Anchor Bock Beer - Anchor Brewing Company

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

2.93/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.75

Appearance: Slight chill haze on an otherwise clear deep dark brown colored beer. Head is light tan and creamy with small clumpy bubbles. Drops to a thin spotty cap and collar. Slight streaks and spots of lacing.

Smell: Freshly baked brown bread. Some raisins and dark cherry thrown in for good measure. Rich caramel malt sweetness. Some grass and toasted grain. Sweet, but more like raisins than malts. Some caramel-like sweetness leads to an almost molasses . Nutty with some black licorice in the back.

Taste: Burnt raisins and deeply caramelized malt sugar. Some brown bread sweetness plays over the top of a light nuttiness (something like hazelnuts). Dark cherry with hints of roasted and toasted malts. Vague almost chocolate. Warming smooths it out a bit, but not much. Some grass and hay. Mild earthiness with a dusting of citrus over the top. Building sweetness never really lets up and gets distracting.

Mouthfeel: Nice and smooth medium body with a moderate pushing toward high carbonation. Relatively clean finish.

Overall: Sometimes a legacy of success just isn't enough.

A bit too sweet overall with a persistent burnt fruit flavor that becomes distractingly off-putting. Not a terrible beer, but it has some issues that prevent it from being better than average.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 17:25:58 | More by Goblinmunkey7

Premo88

Texas

3.56/5  rDev -4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

12 oz. bottle poured into pilsener

L: black purple with super thick tan head that holds on for 2-3 minutes ... i over-poured one, and the head just exploded. it laces well if you put a big enough head on it. looks like a porter or stout.

S: malt. lots and lots of malt. a slight hint of darker licorice, but lots of sweet, nutty, toasted malts that almost turn buttery at times.

T: very chocolately at first, loads of the sweet malt. it very much turns into an old ale-like taste, which is to say bordering on the darker fruit tastes of the quad but only bordering. still holds on to lots of sweetness.

F: don't over-pour it. if you do, it loses a LOT of its carbonation and becomes a tad watery.

O: nothing wrong with this brew, but it's certainly unlike any other bock i've tried. in fact, it has so much old ale/stout/porter going on that i feel like i'd just as soon drink an actual stout or porter. it might even be a decent gateway beer toward the stout and porter ... either way, i'm glad i tried it but probably won't purchase any more when i finish this six-pack.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 06:42:41 | More by Premo88

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Another Bock for this cool spring. Poured into a mug.

This beer pours far darker than I had expected. As it sits in the glass, I'd peg this as a stout. Deep black with no light penetrating. A thick beige head rest on top. This retains well; leaves tiny bits of lace on the glass. The nose is roasty with lots of charred wood, roasted coffee, wet grains. Interesting aroma.

Moderately heavy beer that drinks just a tad slick at times. Easy carbonation. This beer is heavy on the chocolate. Big dry chocolate powder makes up the bulk. Chalky-dry, charred toast, mild sugary sweetness fleets through, but then finishes a bit muddled. Not sure if they'e intent was a dry roasted Bock, but that's what I got. Not your typical for the style, and not one I'd revisit too often if this is the norm.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 12:55:08 | More by Onenote81

mactrail

California

3.1/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Big handsome foam in the Saxo tulip. Very dark, nearly a porter color, with light beige head. Quite sudsy in the mouth.

A little bit sweet, but also distinct charred malt and burnt sugar flavors. rather rich and almost winey sensation. Candy flavors are in the background with dark caramel coming forward. Finish is earthy, murky, and a little herbal. Quite bitter, dark resiny, gunky, dirty aftertaste.

There is something unpleasant about this, after the promising initial taste. From the 12 oz bottle bought at Barons Marketplace in San Diego.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 05:27:14 | More by mactrail

CloudStrife

New York

3.36/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Bottled December 8, 2012.

A: Pours a very dark brown appearing black in the glass with a 1 finger dense khaki head. Head dissipates to nothing but is easily swirled back alive. Leaves a touch or two of lacing on the side.

S: Sweet dark fruits are the first aroma I get. A strong carmel or toffee as well. Alcohol is muted.

T: Very malty and sweet brew, has the bock taste in the background but its faint. Just seems too sweet.

M: Medium body with low carbonation. Feels a bit thin and sticky. Not difficult to drink by any means.

Overall not a Bock that is going to blow you away nor would it really offend you. If you're into the style give it a shot.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 23:01:56 | More by CloudStrife

FlatRabbitRed

Arizona

4.4/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I love this beer, probably the best Bock I have ever had. Had that spring time feel to it "a lighter bold beer"

Nice dark rich color, not thick or syrupy, very refreshing beer .... I could not resist taking one gulp after another.

