St. Nikolaus Bock Bier - Brewer's Reserve - Pennsylvania Brewing Company

gkatsoris

Pennsylvania

1.95/5  rDev -53.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A: Deep dark clear oaky in color. Prett thin head that disapated pretty quickly. Minimal lacing left on glass.

S: Caramel. Brown sugar. Wood. Very Malty. Shoe-fly-pie.

T: Wet hay and wet hay. Grass. Copper. Raw dough. Flour.

M: What I could get to stay in my mouth; very thin.

O: And down the drain it went.

Sorry Redliner8, thanks for sharing it tho.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 02:47:54 | More by gkatsoris

DavoleBomb

Ohio

2.95/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Received in a large snifter. I'm guessing at least 12 Oz. 2011 vintage at the brewpub.

3.0 A: Clear dark brown color. One and a half fingers of frothy brown head. Retention is average with no lacing left.

3.5 S: Spice heavy with. Boatloads of cinnamon. Nutmeg and cardamom to a lesser extent. Not much from the beer itself. Caramel and a light booze.

3.0 T: Same as the nose. Spices stick out while the beer itself is weak sauce. Very little going on here. Disappointing.

2.5 M: Lighter medium body. Carbonation level is fine but the beer feels dead on the tongue. Lacking any semblance to creaminess.

2.5 D: I'm pissed that the new operations managed to ruin this beer as well. It used to be a favorite of mine.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2011 22:26:54 | More by DavoleBomb

ccrida

Oregon

3.3/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

750ml bottle, Batch 001, received in last spring from Hojaminbag (thx!) and cellared since, served at 55F. Poured into my Delirium snifter, St. Nikolaus Bock Bier - Brewer's Reserve is dark garnet with a small, tight bubbled light tan head that leaves pretty heavy lace.

Smell is pretty sweet, grape soda, not to intense, it opens some as it warms.

Taste is pretty rich, sweet at first but then a bit of a bitter roast segues to a very abrupt finish. Raisin, slightly tinny, some grassy hop bitterness. I wonder if this is getting a bit long in the tooth or was always this subtle, I've had the regular St. Nikolaus Bock and don't remember really being that impressed, but I expected more umphh here. This more like bock seltzer.

Mouthfeel is dry and sharp, spicy, medium body, moderate carbonation.

Drinkabilty is ok, not that exciting of a brew, but the ABV is well hidden, although the spiciness certainly isn't smooth. I know people like to score things high around here, but to me this is just an average dopplebock...

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2009 00:04:06 | More by ccrida

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.63/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Batch 1 shared by BeerRay. Pours a beautiful garnet hue with no head, just a thin, bubbly band around the edges. Nose expresses dark fruit reminiscent of fruitcake and a bready character. Taste reveals wet cardboard, subdued dark fruit, some toffee notes and a suggestion of noble hops. Mouthfeel is light-medium with an even, crisp carbonation and a semi-dry finish. Overall impression is that this is a decent brew; however, perhaps a little past its prime.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 23:24:00 | More by Jwale73

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 750ml bottle into dimpled mug. Pours a brown mahogany body with a small beige head that leaves some spotty lacing. Aroma of malty toffee, herbal hops, and hints of cocoa and pears. Medium body and carbonation. Taste is rich maltiness, with an emphasis on toffee. Herbal hops impart a sturdy bitterness Vague fruity hints are less assertive than in the aroma. A pretty good American bock but I was hoping for better.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2011 22:34:30 | More by CuriousMonk

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Batch # 001. Pours an ominous deep austere mahogany hue with fizzing bubbles rising to a quality laden head cap that oozes down the sides of the glass leaving a tacky lace.

Bright bock laden nose with buscuit and toasted grain waffle proper bouquet. Lightly floral nose with a hint of earthy suggestions.

First swigs: Pecan vanilla ice cream on grain waffles. Malt bill is the showcase, rightfully so. Focused middle of a slight root beer meets vanilla ice cream float. Herbal accents meet a spice cake hint. Nothing to crazy or abrupt other than a proper bock. Amazing how this retains a bock characteristic wthout becoming a doppelbock.

Feel is soft and medium bodied with a soft ginger all dry finish.

Last swigs: Bitterness held in check with a focused toasted toffee malt. My favorite reviews are ones that just go without thinking. This is one of 'em! Props to my brother who bought this for me. Sorta like a baltic porter that is not a stout.

