Hofbräu Maibock (Urbock) - Hofbräuhaus München

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.69/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

330ml bottle. Weird tent-raising spectacle depicted on the label.

This beer pours a crystal-clear, bright golden copper colour, with three fingers of bubbly, loosely foamy dirty white head, which leaves nothing beyond some piddly, surface-broaching sudsy islet lace around the glass as it duly recedes.

It smells of lightly toasted, hefty bready caramel malt, an herbal booziness, and some understated earthy, spicy hops. The taste is more big bready, biscuity caramel malt, pleasantly muddled bittersweet orchard fruit, a bit of dry yeast, and prominent earthy, leafy noble hops, all beholden to a well-structured alcohol warmth.

The bubbles are adequate in their all-round, fulfilling representation, the body a mealy medium weight, and tacitly smooth. It finishes off-dry, the sweetness of the somewhat besieged malt aided by that same edgy boozy interloper.

An agreeable enough maibock, especially considering the higher than average ABV, good and malty, fruity, and not overwhelmed by said booze. Unfortunately, given the strength, this is not really worthy of a session at a spare wooden table, as it were.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 00:17:30 | More by biboergosum

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Peachy red-brown with a dense, but thin, layer of foam--beige, in color.

Nice malty nose with minerally earthy notes. Straight German maibock aromas with no frills. Semi-fruity with pomme and stone fruit wafts.

Deliciously tangy strong bock. Fruity peach, apple, raisin, and grape. Lightly roasted grains pushing through creamy yeast notes. Faint clove/bubble gum notes whoosh away in sweet finishing booze.

Bigger-bodied. Creamy and lightly sizzling with tight effervescence. Mellow booze. A dull strength that I like.

Tasty and satisfying. I'd say, stop overlooking this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2013 05:30:15 | More by thecheapies

gr0g

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Coppery amber in appearance, not unlike a Vienna. Capped with two fingers of foam. Head retention is pretty good while lace formation is merely OK. Rich toffee, bready notes on the nose, but there's also a bit of a cardboardy smell that you get all too often with German lagers that aren't all that fresh. Noble hops impart a floral aroma that follows the aroma from the grain.

The flavor is rich and malty, while there's just the right amount of hop bitterness to impart a nice balance to the overall character. A solid malt bill imparts a ripened date flavor in addition to the usual caramel/toffee notes. Nothing much to say about the mouthfeel other than the carbonation feels just right and isn't harsh.

This is a good, robust lager that I enjoyed, but Hofbrau's green bottles plus the journey to the US don't help in the freshness department. With a trip to Germany in the cards for sometime next year, this is one beer I'll be looking to have on tap.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2013 02:28:26 | More by gr0g

mooseo

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz bottle into pilsener glass.

A - Clear deep amber with a giant creamy white head.

S - Toasted bready malt, caramel, subtle grassy hops.

T - Sweet caramel, toasted grains, apple juice, light citrus. There is a pleasant nutty flavor throughout. A light hop bitterness balances the sweet malt. Finishes with spicy alcohol, grassy hops, and a slight earthy graininess.

M - Smooth and a bit creamy, medium bodied. Crisp, high carbonation. Slight warming alcohol.

O - Simply put, this is a great beer. It has good balance, flavor, and drinkability. The alcohol is masked well and the hop profile lends a wide array of different flavors.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2013 01:22:44 | More by mooseo

buschbeer

Ohio

3.66/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

330ml bottle
Served in a pilsner glass

A - This beer is bronze with amber highlights. It is capped with an inch of creamy, tan head.

S - It has a really sweet caramel smell. It also has a bread smell. I also get a little bit of spiciness.

T - The caramel malt kicks things off. There is a noticeable hop presence to balance this beer out. I was expecting a sweet mess. I get very little skunk. I was expecting a lot since this beer comes in green bottles.

M - Moderate to medium

O - This beer is on the sweet side, but it was pretty good. There were enough hops to balance out the finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 00:02:51 | More by buschbeer

phishsihq

Colorado

4.31/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Hofbräu Maibock pours a clear, copper color. A half-inch of light beige head tops the brew and settles slowly. Caramel and bready malt aromas dominate the nose as lighter hop and yeasty aromas provide some more depth. Bready to begin with, sweeter caramel malt flavors move in with hints of honey and nuts swirling into a slightly hoppy and alcoholic finish. This classic example of the style is moderately carbonated with a medium body.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2013 21:12:42 | More by phishsihq

cnbrown313

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

On tap at the Hofbrauhaus in Rosemont, IL

A - Pours a carmel-ish brown/red color with 1 finger of white head

S - Sweet malt, fresh baked bread

T - I was expecting some alcohol bite at 7.2% ABV, but there isn't much at all. Very smooth and easy drinking. You get a bit of honey / malty sweetness up front, with a bit of bready banana yeast flavor. Very enjoyable.

M - Medium bodied and maybe slightly thicker than traditional German beers

O - I normally reach right for the hefeweizen at a German brauhaus, but since this was in-season I gave it a shot - and I'm glad I did. It is slightly sweet, but not cloying at all and very easy to get carried away drinking.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2013 17:11:43 | More by cnbrown313

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

It's getting warmer, which means it's maibock time, folks! This one pours a clear brass topped by a finger of white froth. The nose comprises biscuit, light honey, and a decidedly light bit of dry grass. The taste brings in more of the same, with some extra helpings of grass and flowers, and a vague fruitiness pervading the finish. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a smooth feel. Overall, a very nice maibock, one of the base staples of the style in my eyes.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 20:16:23 | More by TMoney2591

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours clear golden yellow with a finger of white head and bubbly effervescence.