Roasted caramel coffee with raisons and some spice...all well balanced with a slight hop character . Nice!

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 02:07:08 | More by FlatRabbitRed

merzeone

Iowa

3.9/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured out of a bottle into a pub glass.
Dark brown with ruby red edges a huge tan head super tight bubbles
Dissipated slowly leaving nice laceing.
Aroma is a big chocolate malt nose followed with minor roast. Low to no hop present. A little oxidation but adds to complexity.
Taste is complex and thick. Chocolate malts the roasted malts help provide some dryness. Favors malt over hop for balance. Some dark fruits like plum prob from oxidation.
Seriously choc shake like...
Mouthfeel. Good carbonation minor astrincency from dark malts. Medium body.
Overall. Much more chocolate than expected which was a nice shock. Well balanced and still very drinkable with a medium body. Best drank in the fall.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 16:41:04 | More by merzeone

Reidrover

Oregon

3.7/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12oz single bottle from "Trader Joes" Salem OR. $1.50 Dark brown beer almost mahogany with a large tightly bubbled tan head.That turns "rocky". Toasty,malty aromas..some dark fruitiness. a little nutty. Nice. Liquorice,treacle,bitter crab apple,cream and slightly sour in a good way. Like a dopplebock lite. Nice smooth creamy palate. Nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 17:09:04 | More by Reidrover

mattbk

New York

3.59/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A- Much darker than I expected, it is opaque. Light tan head. Nice lacing. Dinging it a bit because it is not supposed to be this dark, is it? Then again, anchor one of the originals...
S- Malt, dark fruit, a bit grapey, not a ton of aroma.
T- Some of the dark fruit, but a lot more roast. Fairly clean. Very grainy feeling. Not very strong, but nice balance. The roast is not overpowering. Enjoyable, not especally very interesting.
M- Medium, medium carbonation. A bit grainy. The mouthfeel is appropriate.
O- A good beer, mostly a regular bock but with some roast character. Well made.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 02:09:16 | More by mattbk

NiceTaps

New Jersey

3.24/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

12oz bottle in a stemmed tupil glass.

A- Very dark chestnut brown color with a slim mocha-tan colored head that leaves a bit of creamy lacing. Lively carbonation.

S- Strong wet barley malt aroma, kinda sweetly burnt.

T-Roasted barley malt, sweet. Orange bittering hops.

M-Tingly carbonation, some body and feel, but quite syrupy. Long wheat bread finish. Syrup-like.

O- My review is all over the map - just like the beer. It's not Anchor's best effort, mostly a one and done beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 02:00:33 | More by NiceTaps

gabrielsyme

Virginia

4.31/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Picked this up on a whim in a mixed sixer and am glad I did. Pours a dark, opaque brown with a lingering tan head. Was very carbonated when poured. Very little in the aroma. Taste is rich malty bread, like hearty toast. Not too much sweetness. Incredibly easy drinker that remains tasty from start to finish.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 22:49:53 | More by gabrielsyme

smiga

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Anchor makes great craft beers that rival any other large brewer and beats companies like Sam Adams or Long Trail.

A; Dark brown, low carbonation, syrupy, barely translucent, shades of ruby, steep initial head but fades and doesn't leave much lacing.

Smell: rummy, raisiny, bready scent. Earthy, strong, spring. The smell of wet earth. Dirt. (in a good way as this is a spring beer symbolized by the goat.)

T: Dark, sweet wheat bread. Lots more including figs, rum, raisens, and hop bitterness. syrupy, mysterious, medicinal. Complex and fun to savor. A great tasting Bock with light alcohol content. A great session beer. A satisfying finish. A great beer to end the evening with. Not a first beer, a session-ending beer.

Feel: Low carbonation, syrupy but not cloying. Satisfying.

Easy to drink Bock. Great style. DONT AGREE WITH BROS. This beer is a solid hit.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 02:06:39 | More by smiga

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

3.18/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Presentation: Attractive, stubby 12oz brown pop top; nice goat-themed label. Code says ‘3JJ’…I think this means that it was bottled on January 10th, 2013. That being the case, this is reasonably fresh. Into my grandfather’s heavy-bottomed clipper-ship mug.

Appearance: Surprisingly dark, nearly black, with only a bit of dark brown highlights around the edges. Looks more like a porter than a bock, honestly. Nice, fluffy medium-tan cap with good retention.