Beer is good. Happy big bock beering.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2008 00:40:27 | More by blitheringidiot

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a bottle of this back marked Batch 001 in 2008. The selling it had been trying to get rid of these for a little while. At that time I really wasn't into buying bombers... I just wanted 12oz. bottles and one day I caved and bought this one. I saved it for a little while and then opened it with some friends. The beer poured out as a dark brown color. The head was a light tan color, the retention and lacing were minimal. The smell of the beer was malty, it had just a little bit of spice to it. The taste of the beer was pretty good, lots of malts in there to sweeten up the brew, some grains and a touch of booze heat in there as well. The mouthfeel of this beer was pretty good, I can't really say that there was anything wrong with it. Overall the beer was drinkable, I've never had the urge to find this brew again since I had it.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 15:57:26 | More by Knapp85

PatronWizard

California

3.83/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to lilly livered liberal adamharbaugh. I held onto this for a few weeks but just had to drink it.

Pours a very deep brown. Can see some faint ruby hues in the light. Serious head of fluff with good pattern of lacing.

Smells of some bready malts. Not too sweet. Fairly good scented brew.

Taste is similar - bready biscuity, not too strong though. Just a solid flavor.

Exceptionally smooth. Seriously smooth. Every drink becomes a half-the-glass session. Carbonation is very low, goes quite well with the beer. Good thing it comes in a 750ml because I think I'll be making short work of this.

Overall: great

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2009 03:07:58 | More by PatronWizard

Jayli

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured a deep brown with ruby highlights that are even more pronounced when held to the light. Head is about 1- 1 1/2 finger of thick foamy off white head. Spotty lacing is left on the side. Nose is caramel and toffee malts, touch of chocolate mixed in here. There is also a hint of fruit in the nose - raisins is what I mostly pick up. Taste is of bitter chocolate, mixed nicely with caramel and toffee malts. Some earthiness follows the malts mixed with the fruity raisin presence detected in the nose. Mouthfeel is medium to full body, creamy feel that goes down nice and smooth. This is a nice beer to sit with on a cool evening.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2009 00:39:46 | More by Jayli

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle received via Growling at the Moon. Thanks for the brew, Dan!

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a teensy 1/4"beieg head over the clear reddish chestnut brew. Head is quickly down a skim, with film around the rimand leggy slow-falling lace. Aroma is dark fruits and malt.

Taste is heartily malty sweet to start, dark fruits in the middle, maybe a touch of fusel closing with a light bitterness and alcohol warmth. Mouthfeel is slickery smooth, and drinkability is good. Nice rep of the style, and an enjoyable brew. Was worried about excessive spicing in a holiday brew, but this one's safe.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 01:26:21 | More by ppoitras

CrellMoset

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Batch 001, picked up at a Total Wine in Tampa, FL. Poured in to a tulip.

Appearance: Pours a dark ruby brown, transparent when held to the light, capped by a good finger of lightly tanned head. The retention is solid if not outstanding, but the lacing is surprisingly nice, glittery and runny but with a sufficient amount of stick,

Aroma: Huge molasses, toasted coconut, faint brown sugar, bread crusts, raisins, sweet cherries, and a slew of spices - very fruit cake-esque, with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves. A very inviting and sweet smell, probably this beer's best aspect.

Taste: Hmm, not bad, but just a little meek, probably having faded somewhat over the past two years. Sweet brown sugar, strong roasted malts, slightly sweet, faintly toasted, soft and subtle. Lots of fruits as well, with the same cherry/fig/raisin combo that was pleasant in the nose still present but father away, muted.

Mouthfeel: Incredibly smooth and soft, just rolling around in your mouth. Perfectly bock like, with all those faint, soft, fine, powder sugar-esque sugar notes, marshmallow fluffy-like. Swell.

Drinkability: A great brew that I imagine would have been much greater about a year ago. It's funny, 'cause I've been trying to crack this one at tastings for about that amount of time now, but for some reason, it just never worked out. Alas, as it's a great beer. Hopefully, Penn makes this one again this year and I'm able to pick it up. A traditional bock that - at 8% - is really actually quite drinkable, and definitely qualifies for the modifier "Reserve." Kudos.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2009 22:32:07 | More by CrellMoset

wchesak

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bought at Total Wines in Chantilly, VA. Bath #2 poured into a La Fin Du Monde (Unibroue) tulip.

