Anchor Bock Beer - Anchor Brewing Company

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Anchor Bock Beer pours a deep, dark ruby color into the glass. It's almost black in appearance. On top a two finger width creamy light tan head forms when the bottled is emptied. The foam slowly fades down to a thin sheet on the beer, leaving behind netted patterns of lace on the glass.

The aroma is malty with notes of caramel malt, coffee, molasses and dark fruit (raisins). Each sip of this medium bodied beer is smooth and dry with a soft carbonated fizz on the tip of the tongue. The flavor begins with sweet malt, followed by earthy notes of raisins, nuts, coffee and a hint of smoke. Towards the end a mild bitter tea flavor moves in to help balance out the malt. Once gone, a peat and molasses flavor lingers on the palate.

This beer has lots of character and is much easier to drink than some other bock beers that are on the market.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2008 20:55:06 | More by WanderingFool

Riverared

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-15-2013 01:54:49 | More by Riverared

AmandaSchaefer

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%

05-13-2013 22:56:04 | More by AmandaSchaefer

Mullinger1980

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%

05-11-2013 10:50:04 | More by Mullinger1980

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.25/5  rDev -12.6%

05-10-2013 02:47:03 | More by AgentMunky

largadeer

California

3/5  rDev -19.4%

05-08-2013 18:35:11 | More by largadeer

jordanmckell

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%

05-08-2013 00:03:51 | More by jordanmckell

mwar

Kentucky

1.25/5  rDev -66.4%

05-03-2013 22:15:10 | More by mwar

terence

California

2.25/5  rDev -39.5%

05-02-2013 03:31:44 | More by terence

Thedrizzle

Florida

4/5  rDev +7.5%

05-01-2013 21:27:24 | More by Thedrizzle

mkppisdead

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -19.4%

04-30-2013 02:18:27 | More by mkppisdead

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

2.93/5  rDev -21.2%
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

s4s

California

2.25/5  rDev -39.5%

04-25-2013 03:38:16 | More by s4s

Premo88

Texas

3.56/5  rDev -4.3%
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

blackdavid

Brazil

4/5  rDev +7.5%

04-23-2013 19:30:46 | More by blackdavid

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -16.7%
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

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

2.5/5  rDev -32.8%

04-21-2013 16:59:17 | More by Whiskeydeez

mactrail

California

3.1/5  rDev -16.7%
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

dhep16

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

04-20-2013 02:46:32 | More by dhep16

CloudStrife

New York

3.36/5  rDev -9.7%
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

sbanacho

California

4.25/5  rDev +14.2%

04-18-2013 05:04:01 | More by sbanacho

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%

04-17-2013 06:04:13 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

logicerror

California

2.25/5  rDev -39.5%

04-14-2013 06:41:58 | More by logicerror

apg1014

California

4/5  rDev +7.5%

04-12-2013 00:06:20 | More by apg1014

FlatRabbitRed

Arizona

4.4/5  rDev +18.3%
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