Aroma: Simple and fairly clean malt background with maybe a hint of chocolate malt and pleasant, if somewhat surprising, herbal/lightly fruity hop aroma. Not quite an ‘English’ aroma, nor particularly ‘American’, nor quite Noble-type…I’m assuming these are the Glacier hops coming through here, and the character’s nice. This is a fairly clean nose, but not QUITE as clean/crisp as some lagers; I wonder if this uses the traditional Anchor Steam-style yeast?

Taste: This is fairly enjoyable; it has a clean malt profile, a clean, if firm hop bitterness, and a nice, fruity and herbal hop character. That being said, it’s not a bock in my opinion. Dark, almost vinous fruity notes, with a ghost of dry roasty grain on the finish. For me, a good traditional bock is all about massive toasted and/or bready flavors, supported by a touch of caramel and sticky dark fruit. None of that is present here. Also, while Maibocks may be a bit hoppier, darker bocks are usually quite malt-forward, and that isn’t really the case here either. Not bad beer per se, but certainly not to style.

Mouthfeel: Just a bit too light and perhaps a touch too carbonated.

Overall: At around $9-10 a sixer, this isn’t a bad beer, but not one I’d likely pick up again. To be honest, I’m kind of glad I only bought one bottle in a mix-a-six. Anchor is kind of hit-or-miss for me; Liberty Ale is quite tasty, some of their others are solid, but this one just doesn’t quite do it for me. The search for an honest-to-goodness traditional German-style bock in the US continues, sadly…

75 = C

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 00:36:32 | More by BedetheVenerable

BWED

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz. bottle into a pint

A- Black with a dark brown highlight at the bottom of the glass. Solid one finger layer of light brown head. Decent lacing.

S- Chocolate and roasted malts. Biscuity, almost smells like a brownie. Rather mild however.

T- Rich blend of cocoa and coffee. The taste lingers around.

M- Full-bodied, medium-high carbonation and a very sweet finish.

O- Rich and flavorful, quite sweet. I could take a little more balance from hops though.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 01:40:33 | More by BWED

vkv822

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

12oz : tulip

Very deep espresso brown, near black with a thick, billowy tan head and thick lacing.

Malty, cocoa and dark fruits upfront, spicy herbal hops.

Cocoa, dark fruit malts and herbal hops upfront, with a slight caramel malt finish.

Medium+ body with foamy carbonation.

A really well done bock. Big, bold malty flavors with a pleasant herbal hop character to round it out.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 07:58:33 | More by vkv822

DubbelTrubbel

Iowa

3.56/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle date reads out as 1-5-2011. Bought by a friend recently off the shelf, was not intentionally aged! Served in a narrow stemmed glass.

A- Dark brown, two-finger khaki head

S- Gingerbread cookies, brown sugar, toasted malts

T- Sweet, low bitterness, toasted malts in the taste. Good bock flavor, especially in the aftertaste

M- Very smooth and pleasant, moderate carbonation. A little oiliness. A little thin, though

O- It held up surprisingly well over two years. This beer is most similar to Brekle's Brown, which I do prefer to this one. The smell is the nicest part of it for me. Taste is a little less interesting, but a good beer for the abv.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 02:07:47 | More by DubbelTrubbel

TheSixthRing

California

3.83/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Appearance - Pours near opaque black with deep cordovan brown highlights where the beer thins at the edges. Big, pillowy 3 finger cocoa powder colored head. Good retention, leaves strong lacing around the glass.

Smell - Aroma consists of cocoa powder, slight molasses and caramel. Slight lemon notes.

Taste - Starts with mildly bitter cocao nibs, faintly touches on more roasted character, then caramel sweetness before a noticeable mild lemon tartness creeps into the finish and lingers.

Mouthfeel - Medium in body moderate carbonation. Creamy. Goes down with a fair amount of silky smoothness.

Overall - Starts off well enough, but that lemon sourness is a bit funky, and doesn't necessarily mesh with the strong bock character this beer presents. Still I enjoyed it well enough, and the lemon character isn't a complete deal breaker. In my index of future buys, I'd jot this down in the probably category.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 06:36:13 | More by TheSixthRing

nesbitetennis

Illinois

3.69/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Dark mahogany. Head is lacy, light caramel in color.

S: Caramel and roasted malts.

T: Roasted malts are central, with a subtle bitterness. Not as strong as anticipated.

M: Creamy, lightly carbonated.

