohol or maybe hops)

Taste is of roasted caramel malts with a slight burnt taste that finishes dry with a feel of hops. Really well-balanced flavors. Mouthfeel is smooth with a nice carbonation

It could just be that I was really in the mood for it, but I could drink this all winter. A nice malty step up from the Oktoberfests that got me through the past few months.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2008 01:06:19 | More by shaebs99

UA8

Washington

4.38/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of the few bocks that i have tried and I must say its quite the tasty specimen. It reminds my a bit of and english brown ale. It has a nice dark chestnut color to it.
The flavor has nicely caramelized malts which fades in sour cherries and a touch a hop backing. feels fresh and smooth in the mouth. Overall a very tasty beer I guess Ill have to look for another quality bock to try.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2008 03:43:45 | More by UA8

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

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

A. Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a cold Steelers Mug. A large off white head appears on the light brown body. A nice show of lace ensues.

S. Munich malts, bready yeast, a whiff of alcohol?

T. Smooth and malty, slight bittering hops. Fairly complex. Some wheat notes. A slight roasted taste comes out as it warms a bit. Caramel malt as well. Very earthy hops make an appearance too. Carmelized brown sugar.

M. A little thin, a bit chewey, but also quite smooth and drinkable.

D. Drinkability does very well despite the ABV. Worth checking out, I'm going to save one and revisit it later.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2008 00:15:28 | More by Stinkypuss

therica

Maryland

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

Very nice bock.

A= dark amber-brown-red, modest head, some lacing.

S= malts, candied-raisins, apple, some florals.

T= nicely robust, bold bock, very present hops but balanced bite, apple, raisins, slight reminiscences of brandy from the ABV, very nice.

M= slight sweetness with roasted malts, balanced hops-bite residuals, all the fruity hints.

D= very drinkable but modestly limited by the ABV for quantity. Also slightly heavy for quantity.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2008 01:48:28 | More by therica

Riverwarrior

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

S = Sweet malts, molassas, and a hint of fruity "Twizzler" candy in the background.

T = Sweetness all around....which is great! Malty sweetness upfront, raisin and molassas near the end, with some sweet bread rounding out the finish. There was no perceived bitterness at all. Alcohol is completely hidden.

MF = Smooth as silk. Medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall, this is one solid bock beer. Very easy to drink and very delicious!

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2008 00:43:23 | More by Riverwarrior

Lexluthor33

New York

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

Pours Amber brown with a small head and a decent lace.
The aroma is of malts and raisins. The taste is malts,fruits,sweet caramel and just a hint of alcohol. The overall feel is medium carbonation,creamy and only slightly dry.

Notes: No complaints,decent brew. I could have a few. The ABV was fine as it was well masked. Not heavy,and I did not expect it to be. Good feelings on this beer all around. Next time I will buy a few. Seems more like a winter beer,but on a cool spring/summer night I could manage one or two.
Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2008 04:00:22 | More by Lexluthor33

Monkeyknife

Missouri

3.73/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to mymrnngjckt for this one.

Poured from a bottle a clear orange-amber with a light beige head.

Light aroma of sweet malts, bread and a hint of molasses. The alcohol is well hidden.

Tastes of sweet malts, raisin, and bread.

Medium mouthfeel, somewhat dry, and mildly carbonated.

A good bock, but sadly, not a great bock. A little light in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2008 20:44:52 | More by Monkeyknife

Redwood21

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: the head has very good retention and the color is a nice amber red rust brown.

S: very malty bread roasting type aroma. not burnt toast but fresh yeasty bread almost, rising?

T: earthy very delicious and bready. there is some malt dry crispness. its a quality earthy thick tasting bock beer.

M/D: I got this for Christmas, its a great beer, very solid and delicious

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2008 16:46:07 | More by Redwood21

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - a dark cherry/brown pour. A modest head, a complete layer of bubbles but no more. Attempts to lace but the stuff just slides down.

Aroma - bready malts, a bit toasty, fruity, and a touch boozy.

Taste - toasted grain with the requisite malty sweetness. Peppy carbonation , a bit salty at times, speeds through mid-palate quickly. A light dark fruit sweetness on the swallow, a brief twang of hops provide a little something besides malt. Finishes with some mild abv warmth and bittersweet chocolate.

