Special Edition - Bock Beer - Mendocino Brewing Company

BeerManDan

California

4.28/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The color was a hazy amber with a golden hue with loads of lace on the side of the glass. The smell of roasted malts and spice, along with other components that I couldn't put my finger on was evident. But, upon the first couple of sip's, I could taste the roasted malts, with a touch of sweet caramel, semi-sweet chocolate, coriander, rye and a hint of orange peel, I think. This is a complex Bock. Nicely balanced and a pleasant surprise.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2010 00:14:39 | More by BeerManDan

Lemke10

Wisconsin

4.04/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

This pours a semi-clear, dark amber color with a fluffy beige head. The scent is mostly yeast and malts with no prelude of what to expect in the taste. The taste is a complex blend of yeast, citrus, malts, and bread that finishes with an ever so slight bitterness. There’s a lot going on here making it very tasty and enjoyable. It drinks smooth and has great volume. Quite well made.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 05:07:20 | More by Lemke10

cliff1066

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

01-05-2013 20:55:45 | More by cliff1066

Fuzzycuffs

Oregon

3.25/5  rDev -12.9%

12-29-2012 02:57:05 | More by Fuzzycuffs

sbanacho

California

3/5  rDev -19.6%

11-02-2012 23:50:44 | More by sbanacho

TrickkyGangsta

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

07-12-2012 22:43:09 | More by TrickkyGangsta

Falcone

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

06-30-2012 03:46:07 | More by Falcone

vonnegut21

New York

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%

05-03-2012 17:04:34 | More by vonnegut21

Rocketman8911

California

3/5  rDev -19.6%

02-29-2012 18:45:39 | More by Rocketman8911

Kahlerbock

Kansas

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

02-10-2012 21:46:26 | More by Kahlerbock

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.08/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Mix of dirty gold and light copper in the appearance. Aroma was fairly clean, not much to speak of.

Taste, reminiscient of just a regular lager, pretty clean body, light hopping, light toasting/roasting to it, mild sweetness. Probably a little more hops than in a traditional bock, but at least it keeps this beer mildly interesting by doing such a thing.

Didn't think there was as much caramel in this thing as many of the reviews mention it, the body and mouthfeel seem to be much lighter than a caramel reference. Just a lot of pale malt and noble hops maybe. A little cleanliness of the overall beer lets a little warming alcohol in.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 18:48:02 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This poured out as a brown color, it had a good amount of clarity to it also. The head was foamy and tan in color. The lacing was decent but nothing too sticky on the glass. The smell of the beer had a good amount of malts on the nose and gave off some toasted caramel notes. The taste of the beer was sweet and had a nice lightly roasted finish to it. The mouthfeel of the beer had a medium body with a good carbonation to it. Overall this bock wasn't too bad but it wasn't one I needed to have again.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 18:16:34 | More by Knapp85

MTNboy

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance:It has a red amber body. There was a lot of at head at first but this disappeared quickly. The lace was nothing more than an island in the middle.

Smell:I liked the aroma this beer. Very malty and traditional.

Taste:It has a very sweet taste but it was not as sweet as I thought it would be. It has a bit more hop traits than most Bocks. The after taste is minimal but a bit bitter.

Mouthfeel:As far as bocks go this one was on the lighter end when it came to mouthfeel.

Overall:I liked it. It is a very good heavy meal beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 04:00:31 | More by MTNboy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

amber. A good sized, three inch or more head formed on the top and actually had some very nice staying power to it.

Aroma was somewhat muted, not as strong as I would have thought. First impression was of a slightly cereal like graininess that was mixed in with a somewhat earthy, or grass like bite a touch of some banana like characters were noted. A touch of spice in the finish seemed to give it a little bite and helped to give it that little bit extra it needed to make it stand out. Some residual sweetness left over in the aftertaste lingered around for quite a few minutes before again being replaced by that earthy malt flavor

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 18:44:42 | More by mikesgroove

codfeast

California

3.73/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From bottle to pint glass

A: nice amber color, 1/4" head that stuck around.

S: Malt, biscut, caramel, and a slight hint of red fruit.

T: Sweet malt, yeast, and bread that leads to a very balanced finish.

M: creamy, nice carbination.

O: I like this beer. I find it to be well balanced and a solid effort.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2011 17:53:03 | More by codfeast

WesWes

New York

3.53/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a nice amber color with a thick frothy off-white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a rich caramel scent along with a dry lager yeast aroma. The taste is decent as well. It has a smooth caramel malt flavor along with a lingering maltiness and dry finish. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is an above average bock. I love the malty character. It's bold without being over the top.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2011 23:41:04 | More by WesWes

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.55/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- The slightest shade darker than copper. The head is way to thin and lasts not long enough. Just the slightest touch bit of lacing.
S- Sweet malt, smells like pale and munich malt, but it's pretty subdued.
T- Solidly malty. Toasted bread, slightly caramelly. there is just the slightest touch of alcohol in the finish.
M- Pretty smooth with a decent body behind it. It verges on creamyness but does not quite reach that point.
O- A decent bock, but nothing I would consider much above average. Something of a pedestrian effort unfortunately. That being said, I'd like to try it on tap because it seems like one of those beers that could be so much better on tap.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2011 04:37:19 | More by jsprain1

yemenmocha

Arizona

3.78/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Gorgeous pour, with creamy thick head and a glorious golden to amber color. Nose is on the lighter side for me with some toasty grain and a faint hint of herbal hops. Palate offers a nice malt forward sweetness with light hops to balance, some dry bread crusty qualities are there, and finishes like a big spoonful of grapenuts cereal (in a good way). Medium bodied, drinkable, but also the alcohol is a bit too forward, even within the bock style.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2011 03:28:31 | More by yemenmocha

