Bauern Bock - The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Was thrilled to pick this up in Hickory, NC. Bottled on 11/09/12

Pours an effervescent auburn with a thumb of sand colored head. Minimal head retention & lacing
S: Brown bread, metallic & leafy hops up front, some caramel notes, plus dryness. More brown bread & leafy hops as this warms, a touch of toffee/shortbread & a touch of pear. Finishes dry, fruitty & bready, with a bit of smokeyness

MF: Medium bodied, slight carbonation & stickyness

A good, not great dopplebock. Could drink this all day, never the less. Will have to go try this on tap some time when I am back in NC!

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 22:13:28 | More by russpowell

PDXHops

South Carolina

3.54/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Imperial pint on tap at the Carolina Beer Company CLT location. Brassy gold with visibly vigorous carbonation, but not much of a head.

Big fruity nose with apples, pears and a tarter element; cherries, maybe. Nutty and white chocolate hints, too. Lighter in color than expected, but certainly not light on flavor, this brew brings a hearty dose of husky/musty grains along with the fruity business. A touch thin in body, but with ample carbonation. The honeyish sweetness and my overall impression of this beer grew on me as it warmed.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2013 17:37:43 | More by PDXHops

sommersb

Tennessee

3.1/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Tasted On: 03-07-2013
Freshness: Bottled on 11-06-2012
Packaging: 22 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Willi Becher
Purchased: Single from Brawley's Beverage, Charlotte

Color is a clear, copper beer with a small off-white head. Head retention is low and lacing is fair.

Aromas start sweet and malty with some caramel notes, plus nuts and a woody character. The smell is much like an English brown ale.

A malt-forward brew, but the taste has an unpleasant astringency to it that seems to dominate over the malt backbone. I also get some earthy bitterness, but the astringency is more than just that -- it seems more like an off-taste.

In the mouthfeel, I think this is a bit thin-bodied for the style. Carbonation is moderate. The dry finish features roasted malts and more of the astringent flavor. Some alcohol warmth is felt as I get into the bomber.

This was a disappointing beer for me. I'm a big fan of Olde Meck and their passion for German styles, but this just didn't cut it. Maybe I waited too long to drink it at 4 months, but given the style and 7.5% ABV I think it should have been fine. I'd like to give this one another try in a future tasting...

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 03:57:47 | More by sommersb

brauseboof

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

12-31-2012 00:03:50 | More by brauseboof

Daktah

North Carolina

4.48/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bought a bottle at the brewery (bottled on 11/9/2012) and drank it on 11/19/2012.

Poured a golden brown color with a small white head that left a little lacing as I drank. The smell was great to start and got better as it warmed a little. A bit of earthiness at first, and definitely some malty caramel sweetness - actually kind of like marzipan, which was surprising in the best possible way. The smell of this beer tells you that you are in for a complex and delicious treat. The taste was every bit as good as the nose. The most dominant flavor was dark fruit, cherry mostly, which presented a subtle sourness. Maybe a bit of apple or pear, but mostly cherry. Perfect balance with a little bit of spice and hops that offer a bit more of that earthy/herbal presence. The body was middle of the road for doppelbocks, and the carbonation gave it perfect feel.

Really hard for me to detect much alcohol here, as this beer is as smooth and drinkable as any doppelbock I've tried. I really wish this was available year round.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 17:26:58 | More by Daktah

jbarbou9

5/5  rDev +31.9%

07-10-2012 23:50:54 | More by jbarbou9

GbVDave

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into two pint glasses. Special thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist! Extra special thanks to wilwfu for the homeland hook-up!

Bottled On: 11/2/11

A: Pours a suprisingly clear, bright-golden brown. Retention was excellent with a healthy amount of bright white lace left behind.

S: Caramel, apples, and toasty malt. Very clean and simple.

T: See above. Light, spicy hops.

M: Crisp, clean, and with a hint of prickliness. Lingers on the tongue but isn't sweet or cloying.

O: Our first run-in with Olde Mecklenburg and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks Wil!

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 16:39:04 | More by GbVDave

nickfl

Florida

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - poured with one finger of white foam on top of a clear, golden-brown body. The head fades relatively quickly and leaves only light lace.

S - thick, rich malt with notes of caramel and red apple.

T - red apple and thick, dense malt up front. Some more fruity grain flavor in the middle and a touch of herbal hops in the finish.

M - a thick, chewy body, moderate carbonation and a slightly sweet finish.

D - very drinkable with a dense malt character and a smooth finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 03:26:28 | More by nickfl

kylehay2004

Florida

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: single finger head with little retention and little lacing. Crimson with golden hues clear body.

S: Malty with a slight fig and cherry note.

