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

mwa423

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a dark brown with a slight red hue. Clarity is good. Little head, what is there dies quickly and no lacing to speak of.

S - Dried fruit, malty sweetness a bit of wood and a hint of roasted malt.

T - Very complex flavor. First, dried fruit, caramel, and raisins hit the tongue. Malty sweetness fill the mouth and then goes down with a slight bitter note. The beer improves as it warms. The brewers reserve is much better than the original.

M/D - Mouthfeel is about perfect, creamy, but not cloying. This is very drinkable beer, and it's been a pleasure to try.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2010 01:01:01 | More by mwa423

schoolboy

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

It was probably TWO years ago that I bought a bunch of this, and it wasn't "fresh" then. So this has been aging in my aging areas for a while. Probably much longer than optimal (which might have been not at all). I think this is the last of it. It says Batch #001 on it.

But it is a decent product, and it still tastes OK. It doesn't seem to go well with what I am eating, so I will concentrate on the beer. It's a rich, skunky bock. The skunkiness may be the over aging. But it still works.

Cool label. Cool 1 pint 9.4 oz bottle, fancy foil and regular bottle cap. I am so accustomed to either various German bocks, that this is somewhat close to or Genny bock, which is different, but has merit in it's own class, the best bestest, cheapest stuff. This is sort of like that too - from the same general part of the world (and not very far from here).

If I could score bottles like this again for $6.99 I would do it. Recommended for local Pittsburgh flavor. I have a feeling that by the end of the bottle it will taste really good.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2010 01:27:41 | More by schoolboy

blackie

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a: pilsner glass, dark nutshell brown in color, capped with a tight little head kept alive by a constant stream of bubbles from the glass bottom

s: fruity, dark lager malts - caramel and raisin, nuts, a bit woody with some ultra-smooth roast, a glimpse of smoke, rich

m: smooth light-moderate carbonation, medium bodied

t: great bock flavor - lots of rich, toasty german lager malts, a mix of dark fruits and smooth roast, full flavored but with a clean, focused lager character and a crisp bitterness with a touch of smoke in the finish

d: easy, really like this one and didn't expect it to age so well

750 from Whole Foods, Reston - Batch 002

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2010 01:23:00 | More by blackie

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.22/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sick tonight and reviewed from notes.

Batch #1 Big 750 shared with the Boise Peeps.

Slightly hazy deep brown amber.. good head and lacing.

nose is toasty malts... lite roasty.. nice dark maltiness... a bit nutty... very clean malts pretty much sums it up.

Flavor mirrors the nose with some background fruity esters that make me think dried cherries... body is on the plus side of medium, but the carbonation is probably a bit high given the few years in the bottle.

Good bock (verging on dopplebock zone) across the board.. glad I got a chance to try this one... Well-made German style lagers are my weakness and something I think are vastly overlooked in the Beer Geek world.

4/4/4.5/4/4

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2010 06:56:52 | More by JohnGalt1

BigPapiBrewingCo

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

750ml bottle batch 2 7.5 % to duvel goblet.
Poured nicely fluufy head in glass.
Dark brown clear
Smells of carmel and raisins
tatse: this is pretty good got some carmel Smooth, roasted malts figs rasins. i was totally not expecting this. the body was really thin but the etoh is very hidden. I drank the whole bottle in one sitting by myself.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2010 02:47:35 | More by BigPapiBrewingCo

ThirstyBird

Germany

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 001 - Thanks to BeerRay!
Medium dark brown with reddish highlights. Tan head that falls to a skim. Taste is rich sweet malt - really nice. Plum, raisin, molasses. The taste follows the smell - quite tasty. Little bit of licorice on the aftertaste. Maybe a touch of alcohol too. Medium body and nicely carbonated. Fine structure and pretty smooth. Overall a tasty bock that I luckily have one more of!

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2010 03:40:47 | More by ThirstyBird

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Got a bomber of this at my local "Beer Barn" in New Ken for 2.95. Batch 2 which I have no idea when it was bottled. Wasn't thinking too much of it but I was expecting it to suck since it was in a green bottle and that I only had the Oktoberfest by Penn and wasn't blown away by it.

A- Dark amber hues with an impressive amount of head (From what I read I hear this beer is a year old...?)
S - Smells like a bock should. Hues of caramel and faint chocolate malt.
T - Very slight tastes of malts of chocolate and fruit but not as bitter as expected so it was good.
M - Thin and drinkable.
D - Pretty good actually. I pegged it to suck like a rotten lager but it reminded me kind of a Dunkel. I would consider trying it again fresh if I ever got the chance.