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.1/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to Grapeshops for the extra. Poured from 12oz bottle (no date stamp) into snifter glass. Pours a glassy, honey-colored orange. Spotty lace, minimal watery head. A pale malt with a very mild, spicy hop. Roasted malt aroma with a naughty splash of liqueur alcohol. The aroma is very light but good. A hint of roasted toffee flavor in the malt, with a conspicuous layer of alcohol. becomes more burnt, more bitter as it warms. Pale malt blooms at bit at the end. A smooth, buttery feel. A mild sting on the way down. A mild, roasted bock overall. Average bock IMO.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 21:27:00 | More by CuriousMonk

Brenden

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a copper-colored brew with a bit of a haze to it. A small, off-white head forms and sticks around for a while and leaves thin, spotty lacing down the glass.
There's a very nice balance of malts and hops on the nose. Breads and caramel mix with light floral and very gently earthy hops notes with a touch of pepper and just a hint of sweetness.
The taste follows, with the malts making a strong showing and providing a balance for a strong dose of hops. This is a flavorful bock. A white pepper-like spice and sweet/tart fruits mix in as well.
The body is medium verging on full, and this is pretty robust. There's a nice, thick smoothness to it as well. The feel is actually pretty lush, the malts bringing out lots of smoothness and body and the hops adding a touch of dryness that doesn't detract.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2010 14:44:07 | More by Brenden

ngeunit1

California

3.83/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a hazy amber color with about a finger of head that fades quickly leaving behind some decent lacing.

S - Sweet carmel malts dominate the aroma. There is also a bit of floral hops mixed in, but the malts dominate.

T - Starts with very strong sweet malt flavor. The is a bit of bitterness and graininess that mellow the malt and give the flavor some depth. Well balanced overall. The finish is a bit sweet with a bit of a bite from the alcohol.

M - The beer starts off almost a bit syrupy, but the carbonation kicks in to smooth it out. OVerall it is medium bodied with a medium-light amount of carbonation.

D - Overall, a very tasty and well balanced beer. Combinations of flavors works well together and are well balanced and complex. Pretty drinkable overall.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2010 04:35:24 | More by ngeunit1

Durge

Connecticut

4.3/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A nice "loaner" from Rubby this brew is a clear copper color with a modest off-white head and good lacing. The aroma is a solid malt and deep sweet licorice and bayberry. Wow! The flavor brings toasted malt and light licorice like the aroma suggested. I get some apple fruit sweetness and maybe a hint of toasted almond. Very solid with a solid medium body and smooth, silky feel, that offers good drinkability for the style. There's caramel and molasses to be found. Drink at room temperature to fully appreciate this one. A great brew that should win over most bock fans. Not sure where so many low BA ratings are coming from on this one. I liked this bock as much as any I've ever had, though I'll admit that this is no typical bock.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2010 04:04:58 | More by Durge

bort11

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Christoffel fluted tulip. Mild white head does not have much retention, but does lace nicely down the glass. Body color is a warm mahogany brown. The color is dark but has some clarity.

Smell is a brown sugar sweetness. Raw sugar has a little bite. The caramel malt is a little chocolaty with a hint of orange peel.

Mouthfeel is a solid medium body, very chewy.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2010 23:37:10 | More by bort11

kkipple

South Carolina

3.08/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle into a Sam Adams pint glass.

Mendocino Bock is just an okay bock, really. It plays it quite safe and doesn't really do much for me, but neither is it offensive. Clear rich copper, some head, a rather pedestrian malt bill (is this even German malt?) and just... is. Doesn't really swing into the malt rich, lush-yet-drinkable and superbly crafted German category, nor does it tread into the over-the-top, sweet and approachable line that most US bocks take. It just stands there on the corner, chillin', hands in its pockets, not making eye contact. Maybe it'll give you a dollar to call your mom from the payphone, but it won't smile while doing it.

There isn't really anything WRONG with this bock beer, but there's very little to recommend it over your good local offering (for me, Olde Mecklenburg) or a fine German import. A pity, but then again, I got it on the cheap.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2010 19:33:45 | More by kkipple

kwakwhore

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark copper pour into a Sam Adams Pint Glass. Small off white head doesn't last for long and there's not much going on in the way of lacing.
Sweet malty aromas mixed with a bit of hops.
Flavor is a mix of sweet malt with a pretty decent hop presence for a bock.
Mouthfeel is on the thin side, but acceptable. With 7% abv this is verging on doppelbock territory, but it's pretty easy to drink.
I only paid 4.99 for six of these, and at that price, I seriously like it. If I had paid more, I wouldn't be so overwhelmed, but you can't beat those numbers.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2010 02:37:24 | More by kwakwhore