T: Strong malt backbone with cinnamon, fruity and spicey notes. More complex than I was expecting. Very rich overall

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

D: Very drinkable. Much more festive in the flavors than a traditional bock with fruits and a richness that makes this one one of their better offerings.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 03:20:44 | More by kylehay2004

StateMech

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +5.5%

01-21-2012 02:24:47 | More by StateMech

GehenHerzog

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

12-31-2011 02:23:28 | More by GehenHerzog

herrburgess

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +5.5%

12-27-2011 23:19:30 | More by herrburgess

FreshmanPour77

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +5.5%

11-30-2011 18:34:48 | More by FreshmanPour77

kkipple

South Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewery. From notes:

A. Clear light copper with red highlights. Light in color for a doppelbock... but then this is Old Meck we're talking about here... the day they learn towards the deep end of a style will probably never come. Nice finger and a half tall head with excellent retention and lacing.

S. Quite sweet, sugar is the name of the game here. A miniature Samichlaus comes to mind. Light esters and more caramel-sticky blend with just a touch of heat. Quite clean otherwise. Not very complex, but bold.

T. Again: sweet. Thinner than I was expecting given the sticky nose. Lingering toasty malt and grain after the unfermented sweetness. A very good and flavorful bock, but calling this a doppelbock is pushing it in my opinion...

M / O. Usual, complete mastery here you've come to expect from Olde Mecklenburg. Crisp, excellent carbonation, clean beyond reason, a slight boozy kick and (for me) overarching sweetness are the only things keeping me from a second immediate pint.

Would prefer a little more yeast character and some roast malt here to add complexity - but this is still pretty solid. Recommended, especially if you like your German beer with a dessert bent.

Serving type: on-tap

07-19-2011 03:07:25 | More by kkipple

TheKingofWichita

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a really nice looking copper color with a thick yellowish white foamy head and a fair amount of lacing. Smells of tons of malts and a little caramel and hops. Tastes of mellowed hops with strong middle of the road sweetness malts and caramel and maybe toffee flavors. Mouthfeel is amazing. Olde Meck has mastered smoothness in every single beer. Overall it is a good representation of style and a great tasting and wonderful brew from my hometown boys of Olde Meck.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2011 23:07:02 | More by TheKingofWichita

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml corked & caged bottle into a couple of pint glasses. Big thanks go to Barscream for providing me with yet another OMB offering.

Pours a clear copper, with 1 ½ to 2 fingers of rich off-white head. This retains with a ½ finger of creamy froth which maintains a nice looking robustness and leaves back thick lacing that slowly creeps down the sides of the glass. The aroma has a rich malty nose on it with sweet and toasty notes of caramel, bread, and a splash of butter. Light underlying hop character adds some soft fruit and earth. This is nice.

The taste also has that soft malt sweetness, with caramel tones and buttered biscuits melding into a more assertive herbal bitterness and citric fruit character from the hops. More of a toastiness comes out along the back and lingers there along with some finishing dry earthiness. The mouthfeel is medium to fuller bodied, with a good chewiness in the mouth and some outlying sharpness to the carbonation which lends this some needed crispness on the palate.

Another really decent Bock here from the OMB. Lots of citrus at work here in the profile, which worked well with those malt flavors to give this a bit of a festive cookie or fruit cake type character at times. This was pretty darn smooth for an 8% beer as well. Keep it up guys!

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2011 20:30:07 | More by Kegatron

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

and away we go with hobo tasting number four. me and calton in the parking lot of chucky cheese, drinking top 100 beers in crystall glass ware from the back of his trunk. we both have too many issues to get into right now.

well after ten minutes of prying open the cap with a pen knife it makes its way into a pint glass, sprinkled with a touch of cork. pour is a nice and very clear orange amber with a nice carbonation and clean white head to the top of it. light carbonation is dotting the sides. aroma is earth, bready malts, light fruits, pears, baking apples, a touch of light tartness, and earthy hops. nice, well balanced and easy to drink. no sign of any kind of abv. clean, very light on the palate with a crisp, semi dry finish. the flavor was the same as the aroma, clean and earthy with a nice and balanced fruit touch to it that seemed to work quite well for me. really drinkable and went down smooth.

overall i like this, for a strong dopplebock, very drinkable. hobo tasting three kicked my ass, and this was partly to blame.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2011 03:06:10 | More by mikesgroove

thagr81us

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had at Hobo Tasting #3 with mikesgroove. Big thanks to Mike for bringing this one out. Bottle #143. Served from bottle into a Dogfish Head Signature snifter. Poured red-orange with a two finger off-white head that subsided to a minimal amount very slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt and dark fruit. The flavor was of sweet malt, dark fruit, nutmeg, and a nutty note. It had a medium feel on the palate with low carbonation. Overall this was a pretty decent brew. Good flavor and aroma going on here for sure, but not that memoriable. This is a must try if you are a fan of the style for sure. Also another note, bring a corkscrew to get the cork out... Mike and I foolishly forgot one and spent roughly 10 minutes cutting it out with a knife.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2011 17:18:43 | More by thagr81us

Bung

North Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750 ml.
Orangy amber pour, good amount of white head.