Mouthfeel - a little much on the carbonation, letting some of that out helps. Kind of thin, could use another notch of body.

Drinkability - nothing super, but an easy sixer to polish off.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2008 03:49:24 | More by brewdlyhooked13

dreadnatty08

District of Columbia

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

Pours a dark tea, extremely light coffee color. It is extremely clear and a nice amount of tan head soon descends into a trace along the side of the glass and surface. Aroma is pure malt: a good amount of caramel, toasted bread, pecans. No roasted malts are detected and no bitterness; along with no hops. A medium rich mouthfeel fills my mouth with even more complex malt flavors. A nice creaminess as well from the medium carbonation. I get a little bit of raisin and dark fruit flavor, coming from the malts, not esters, along with a slight floral spice from the hops and just enough bitterness to keep it balanced. Finish is extremely clean with a little sweetness but nothing cloying. Overall, my first of this style, and though I'm still a diehard hop head, a nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2008 23:04:14 | More by dreadnatty08

rsyberg01

California

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

S - 12 oz bottle, courtesy of Muenchenerkindl

A - pours a deep clear ruby, head is fair and off white, almost translucent

S - huge roasted malt notes, almost an oat note in there, slight fruity twinge, dig it.

T - definite roast, tip of the tongue tangyness, cherry, oat, awesome.

M - crisp, smooth, slick, great.

D - all night, damn you!

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2008 21:19:57 | More by rsyberg01

BeerTruth

Connecticut

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

Got this one from a chump named Josh. Thanks buddy.

12 oz. bottle poured into pilsner glass.

Pours a murky dark amber hue with a one finger light khaki colored head that quickly dies down to a thin layer of scattered bubbles. Stickiness is thin, but there. Smell has a nutty characteristic with a bit of noble hops. Some dark fruits with a hint of faint chocolate malt and bready notes. Big metallic flavor up front followed by a sweet nutty malt. Some lager yeast and a nice toasted caramel sweetness. Light to medium body with a smooth creamy carbonation. Pretty shocked this one has a 7.5% abv. I really enjoy how this one goes down. I haven't had too many bocks, but this is definitely one of the better ones.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2008 02:14:22 | More by BeerTruth

FenwaySquid

Virginia

3.65/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. brown bottle, no dating but the neck label proclaims this is celebrating 20 years, poured into a pilsner glass.

Appearance: Pours a relatively clear reddish brown color. The head formed a sticky 2 fingers thick and faded very slowly.

Aroma: Grainy malts, that's all I got.

Taste: A mixture of sweet caramel malts and dark chocolate up front. The grainy taste comes through in the middle, and the chocolate becomes more assertive. The finish is a little sweet, reminds me a little of raisins. There's also a slight alcohol warming at the end as well.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, veryt smooth. The carbonation balances nicely.

Overall: Tasted good on a very cold winter's night, but really nothng spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2008 02:27:51 | More by FenwaySquid

meatyard

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is a clear, red/amber with a short off-white head, no real lacing showing up.
The smell is of malt and grain with a hint of fig.
The taste is of sweet malt, a little bread and raisin.
Mouthfeel is thin but nicely carbonated.
A very drinkable beer especially for the style, alcohol is hidden.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2008 23:00:11 | More by meatyard

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked the bottle up at Thirsty's in York, decanted cool into a German lager mug.

A - A medium brown w/ a reddish tint when held up to the light. 2 full fingers of creamy foam from a vigorous pour. There is a fine bead in the head and the lace sticks moderately well.

S - A malty aroma w/ yeasty lager and German malt aromas. Slightly nutty and hints of chocolate malt in the nose.

M & T - A combination of sweet caramel malt and full creamy sweetness w/ a touch of dryness in the slighty salty feel.There are herbal tinges and lightly spiced hops under the bevy of maltiness that give contrast to the slightly lactic and gently biscuity notes in the ever so lightly roasted malt flavor.