A - less than an inch of tan head, very dark brown opaque color with a hint of ruby, no lacing and head subsides quickly

S - surprising earthy hop smell with dark malts, bittersweet chocolate, pumpernickel bread on the back ground

T - malt is more present in this with more pronounced roasted dark and chocolate malts, bitter/dry aftertaste attributed to the hops and the bittersweet chocolate flavors, alcohol only slightly noticeable after a filling my glass up a second time

M - medium bodied, above average carbonation - maybe more than I wanted

D - good all around bock, however it didn't blow me away either...with snow coming down again, the warmth of the beer helped out

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2009 05:35:46 | More by wchesak

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.96/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

22oz bomber. 2011 Vintage.

Poured into my snifter a ruby-edged chestnut color with hazy translucency. The head was restrained and never really wanted to form. Showing a ring now, after less than a minute.

Musty maltiness with lots of raisin, fig, dark toffee, treacle syrup, bread crumb, and age tang. Smells full and rich with only a small note of oxidation. Definitive German malts. Hints of candi sugar, plum, and nectarine.

Big malty doppelbock with a cornucopia of dark fruits, pomme, breadiness, and caramelly toffee. Held up pretty decently. Some medicinal notes, but they're weak. Raisin, plum, brown bread, toffee, oxidized apple, rye-like spice, milk chocolate, light Band-Aid, and some solvents. Opening salvo of dried fruit. Middle is very bready and the finish follows with a stamp of bitterness and some leftover fusel alcohol. Dextrins very much present. Chewy and still impressively carbonated. Big enough, but I'd still call it smooth and easy. Alcohol has a few bit parts. Body is a tad thin, which is not the preference. Flavors are interesting and wooly.

I recently had a Randall-ed version with rye whiskey-soaked oak chips (2012 vintage) that I thought was excellent. I know this beer rather well. Private Reserve always treats me right and it was fun pulling this from the cellar and seeing what was up. Flavors mellow slightly and the body falters a bit, but the complexity is quite a feat. Recommended for all you German beer lovers out there.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 04:32:42 | More by thecheapies

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - pours a nice auburn brown, a finger of creamy light tan foam setting up. Thin sheets of lacing stick to the glass as the head recedes. Nice retention of a thin cover.

Aroma - a light roasted grain sniff, not much more than that.

Taste - solid toasted grain, a sweet, spiced flavor, like mild cinnamon. A light bitterness on the swallow, some mellow chocolate evolving along with the residual (and lengthy) roastiness at the finish. Some smooth warming alcohol emerges with warmth.

Mouthfeel - very smooth and easy-flowing, carbonation is there but tempered better than with the regular Penn bock

Drinkability - why not just make *this* the Nikolaus Bock? Darn tasty.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2008 04:23:45 | More by brewdlyhooked13

merlin48

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml batch 001, many thanks to BEERchitect for the bottle! Pours a cloudy chestnut body with a small beige head that leaves delicate patchy lacing on the glass. Aroma is malty toffee, some cocoa, herbal hops, raisins, and some ripe pears. Medium body and carbonation make for a smooth feel. Taste is highlighted by malty toffee with cocoa undertones. Herbal and earthy hop bitterness is up to the task for balance. Dark fruity notes(figs) and some fresh pears in the background serve up some welcome complexity. Very nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2008 22:23:24 | More by merlin48

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A lovely drinking bock, and happy for me I found it at StateLine Liquors. Pours dark, not overly foamy. Malty yet not too sweet.A tad of sourness, good moderate roastiness and mdoerate chocolate. Balance, above average mouthfeel. Great after dinner digestive. Spot on.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2008 03:18:30 | More by northyorksammy

francisweizen

Australia

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Crimson sunset chestnut. Big head and nice lace. It diew quickly though, minimal lacing and retention. Aromas are all big fat German malt. Yeasty fresh baked dark berad, a bit of chocolate and americano. A nice blend. Taste is big malt and bread with plenty of malt and yeast complexity. Hops are lacking. Mouthfeel is big and warming. Finish is dry and hot. Drinkability is good.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2008 23:48:23 | More by francisweizen

vtfan77

Virginia

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a dark, hazy copper topped with about a half inch of beige head.

S- Very malty, with caramel and toffee in the aroma as well as some dark fruits. The smell is almost reminiscent of an old ale or English barleywine.

T- More of the same in the taste. Sweet, bready malt dominates, with a touch of yeast to add some complexity. A dash of hops adds the slightest bitterness to the lager-smooth finish.

M- Medium-bodied and a bit syrupy. Carbonation is fairly low but strong enough keep it lively.