Aroma was malty and fruity. Caramel covered apple.

Fruitcake is the first thing that came to mind. Some malt, toffee, caramel. Finishes a bit ashy, harsh and boozy. Like a boozy fat tire to sum it up.

Alcohol was too present for my liking and for the relatively low 7.5 abv. Carbonation was a bit high which probably didn't help. Not the sticky meal in a bottle I expect from a Doppelbock.

The Yule Bock was far superior.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2010 19:14:02 | More by Bung

samtallica

North Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from a corked bottle into a goblet.

A: Nice crystal clear copper color with 1 finger of fluffy white head.

S: Caramel malts and tart apples, very sweet smelling. Bready.

T: Much of the same. This is a very sweet beer, but not cloying.

M: Medium bodied but the sweetness makes it seem thicker than it actually is. Carbonation is just right.

D: Surprisingly drinkable for being so sweet but 1 bottle is enough.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2010 00:14:57 | More by samtallica

CBlack85

South Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewery served in a stange.

Pours a clear orange/copper color with about two fingers worth of white head that recedes quickly leaving behind a thin white cap.

The aroma is sweet and bready with a just a hint of spicy hops. Somewhat subdued, but appealing none the less.

The taste is sweet caramel and toasted bready grains. Just a hint of floral hops, and has a slightly earthy quality. Finishes crisp and clean. Medium bodied and lightly carbonated, fairly easy to drink

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2010 19:28:02 | More by CBlack85

dgfair

North Carolina

2.8/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

25.4 oz corked bottle (#201) poured into Samuel Adams pint glass. One note, this cork was nearly impossible to get out. Normally, I can just tug them right out of the bottle, but I needed a corkscrew and all the leverage I could muster to get this one out. Now, to the beer.

Appearance - burnt orange body with a soap sudsy slightly off-white head that dissipates rather slowly to a thin layer on top.

Smell - some sweet, spicy breadiness balanced with some undertones of nuts and fruit (maybe apple and walnut)

Taste - very sweet without much sublety, sugary sweet bread soaked in booze and an aftertaste that is slightly metallic

Mouthfeel - very thick, almost syrupy. It almost feels like you need to take a couple chews to get through. Wouldn't expect a light body, but this is a little too thick.

Drinkability - a little too heavy to be able to have more than one of these. Glad that Olde Meck made an attempt at a higher ABV brew, but don't think that I will need to revisit this one. I preferred the Yule Bock from last year, and would choose Duck Rabbitor as a local doppelbock over this and Celebrator as a German import.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2010 22:14:29 | More by dgfair

dirtylou

Washington

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber, corked, bottled 11/4/10, #515/600

clearly labeled at 7.5%

appearance: cool bottle design, served in a shaker pint, rich amber body, no head

smell: rich sweet malts, toasted grain, apple, caramel. earthy and rich

taste: This isn't really a traditional doppelbock, but its a nice deviant. Olde Meck cranks out some pretty nice bocks that may not be sexy (where's the bourbon and vanilla?) but are quite tasty. Rich malts, caramel, apple, a little hot but the alcohol makes for a nice fall day beer. Toasted grain, dark fruits soaked in alcohol, barley.

mouthfeel: medium-heavy, a little hot

drinkability: good

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2010 19:32:28 | More by dirtylou

atsprings

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Flying Saucer Charlotte served in a standard pint glass a crisp dark orange with a thin slowly diminishing head. Aroma is a decent amount of caramel malts. The taste is smooth caramel malts and sweet fruit. The beer is medium bodied with fairly well hidden alcohol. This is an enjoyable bock, one I'd certainly have again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2010 21:34:48 | More by atsprings

jpmclaug

South Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bomber into a pint glass. Got this at the brewery last week.

A - copper colored,clear, body with a small white head resting on top.

S - Light bready aroma with a hint of spice that might be from the hops used. Not especially pungent.

T - The malts dominate this one which is in line with the style. Mostly sweet bread like malt flavors come through. Has a nice clean finish. Not much hop presence. Kind of light on the flavor compared to others in the style.

M - on the heavy side of medium bodied, slightly syrupy with a light amount of carbonation

D - A decent doppelbock but not a mind blowing one. Really sweet which is typical for the style but doesn't really bring as much flavor as the tops in the style. Worth trying for sure but not worth going nuts to obtain.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2010 01:05:13 | More by jpmclaug