Anchor Bock Beer - Anchor Brewing Company

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

UCLABrewN84

California

3.65/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Bottled 1/10/13.

Pours an opaque super dark brown with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a thin cap on top of the beer. Thin rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is very earthy with roasted malt, spice, and some herbal hop aromas. Taste is much the same with a slightly sour flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that reminds me a lot of the Our Special Ale series, just without so much of the holiday spice flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 05:25:42 | More by UCLABrewN84

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.48/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Anchor Bock Beer has a thick, beige, creamy head, and a milky, hazy, reddish-brown appearance. Lots of lacing is left behind on the glass. The aroma is of musty sourness and turned fruit (must be an old bottle). Taste is of brown bread, bread crust, turned fruit, oldness, mustiness, chocolate powder, and mild hop bitterness. Mouthfeel is mostly light and watery, and Anchor Bock Beer finishes semi-dry and easy going. Sadly, this is probably an old bottle, but it’s still a good beer, for the most part.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 14:41:00 | More by RonaldTheriot

Fatehunter

Oregon

4.26/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Two finger of tan head on a deep and dark brown body.
The aroma is roasted malt, milk and chocolate. Very aromatic.
The flavor is just like the smell with the addition of some medium bitterness from the middle to end.
Smooth texture with low carbonation and a heavy body.
Wow, this is a delicious bock.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 03:39:50 | More by Fatehunter

DavidST

Texas

3.78/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass date of 2FG. This pours a dark brown with a large tan head which has good retention and leaves a lacing. The smells are of various malts, toffee and caramel. The feel is medium, high carbonination even after the massive head. The taste is good enough, you get a little bitterness from the hops and roasted malts, plenty of malts and caramel.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 03:45:31 | More by DavidST

horshack7

Massachusetts

2.53/5  rDev -31.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Very dark with one finger of a light beige head.

Aroma: Molasses, caramel malts, roasted chocolate malts, banana, plum.

Taste: A crisp mouthfeel in the front with some bready bite. Molasses, dark fruits, notes of black licorice. Malty sweetness, raisins.

Notes: Rather an interesting bock it's decently drinkable. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 04:53:55 | More by horshack7

brewskifan55

Mississippi

3.88/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter

A: Almost black with cola brown undertones. A tan one finger head with great retention, leaving bubbles in its wake. Significant lacing.

S: Toasted malts, chocolate, caramel.

T: Follows nose. Smooth, rich, sweet, robust. A slightly smoky finish.

M: Medium, creamy. Good carbonation.

O: A well balanced bock. Would drink again. Great with cheddar.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 01:28:33 | More by brewskifan55

FickleBeast

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter.

Pours a ruddy brown color with a finger of off white foam. Aroma is heavy on crystal malt/caramel, and a twinge of buttery aroma.

First sip is quite malty with a hint of a earthy hoppiness. It reasonably flavorful, but I'm not picking up much that truly excites my taste buds. It's basically a straighforward, malty, sweet beer.

No real complaints here, just nothing to get overly excited about. A solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 01:06:42 | More by FickleBeast

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.1/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a stemmed pilsner, the beer is a dark, deep, ruby-brown coloring with a tall, foamy, thin bodied head that starts around a solid inch and settles into a lasting quarter of an inch. Decent cling left behind as the head settles, too. Aromas of old world fruit sweetness, including dates, raisins, plum, and fig, on a bready, "thick" presence in the backbone. Flavors of rich, sweet character all over the tongue on a slightly watery, thin body. Roasty notes along all of the dark, earthy, and sweet flavors. This one is rich. Plum and fig again are present, with a touch of molasses bringing a dark and sugary touch to the sweetness. Very powerful on the sweet senses of the palate, and the body and backbone is unable to balance it out. Darkly sweet aftertaste, with a slick, lingering, cloying finish. This one has an overbearing flavor profile that makes it tough to drink en masse.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 18:56:15 | More by GarthDanielson

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a twelve ounce bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a medium dark brown with smidges of off white foam. All malty smell, sweet caramel. Malty taste with a background hop that pokes out slightly. Very sweet. Lighter carbonation. Pretty good for a bock, but rather unremarkable amongst the other styles. Not a huge bock fan admittedly.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 21:23:28 | More by KTCamm

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - dark clear cedar, two fingers of tan head retained well and left consisted lacing as it receded
S - caramel and burnt sugar, some piney hop notes
T - a mix of woody and molasses malt flavours, some cherry and licorice, followed by a piney hops, not bad but the flavours seem at odds and not well blended
M - heavyish body with a sticky start, finishes bitter with a sweetness that sticks to the back of the teeth
O - this was promising out of the gate but became a little too unbalanced and unfocussed, it has some of the halmarks of a bock but for some reason it just doesn't come together enough, a rare average result from Anchor

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 03:00:24 | More by joemcgrath27