D- The alcohol isn't particularly noticeable, which, combined with the smoothness of the mouthfeel, makes for a pretty drinkable beer. Downing the whole 750 is no problem.

I'm not typically a fan of the style, but I enjoyed this beer. The flavors were spot-on, making for a tasty and drinkable beer. If you like bocks, then I suggest you seek this one out. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2008 05:07:41 | More by vtfan77

RickKrumenacker

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- three-finger, fluffy, tan head on top of a glass that looks close to the color of finished cherry wood

S- Sweet and bready...lots of malt backbone here...I seem to get a bit of toasted almonds as well

T- Roasted nuts and caramel...only missing a hint of chocolate to be a liquid snickers...some coffee bitterness hits near the end

M- medium bodied...a bit chewy

D- Nice...better than the original St. Nikolaus Bock

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 16:36:29 | More by RickKrumenacker

ToddT

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Cola brown color topped with a thin off white head. Head falls quickly to a ring and leaves a little lace on the glass.

S- Sweet caramel, sugar and candied fruit dominate the nose; there is a far off hint of wood char in the background though.

T- Raisin caries through the flavor profile from beginning to end, caramel and malt make an appearance in the middle and the finish is a complex trade off between sweet candied fruit and a light bite of hops. Finish is very dry and clean, makes you want another sip.

M- Light in body and decent carbonation.

D- Easy drinking and the 7.5% ABV doesn't show up anywhere. I would not have guessed that it was this high.

Good beer, a little sweet but worth a try.

Notes: Bottle is from batch #002 and it lists 7.5% as the ABV.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2010 03:27:28 | More by ToddT

Thorpe429

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes.

Pours light brown to amber in color with a bit of a white head and some decent lacing. Pretty good retention. Nose brings some light malt and some caramel, bread, nuts, and light hops. The taste is caramel and some lightly-toasted bread. Good feel and nice drinkability. Definitely one of the better beers I've had from them.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2010 01:52:31 | More by Thorpe429

MasterSki

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this in a trade a while back from Hojaminbag I think. This was Batch 002. Served in a Lost Abbey Rastal Teku.

A - Pours with a finger-plus of light tan foam that settles to a ring of foam and some light film of bubbles on top, with some spotty lace being left behind. Transparent dark red-brown body.

S - Smells like bock! Bready, nuts, and fruits, molasses.

T - Tastes like bock! Lots of sweet bread, lightly toasted malt, a hint of treacle, and some nuttiness. Finishes with light hop bitterness.

M - Medium body with light grain character. Dry and slightly chewy finish. Didn't at all realize this was 8.5% - that was a bit of shocker.

D - I think our tasting group was somewhat underwhelmed by the straightforward nature of this beer. The main comment tossed around was that it was very "bocky". I don't drink bocks very often, but if I did this would be a very solid choice.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2010 00:34:51 | More by MasterSki

jrallen34

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Alex for providing this, served in a pint glass...A medium brown with a red hue. A light tan head, not much retention, ok lacing...Typical bock aroma of molasses, bread and fruits...The taste is more of the same, molasses, bread, nut...Alcohol is well hidden, a dry feel

Not my favorite style but this is the epitome of a bock, if you like that give it a shot.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2010 18:23:31 | More by jrallen34

AgentZero

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I found this unopened in a dumpster next to an old tire. Or maybe MasterSki brought it, I don't remember.

A - Darker beer, red on the edges, with a mostly mahogany body. Tannish head that left behind some spots on the sides.

S - Reminds me of the fruitcake of beers. Some nuts, fruit, sweet malts, toffee. According to the other people it smells very "bocky". Okay.

T - Malts with caramel, christmas bread, nuts, fruitcake, dark fruits (but not too dark). Alex says there is a hint of treacle, but pretty sure he is making that word up, bo I don't buy it. This is pretty solid.

M - Medium bodied and slightly syrupy.

O - It's on the nose for a bock, or so the Germans would have you believe, and a solid enough beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2011 20:45:11 | More by AgentZero

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

tap

Pours a deep brown, reddish brown glow when held up to light. Minimal lacing for a head.

Smells of mild spice, brown sugar and figs.

Figs, molasses, brown sugar and a hint of licorice in the taste.

Medium to full body with a mild tingle of carbonation on the roof of the mouth.

A pretty tasty beer, a bit cloying but good and manageable. Would have it again around the holidays, but a bit rich to drink a lot of.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2012 02:10:46 | More by Cylinsier