D - A very smooth well crafted Bock that has such nice flavors w/ creamy textures and hides the abv well. A nice American Bock w/ a classic influence.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2008 17:43:12 | More by Slatetank

kwakwhore

North Carolina

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

Thanks to jcdiflorio for the hookup.
Dark brown pour with excellent clarity. Off white head which leaves lacing on the side of the glass.
Some caramel in the aroma and a touch of fruit, a bit of bread malt as well.
A fair bit of hop bitterness in the flavor, more than I would expect from the style. A good shot of biscuit malt and a bit of fruityness mixed in. Finishes with some sweet malt and more biscuit malt. Kind of odd. Hops up front malt in the finish. Clean all the way through.
Decent mouthfeel. Maybe a touch on the thin side.
Very drinkable beer. Goes down very easy. Really refreshing for a beer of this strength. Alcohol is not evident at all. A very sessionable bock beer. I wish I had another one of these because it would be very easy to down a couple of these.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2008 03:55:21 | More by kwakwhore

Drew966

Florida

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

St. Nicholaus Bock Bier pours a mahogany color with a tan head from a brown twelve ounce bottle. The aroma is malty. The flavor is mostly malty, but there is a bit of sourness at times and a bit of spice (most likely from the alcohol). Decent, but didn't blow me away.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2008 03:50:46 | More by Drew966

AKBelgianBeast

Alaska

3.85/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to kryptic for this extra.

Pours a clear dark brown with slight ruby tone and a little white head. Smell is mostly dark fruits and breadiness with slight copper smell. Nice smooth taste with a bit of apple and darker fruits. Malts are there, and good lagery smooth finish. A bit thin in the mouthfeel. Nice and smooth and a fantastic session beer. Defenitely wish i could get this on tap somewhere to pound after work.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2008 10:32:02 | More by AKBelgianBeast

sulldaddy

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I am sampling a 1 year old bottle poured at cellar temp into a snifter. The beer pours a dark, clear mahogany color which is highly effervescent and the fluffy beige head of 2 cm is proof of the underlying bubbles.
The aroma is thick with malt and deep fruit, caramel and brown sugar coat raisins dipped in toffee. Quite appealing nose.
First sip reveals a lighter body than expected but no watery texture just a little thin, the carbonation is very fine and spacious, again not what I expected.
Flavor starts off sweet and malty with brown sugar and caramel and i seem to get a little spice on the finish could be herbal hops but is a little bitey too, maybe from alcohol, but I think it is not.
The beer is nice and clean, but maybe thinned out a little over past year. Overall a solid beer though. I would buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2008 04:51:52 | More by sulldaddy

Ricochet

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Smells like a brown, malt, malt and more malt without hops and a little alcohol. No head, and no lace. Well, a little left, but not much and a beautiful dark brown, clear, great looking beverage.

Mouth was lager. watery, not much of aftertaste with a quick wash. Taste , well, this was a brown ale more than a bock. Slightly toasted malt gave way to a slightly hoppy drink with a bitter edge, but nothing to wow me. Caramel was present. Maybe a rounded alcohol remainder. Okay drinker, but nothing I'll seek out.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2008 08:41:53 | More by Ricochet

joepais

Maine

4.05/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to MuenchenerKindl for the opportunity to try this one

Strong pour produced a small tan head on a dark reddish brown body the head and lace goes away quickly.

Smell of malts and some caramel fill the nose

Taste of sweet malts and caramel as well as some spice that really helps balance this out

The mouth feel is nice and smooth

A very drinkable beer would seek after it again

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2008 17:41:52 | More by joepais

stewart124

Ohio

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

With a rough pour this one has a small but nice creamy head. Doesn't seem to last long though and fizzles away to a fine lace on top of a dark ruby red.

Smell is sweet and malty with hints of a grassy/earthy note. There is a very small amount of prunes and raisins coming through.

Very malty up front with an aftertaste of those dark roasted malts. Maybe some caramunich in this one which gives that taste of sweet and brings about an aftertaste that leads into raisins. Malts really characterize this beer and give that warming feeling. Noble hops are present but just ease into the taste and give a slight spicy note. Alcohol is present but not overpowering and leaves my stomach with a nice warm feeling.

A nice bock for the winter and it always brings about a smile for the holidays. Thanks for 20 years of brewing Penn!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2008 02:18:56 | More by stewart124