NOTE: I don't know if this matters but batch 2 is 7.5 percent by volume compared to batch 1 which I guess was 8.5.

Regardless the ABV it was very enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2010 21:17:45 | More by DrDemento456

koopa

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 2 Bottle received in a trade with JohnTravolta21 at least a year ago and stored in my cellar thanks!

Appearance: Pours an attractive transparent dark brown with honey garnet folds. A 1 finger off white crown shows some retention and lace.

Smell: Nice toasted malt, some wood barrel, a hint of raisin, figs, and prune.

Taste: Sweet malt, faded nutmeg, dark fruits, and a touch of roasty goodness. I think this one might have been a better beer fresh.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, a touch syrupy, but good carbonation.

Drinkability: Going down easy but watch out for the abv which is well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2010 22:52:34 | More by koopa

righthereisay

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Purchased a case of 750 ml bottles (12 of 'em) Batch# 002.

Had them for Thanksgiving, Christmas, contributed to some Christmas parties, and finally the final Steelers game of the seaon...

Nice dark color. Some tan head. The smell isn't as good as its taste.

Love the complex taste. Lots of raisin, carmel, fruit flavors. Lots of spices. A little bit of bitterness. Sure wish it was a tad creamier, it may have been perfection.

You could throw down a lot of these. I don't think anybody would hate this beer. Grandma's, cousins, friends all enjoyed it. Only concern is the alcohol content.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2010 18:19:18 | More by righthereisay

nickd717

California

4.13/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle sent as an awesome extra in a trade with Davolebomb. Thanks, Dave! Shared with family at Christmas dinner. The incorrigible neophytes that they are, they were saying things like, "Is that a beer? It looks like a wine bottle! I've never seen something like that!" Pfft! Ignoramuses.

Pours a dark, clear reddish-brown color with a nice lasting tan head.

Aroma is malty and sweet with toffee, roast, and dark fruits.

Flavor is very good, malty and roasty, fairly complex, with toffee, caramel, spices, and black cherry.

Smooth on the mouthfeel with medium body.

Drinkability is very good for the style. Overall this is a really nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2009 22:46:19 | More by nickd717

wchesak

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev -5.5%
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

joepais

Maine

4.05/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Bboyshatter Merry Christmas,

The packaging alone is worth a 5 for appearance
Batch 001 split among friends in snifters. The beer had a two finger tan head that went to nothing. The body of the brew was black as night.

Carmel and roasted malts are in the nose. There is a good balance here. A great larger bread smell shows up too a little oxidized but to be expected.
The flavor is light and roasted not something I would normally say I suspect it may be the age. There is a dry roasted bitter finish that was quite unique.
These people make a great lager. I could have finished this myself but it was much more fun to share this brew with friends

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 03:53:25 | More by joepais

dirtylou

Washington

4.35/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle, thanks bort

appearance: the dreaded green-glass bottle...poured into an unmarked chalice, very rich cola-mahogany body with ruby highlights, creamy light tan head

smell: woody, nutty, cherry and apple,

taste: a very refined bock - creamy, full of spice, sweet apple, roasted malt, bready, cherry. a festive arrangement with great depth

mouthfeel: really nice - creamy and complex

drinkability: good

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2009 19:34:04 | More by dirtylou

Proteus93

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle came courtesy of CrellMoset. Thanks, Chris!

A: Deep amber, or more like a golden-hued bronze. Nice little head that lingers around with some 'softer' stickiness.

S + T: It's certainly got a festive smell... and flavour, for that matter! Rich and malty, with what appears to be seasonal spices - allspice, clove. Some toffee hints, with a touch of alcohol spiciness.

M + D: Medium body, a little spicy warmth on the finish. An easy going drinker, but certainly not a difficult one to imbibe in.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2009 22:53:56 | More by Proteus93

CrellMoset

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev -6%
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

RickKrumenacker

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.3%
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

dstc

Florida

4.03/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very deep, clear, ruby color with a big, foamy, light tan head that falls slow. Nice lace.

Sweet malt aroma. Also picking up a somewhat metallic smell.

Sweet malt taste with mild hops present. Slight coffee, bitter finish.

Medium bodied to thick in the mouth.

Nice bock. Enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2009 19:32:22 | More by dstc

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.43/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I got this brew in a trade with adamharbaugh, Thanks Adam!

Batch 001, 750ml bottle served in a glass beer mug.

