Anchor Bock Beer - Anchor Brewing Company

blitz134

Connecticut

3.55/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nice, dark beer in the glass, red highlights when held to the light. One inch light brown head that reduced to a thin layer leaving a sheet of lacing behind. Quite nice.

Aroma is more or less neutral to me. Some malt and some touches of caramel and very subtle touches of dark crystal derived fruit nuances.

Nice malty-bodied beer, a little biscuity towards the end. A little caramel and dark crystal hints and a definate bit of roastiness after the swallow.

Nice medium-full bodied beer, finishes a little weird with possibly a touch of astringency which is a little offputting.

Overall, this is a decent brew. The mouthfeel finish is a bit off for me, but otherwise its nice and malty, good flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2008 23:21:53 | More by blitz134

HBBJ

Massachusetts

2.28/5  rDev -38.5%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25

Appearance: Deep reddish brown and opaque. Rocky brown head, with just a bit of lacing.

Smell: A syrupy molasses smell predominates. Slight notes of roasted malt, alcohol sweetness, yeast, and fruitiness.

Taste: Chocolatey and syrupy sweet, with just enough hop bitterness to keep it from being cloying. Fairly acidic. Chocolatey aftertaste fades to hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Heavy and thick.

Overall: Not at all what I was expecting. The description by Anchor says in part, "Over time, the term "bock" has come to mean a beer darker and heartier than the brewery's "regular" brew." Someone needs to tell the good folks at Anchor that the darker color comes from using higher amounts of the base malt, not from dumping in buckets of chocolate malt. This was like a lagered porter, except that even porter shouldn't smell like molasses.

I need to go find a real bock.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 00:55:27 | More by HBBJ

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

05-25-2013 16:09:43 | More by Slatetank

jlee922

California

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%

05-23-2013 19:29:45 | More by jlee922

Ispeakforthetrees

Colorado

2.25/5  rDev -39.4%

05-23-2013 06:52:15 | More by Ispeakforthetrees

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

05-19-2013 15:38:17 | More by InspectorBob

Riverared

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

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

AmandaSchaefer

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

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

Mullinger1980

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

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

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.25/5  rDev -12.4%

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

largadeer

California

3/5  rDev -19.1%

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

jordanmckell

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

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

mwar

Kentucky

1.25/5  rDev -66.3%

05-03-2013 22:15:10 | More by mwar

terence

California

2.25/5  rDev -39.4%

05-02-2013 03:31:44 | More by terence

Thedrizzle

Florida

4/5  rDev +7.8%

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

mkppisdead

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -19.1%

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

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

s4s

California

2.25/5  rDev -39.4%

04-25-2013 03:38:16 | More by s4s

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

blackdavid

Brazil

4/5  rDev +7.8%

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

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

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

2.5/5  rDev -32.6%

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

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

dhep16

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

04-20-2013 02:46:32 | More by dhep16

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