LongShot Traditional Bock - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Florida9

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Chestnut brown in color. Clear. About an inch of head that settles down to a slight surface coating. Very small amount of lacing.

S: Sweet malts. Caramel mixed with alcohol.

T: Sweet caramel malt. Raisin, ripe fruits, and boston brown bread. There are some hops, but they are well in the background.

M: Medium body, but not a lot of carbonation. Combined with the sweet flavor it leaves a sticky coating in the mouth.

D: Overall, a good beer, though a bit too sweet for my tastes. I think I might enjoy this one better with food, particularly something meaty or salty.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2009 23:57:37 | More by Florida9

kb2250

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

03-19-2013 01:44:29 | More by kb2250

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%

08-26-2012 18:11:26 | More by t0rin0

ajs4bd

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

08-20-2012 14:09:15 | More by ajs4bd

ms11781

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.5%

06-30-2012 01:50:17 | More by ms11781

odbjs735

New York

1.75/5  rDev -55.6%

05-07-2012 07:07:59 | More by odbjs735

slimntubbs

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.5%

01-31-2012 04:51:07 | More by slimntubbs

EvanWilliams

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.5%

01-28-2012 04:45:17 | More by EvanWilliams

imperialking

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.5%

01-21-2012 01:09:21 | More by imperialking

bonbini26

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1.5%

01-12-2012 17:31:03 | More by bonbini26

Goldfoot

Michigan

5/5  rDev +26.9%

12-16-2011 16:33:39 | More by Goldfoot

JohneHoodlum

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.5%

12-05-2011 02:26:34 | More by JohneHoodlum

THECPJ

Delaware

4/5  rDev +1.5%

11-29-2011 19:32:23 | More by THECPJ

rab53

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.5%

11-25-2011 04:29:35 | More by rab53

waiting4lunch

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.5%

11-18-2011 20:38:29 | More by waiting4lunch

EasyReader

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.5%

11-16-2011 21:11:36 | More by EasyReader

FreshmanPour77

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -23.9%

11-16-2011 18:11:52 | More by FreshmanPour77

BeerMe42

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +26.9%

11-15-2011 21:57:55 | More by BeerMe42

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Traditional Bock has a rich, superbly malty nose, smelling in many ways not so much like beer as a freshly-baked, yeasty loaf of thick brown bread, drizzled with molasses, butter and wildflower honey. Brown sugars and vanillas round out the aromas, making a delicious cookie dessert to the bread.

On the tongue the brew is far thicker than would be expected--medium viscosity at least--and feels slightly grainy on the tongue, as if it were unfiltered. The flavors are incredibly complex, with all of the notes from the aroma resounding in even fuller fashion than seems possible. Malts are obviously king here, huge caramelized brown sugars waltzing with toasted grains, while in the background dark fruit esters (plum and cherry, yes, but also hints of banana) do the mambo with marble rye bread. Hops are minimal, providing just enough bitter kick to perfectly balance the malts.

In fact, if one word were to describe this brew, it would be "balanced": everything in here nicely complements everything else, and there is nothing extra to get in the way. This is a superb bock, in other words--in fact, a beer that deserves to be placed into full-time production.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 19:30:35 | More by jondeelee

July2Nov

Hawaii

3.6/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: lighter burnt brown with some orange edging. 1/2 inch head that very quickly is subdued to a very thin lace.

Smell: Has bit of sweetness on the nose with the malts. Getting a cinnamon raisin note in there.

Taaste & Mouthfeel: Mild at first, then peaks up with a good malt full of goodness. The plum/raisin notes come through as indicated by the nose. Slightly bitter aftertaste.

Drinakbility: While not the best Bock I've had, it is a worthy drinking beer.. Congrats to Samuel Adams for putting together the Longshot series.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 06:29:10 | More by July2Nov

Foxman

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It pours a clear coppery amber that aspires to be mahogany one day. A beefy finger of fluffy light tan head sinks and sheaths the surface. Mountains of lace scape the inside of the glass.

The aroma is malt, toasty and sweet, with caramel, plum, toffee, and a lash of cocoa. A distant vinous tinge rings the fringes.

Upon sipping, a toasted malt melange brings caramel, sloe, toffee, and a crust of baked dough. Dark cherry and yeast dangle lightly along with a deftly moderated, behaved sweetness. A softly resurgent curl of real malt creeps along the back of the tongue as a distant, barely spiced crispness pads toward a low-key but satisfying finish. It's just what the bock doctor ordered.

Medium bodied, it goes round and creamy and swirls as it meanders across the palate.

I'm no style snob, and far from an expert, but this seems to be just what a bock is supposed to be, an homage to fine Bavarian brewing. It's a temperate malt pleasure, drinkable and enjoyable to the last. Feel free to make this part of your seasonal rotation, Jim.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2010 16:14:28 | More by Foxman

MTNboy

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer has a dark amber color and the head has a slightly tinted head. It has a caramel/toffee aroma. The body is watery with mild carbonation. There is a little bit of slickness in the mouthfeel. As it goes down there is a nice warming feeling. Even the aftertaste is sweet on this beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2010 06:52:32 | More by MTNboy

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a deep clear amber, with 2 finger of light caramel colored head. This retains with a rich ¾ finger of froth, leaving a thick cascade of thick foamy lacing down the sides of the glass. The aroma is thick in the nose with bread, toffee, and fruit, which sits underneath some spicy Noble hop character. Just a touch of alcohol on the backend of this after each sniff.

The taste consists mostly of sweetness, which sits with some heft in the mouth, with notes of caramel, bread, and fruity citrus flavor. This is mostly well balanced by those hops, which are coming off as spicy and gritty with bitterness, leaving a good bit of dryness and earth in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a smooth sharpness that fills the mouth up at first but then becomes much slicker towards the back, mingling with some leftover warmth after each sip.

Totally serviceable Bock here, with a well balanced chewy sweetness to it that remained smooth in the mouth despite an overall heftier presence. This was pretty darn decent.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2010 19:29:52 | More by Kegatron

htomsirveaux

Texas

3.73/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle tried 22 May 2010.

Poured in a 0.4 L Radeberger mug. Medium sized tight light brown head. Medium carbonation. Color is deep warm mahogany. Aroma is sweet, dried fruit, raisins, dates, reminiscent of a fig newton. Flavor is full of sugary figs, raisins and plums. Finish is a bit drier with warming ethanol, fruity aftertaste. Medium to heavy body.

Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2010 04:10:39 | More by htomsirveaux

beer2day

North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Deep caramel pour with fluffy 2-finger light cream head. Head fades to a thin layer pretty quickly, but that thin layer stays around. Decent lacing.

Nose is all malt as expected. Nice, bright apple aroma with good caramel backing. Lot of depth here.

Sweet caramel hit up front. Caramel really develops midway through and leaves you with a very sweet finish. Just sweet all the way around. Very little hop presence.

Decent body, but a tad too thin.

Easy enough to drink, but there are better bocks out there.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2010 01:59:19 | More by beer2day