Hugo - Heater Allen Brewing

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.05/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle from Belmont Station. I was told that this was towards the end of the season for this beer, having been released in early March. I'm not the biggest drinker of bocks, but this impressed me.

Pouring a deep mahogany red-brown and capped with a thin, beige head with good retention and little lacing, this beer looks nice. The nose is great. A deep, rich, bready malt character with brown sugar, a little burnt sugar, a mild cinnamon and clove spice note (faint but appropriate) along with a modest hop character, this bock smells great. The hop aroma is more earthy and woody/twig-like. Some toast is also present. Very nice.

The palate opens well-balanced with a nice blend of earthy and dusty hop bitterness coupled with a nice burnt sugar bitter sweet flavor. A blend of toast, dark caramel, spiced bread and unsweetened cocoa are present. Drying on the finish with a mild earthy hop bitterness, a little green too, and burnt sugar and toast. Wonderfully structured, this beer is medium light in body and has a moderate, creamy carbonation. I love the feel here. Highly recommended, the way the flavors are put together bring to mind the top dunkler bocks/dopplebocks

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 04:28:48 | More by DefenCorps

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: bottle as a trade from msubulldog25. Thanks!

Damn good-looking beer right here! Pours into a Yards mini-stein, a translucent dark reddish-brown color with a nice creamy tan head that recedes a bit, leaving a bit of lacing on the glass. Small spouts of carbonation bubbling from the bottom. Aroma is very distinct, and there's one particular scent that I just can't put my finger on...otherwise, very roasty, nutty, with touches of cocoa. The taste is similar, big roast up front, nutshells, burnt caramel, very subtle cocoa, woody, grassy, very dry in the finish. Not bursting with flavor, but appropriate for the style, which is all that really matters. Light-medium body, crisp and drying, quite drinkable. I'm definitely not a lager guy, but I liked this one a lot.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 20:44:59 | More by Rifugium

SpdKilz

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A big thanks to James (cavemanlawyer) for this great extra. Cheers!

Appearance – Pours into a tulip with a reddish color and about a half finger of off white head that dissipates fast.

Smell – Toasty nuttiness, caramel, slight dark fruits, spices such as clove.

Taste – Very similar to the aroma. Begins with lots of nuttiness. Raisins and prunes, toffee, and a hint of chocolate.

Mouthfeel – Medium bodied, pleasant carbonation.

Overall – A decent bock, but nothing special. Glad to have been able to try it.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 00:36:22 | More by SpdKilz

loren01

Oregon

3.83/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: pours a reddish brown color with good white head and lacing
S: smell is slightly sweet and bready with some spice in the nose maybe anise or cinnamon.
T: much the same as the smell but more spice than I expected. Lots of spice: anise, clove and cinnamon. Grassy hop aftertaste
M: medium bodied carbonation seems about right
O: interesting take on this style, not bad I would probably buy this again

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 01:31:44 | More by loren01

vkv822

Oregon

3.48/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle into tulip snifter.

Pours a dark, red hued brown with a thin light tan head.

Aroma and taste are quite malty, toasty along with some caramel and dark fruit notes.

Medium body, with light prickly carbonation.

A nice Bock, some pleasant flavor notes, though nothing too intriguing.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 08:45:06 | More by vkv822

chumba526

Oregon

4.55/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appears a reddish black color with a bit of white foam.

It smells of prunes, nuts, and candied fruit. It also smells slightly smoky and a bit like brown sugar. It has a quite complex smell to it.

The taste had aspects of prunes, brown sugar, dried fruits and a slight bit of citrus flavor. There is also a slight smokiness that helps balance the sweetness of the ale.
The carbonation is around average.
For a bock it is very easy to drink and the flavors do not overpower each other. Bocks are not my favorite style of beer but this is amazing. Highly recommended if you could find this.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2010 04:12:28 | More by chumba526

ElGordo

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the 22oz bottle into a stein. Body is a a dark brown with garnet highlights, topped by half a finger of creamy, light tan head that leaves some pretty lacing on the glass. Aroma of lightly sweet caramel malt with a nice, bready character. Mild, fruity hops come through in the background, providing a note of prune or other dark fruit.
Palate is very malt forward. Sweet, caramel malt and bread/fresh toast dominate, with a mild fruit character balancing things out. Finish is smooth and not quite as sweet, but pleasant. This beer lacks some of the husky bitterness that often shows up in traditional German bocks, but I see that as a plus.
Body is velvety and full, very enjoyable. The finish is silky smooth as well. This is a highly drinkable ale that's perfect for a cool spring evening. Nice work.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2010 05:07:09 | More by ElGordo

LilBeerDoctor

New York

2.7/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed on 06/04/2009. Bottle at PPRBSP09. This beer pours a clear brown with a small head. Aroma of raisin, sweet malt, prunes, and alcohol. Flavor is in a similar vein-- prune, raisin, sweet malt. Overall, just a boozy mess. I couldn't drink this stuff.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 15:01:35 | More by LilBeerDoctor

pdxwhisky

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured gently into glass, very little head and almost zero lacing. Nice dark red/brown coloring. Nice medium malt nose, easy drinking first sip, lightly roasted notes. Good hop balance with medium to medium long finish. Alcohol content more and more evident as it warms, even slightly. Nice first beer from the brewery - looking forward to their pils.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2009 02:48:53 | More by pdxwhisky

Spikester

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a bomber purchased at Market of Choice in West Lynn, OR. Pours dark reddish brown with a small light tan head. Good amount of lacing.
Aroma was mostly malts. Taste is smooth dark malts with enough earthy hop flavor to provide balance. Carbonation was lower than most bottled beers but that was fine by me. The only aspect of this beer that was negative was I could taste the alcohol. Otherwise a very nice pour. I am looking forward to trying some of their other product.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2009 04:12:45 | More by Spikester

ccrida

Oregon

4.05/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served on draught in a small pils glass at Belmont Station, Hugo Bock is a chill hazed reddish brown with a small, creamy, light tan head that leaves pretty heavy lace.

Smell is pretty muted, generic maltiness at first, but as it warmed, a really tasty, grape kool-aide like aroma opened up.

Taste is good, a nice nutty maltiness with a spicy, bitter finish, semi-sweet, clean and smooth.

Mouthfeel is very creamy, with a medium light body.

Drinkability is good, quite smooth but with a nice spiciness that keeps it interesting, avoiding the sugary viscosity that some sub-par bocks suffer. My first Heater Allen brew, it certainly warrants further exploration of the rest of their lineup.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2008 20:05:03 | More by ccrida