O: A very pleasant beer, smooth and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 00:42:57 | More by nesbitetennis

bcsbeer

Florida

4.29/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Picked up a single from Total Wine $1.79

Appearance was dark brown with a healthy tan head. Nice roasted malt flavor with hints of molasses and caramel. Creamy and thick with light carbonation. Great representation of the style. Sorry I only bought one.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 21:22:51 | More by bcsbeer

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

3.76/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

(poured into a pilsner glass)

A: gave it a 1"+ head, light coffee color....keeps a solid cap atop, runny drapes of lace here and there....quite dark, reddish-brown, clear liquid

S: brown bread, mostly molasses....hoppy, dried-out chocolate cake...overall weak, but nice

T: molasses (like in a ginger snap), bready, citrusy/flowery hops....roasted barley, grainy/malty, especially in the aftertaste....they got the "bock" flavor down, no doubt - it's good, just lacking some depth...the hops, and their residual, citrusy bitterness, seem like a bit much, obfuscating the malt

M: medium mouthfeel (carbonation)....kind of fans out on the palate....fairly dry

O: gotta say, this was better than I expected....a bit more hoppy-bitter than necessary....I would have one again, on draft....

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 21:29:05 | More by Bouleboubier

Uncle_Jimmy

California

4.16/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

appearance - deep brown opaque with a dark tan head 1 finger of coarse white foam that lingers. Slight lacing and the foam dissipates to form a thin tan cap.

Aroma- Banana!, butterscotch pudding, some roasty almost smokiness. Butter

Taste- buttery roasty and bready like a sqaw or pumpernickle. It comes the closest i think to a buttered dinner roll as i have ever had in a beer. Tony Romas used to serve a darker dinner roll this taste just like it. There is a hint of banana in the front end and a touch of sourdough bread in the finish. hops kind of balance out with a touch of resin and pine.

Mouthfeel- full bodied a bit slick and it sticks to the palate. but dry. Lowish in the carbonation.

Overall- what a surprise i wasn't expecting this from anchorbrewing at all. It makes me look foraward to spring it makes me look forward to my next bottle, and i must say that this is a very unique and distinctly "San Francisco" tasting beer. It could pair well with sea food ( clam chowder For sure ) smoked meats and i could see it going with fruit based desserts for some odd reason.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 05:15:40 | More by Uncle_Jimmy

TappaKeggaBrew

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours super dark brown, with almost 2-fingers of head the color of toast. The head lingers decently, although the lacing is minimal after it fades.

S: A lot going is on in the way of aromas. At first there's burnt sugar and toasted grain. Then I detect cocoa and orange. There's a little cracked pepper and pine sap as well.

T: Definitely weighted toward the malt, sweet and almost creamy at first; then comes the slightly-acrid but rich, grainy flavor of well-toasted bread; then acidic coffee notes, which fade to leave a bitter aftertaste as the hops finally reveal themselves at the end.

M: Adequate carbonation. A little bit chewy, although I'm more struck by the smoothness. Just a touch dry in the finish.

O: Pretty bold for a bock, but I welcome it! Very drinkable, and reasonably priced. It's not going to the top of my all-time favorite list, but I'll definitely pick up a couple more the next time I'm at the store. A solid contender from a good brewery.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 03:41:59 | More by TappaKeggaBrew

kristenspaintings

California

4.11/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The goat on the bottle looks strong and determined, and that sums this beer. It is determined to be a bock beer, and it made its goal. It has a nice strong malty flavor after sipping the slightly disappointing head. Nice nutty aromas permeate the end of the glass and flush up into your nose. The strong flavor permeates your mouth, and you realize it is not exceptional.

This is a very good beer, slightly expensive and honestly for the price there are some better bock beers available. Do not write this beer off your list, also do not write it on your “must have” list. Good and strong contender, but not as good as the goat wants you to think.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 20:01:08 | More by kristenspaintings

tdm168

North Carolina

4.29/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A - very dark brown with some reddish hues; big, soft, brown head with a thin lacing

S - huge dark fruit, caramel, some roasted malts

T - caramel, dark fruit, chocolate, some roasted malts

M - medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I didn't expect much, but to my delight this was really a good bock. The maltiness was complex and intense. The dark fruit notes are most impressive, but meshes well with the caramel, chocolate, and faint roast. The carbonation was spot on, and the drinkability was smooth throughout. This is definitely a beer worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 02:24:09 | More by tdm168

pkalix

California

4.46/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

pours completely dark with no head to speak of.
aroma is strong, with dark fruit but very sweet. much like the dopplebocks (of course) but actually has the strain of a super strength malt product although it is only 5.5%.
great thick malt, easy to drink, slight hop bitterness at the end. tastes a heavier abv than it delivers, but i enjoy the taste.
not sure why THE BROS rated it as low as they did; i kind of get what he's saying, but that can be said of so many others. i like the style, and while it isnt the best in class, i think it's better than some of Anchor's others.... just wish there were a higher abv ! !

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 00:10:24 | More by pkalix