Dark brown color with a foamy beige head that stayed as a ringed island.
Sweet aroma of roasted malts and dark fruits.
The taste is malty sweet and delicious.
Medium bodied with a mild, smooth feel.
It was very easy to drink this tasty treat.

Batch 002 enjoyed on 12/26/09 and nothing from the original review has changed.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2009 23:16:16 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

Jayli

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -6.7%
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

PatronWizard

California

3.83/5  rDev -8.4%
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

Lepley

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 1 pint 9 ounce green bottle with gold foil from labeled batch 2.

A: Pours deep redding-brown. Two fingers of brown foamy head with a little lacing.
S: Malty, sweet, grassy, chocolate.
T: Malty, sweet, roastiness, coffee, carmel, light bitterness and hints of hops. Very well rounded. I think they toned the alcohol some down for this batch, it was masked very well.
M: Smooth, kind of silky.
D: Wow, this is one of the best I've had in a while. Kind of pricey at $12 a bottle, but as a once and a while thing definitely worth it.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2009 05:39:30 | More by Lepley

SkinnyElvis

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 002. Pours with a thin head. Nice lacing. Dark amber in color. Smells very bready and malty. Taste is malt with some sweetness. Mouthfeel is very smooth and this is also very drinkable. I was not planning on reviewing this until I took a sip & thought that this was a very good bock. Recommended.

Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2009 21:40:12 | More by SkinnyElvis

BeerSox

Virginia

4.88/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750ml capped green bottle into Scandinavian mug. 7.5% ABV. Batch 002.

Deep mahogany hue. When held up to the light I can see that the beer is clear, with ruby highlights. A thick and dense two finger even head slowly settles to a thick cap. The settling head leaves behind about a finger of solid lacing. Rings of solid lacing.

Very light, but also very complex. Those usually don't occur together but this one somehow pulled it off. Heavily toasted grains give off a little bit of brown sugar and caramel.

My first impression from the flavor is it's extremely smooth and creamy tones. Some roastiness builds in the middle and shifts to a slight bitterness. A bit of caramel comes in here and there.

Smooth, yet complex. Oh so drinkable. A good amount of roasted malts and caramel. A very enjoyable bock. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2009 03:56:46 | More by BeerSox

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 001, picked up at my local bottle shop last holiday season.Poured chilled in a Siedel

A - A medium brown shade w/ light haze and small band of tan. The lace is good and bead is ultra-fine w/ visible carbonation when observed closely rising toward the surface

S - The aroma is fruity w/ a raisiny chocolate combo of aromas. There is slight brown scents like toasted almonds and tobacco

M - The thing about the feel that is so great is it is not one dimensional, yet it is layered very well w/ the right amount of carbonation. A malty but not overly sweet texture and the finish is semi-dry.

T - A malt and alcohol flavor w/ dry and sweet malt flavorsw/ a subtle pistachio note from mild bittering hops and a sweet toasted caramel flavor w/ light smokiness and dry breadiness w/ crusty full flavor. The taste has subtle notes of vanilla's dry spice effects

D - an excellent beer I could drink it year round but I love it more knowing I can wait to have it as a celebratory bock for christmas. The lager is very drinkable for an 8% beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2009 18:07:00 | More by Slatetank

Jimbo87

Virginia

4.53/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

$5.99 bottle (1 pint 9.4 oz) from Total Wine. Batch 001.

Poored almost opaque, hazy brown into pilsner glass with a 1 finger very pale brown head. Left little lacing.

Smells like caramel and toffee.

Taste had caramel, toffee, maybe coffee. Roasted malt. Very porter-like. It's definitely balanced, because it's not overly sweet, but you don't really notice the hop taste per se. Alcohol not evident, though it is higher than average for a bock. Delicious beer.

Mouthfeel was good. Medium mouthfeel. Not as thick as a stout, but thicker than a bock like Sam Adams Winter Lager. Medium-low carbonation.

Very drinkable because the taste was delicious and it goes down smooth. I split the bottle with my parents, but I could've finished it myself no problem.

This was my second bock. I did not like Sam Adams Winter Lager. I didn't want to finish it. So I was afraid I wouldn't like this one. But to my surprise, I loved it. Highly recommended. I will definitely buy again if I see it for $5.99.

Most of this beer in the store was priced at $11.99, but on one shelf it was priced $5.99 and I got the last one. I don't know why it was cheaper. Maybe it was old. But it makes sense that it would age well for a bock because the alcohol is higher than average for the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2009 01:43:29 | More by Jimbo87