Biscuity malts and ripe red apples are strong in nose, toffee sweetness, grassy grains.

Sweet, malt forward with a bit of fruity hops. Mild toasted character takes it to the next level.

Very drinkable Maibock.

Would pick this up again. Glad I tried it.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 03:03:47 | More by TheMultiYeast

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.44/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Hofbrau Maibock has a thick, fluffy, off-white head, a clear, somewhat bubbly copper appearance, and some lacing rings left behind. The aroma is quite strong and gamy, with a cloying, turned fruit, roasty malt and sickly sweetness. Taste is of brown bread, cloying sweetness, caramel, toffee, brandy, dark-roasted malt, and a touch of balancing hop bitterness. Mouthfeel is light to medium, and Hofbrau Maibock finishes crisp, clean, refreshing, alcohilic, smooth, and unique. Overall, this is strong and not for the faint of heart, but it’s supremely delicious and sublime in so many ways. I love it. Please check this out!

RJT

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 19:36:00 | More by RonaldTheriot

tectactoe

Michigan

3.38/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Shows a slightly hazy shade of orange and rustic copper on the pour; dingy white head settles quick but retains nicely and leaves some moderate lacing on the sides of the glass. The nose is a bit under-powered and leaves much to be desired. Largely comprised of a malt body with a touch of sweetness, the other detectable aromas don't necessarily stand out or make a name for themselves. Some very light herbal and floral notes from the hops, mild earthy spices, albeit vague and hard to identify. On the palate, the beer is pretty thin and crisp, due to pretty liberal carbonation. Some sweet malt, slightly rustic and caramelized with a moderate grain flavor in the background. Some very light fruitiness; orange zest and lemon peels. Earthy, grassy, musky hops leave a little bitter twang on the edges of the tongue. Some detectable yeast, but not really a huge contributor of flavor. Alcohol is apparent, even more so at it warms up, bit not too distracting.

Overall, a decent beer, pretty average on most account, and probably nothing I would go back to. I haven't had too many maibocks, but I would imagine there'd be better ones out there than this.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 16:31:00 | More by tectactoe

MaximalC

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a translucent honey color with a moderate beige head. Aroma smells of caramel and clean, floral hops. A tinge of skunk may be noticeable in the aroma as well, doubtless on account of the green bottle. Flavor matches the aroma almost exactly, though the sweetness of the caramel malt is a tad cloying in the finish. The honeyed flavor vacillates between malt and hop in a way that eludes true balance. I find the hop flavor less palatable than the aroma. Mouthfeel could use a bit more body, but it's not bad.

I have no experience with Maibocks, but to me this tastes comparable to an oktoberfest with above-average bitterness. Drinkable, but nothing to write home about.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 01:59:57 | More by MaximalC

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

4.23/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Half-litre bottle: best before 11 Jan 2013. Poured into the only Hofbräu glass I possess: their huge 'Munchner Kindl' Weisse vase.

Actually the beer seemed pleased to see a mate from the brewery and it looked happy in the wrong glass: bright, amber and clear, on top a full, lasting head of white bubbles. Plenty of carbonisation bubbles rising through the beer 'Weisse' style: no wonder the beer and glass got on so well together!

Sweet nose and taste: gentle malty feel to everything, caramel and nutty. Nothing overboard, just subtle flavours to coast you along the 7.2%ABV road to sleep. Far too easy to drink for the strength: I love the strong, sweeter, uncomplicated brews and this fits the bill nicely.

My only advice is to try and drink it slower than I did!

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 18:31:46 | More by BlackHaddock

texantiff

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Balanced malt with very low hops. Clean, no esters,

Dark gold, crystal clear, head doesn't stick around.

Spicy clean lager finish. Moderate malts with low hops to balance. More pils malts than Munich/crystal. Sweet,

Good body, medium carbonation, creamy.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 00:40:27 | More by texantiff

shigg85

Japan

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Kaizerhof in Yurakucho, Tokyo. Poured into a glass stein. Whiskey-hued clear brew with a beautiful foamy white head... love the appearance of this beer. Roasted hops dominates the palate in this brew. Delicious but not very layered in flavors or smell. Overall, this is a great drinking beer, but not exactly a complex number worth talking about too much. I enjoyed it and would definitely drink it again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2012 00:54:06 | More by shigg85

burnstar

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a pretty clear copper with a large head. Nice lacing on the surface. Smell is toasted malt with a little herbal and grassy hops. Fairly standard. Taste is huge toasted malt. Balanced by tons of hops. Herbal and spicy. Smooth and full bodied. Nicely carbonated. Great mouthfeel. This was absolutely great on tap at Hofbrauhaus in Pittsburgh with German food. So balanced and tasty and drinkable. This is also fast becoming one of my favorite styles- nice strong hoppy german beer for spring time.

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2012 01:31:48 | More by burnstar

sulldaddy

Connecticut

3.7/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured at cellar temp into a pint glass. Stopper gave the bottle to me recently and its finally time to drink it.
Pours a clear chestnut hue with frothy eggshell white head foaming up and fading to nothing fairly rapidly.
Aroma is some caramel and toffee with a bit of grainy malt too. A little spicy hop presence in the background, but this is a sweet malty nose to be certain.
First sip reveals a clean body with fine tingly carbonation that tickles my palate on each swallow. Crisp texture adds to the drinkability of this beer.
Flavor is malty with caramel and toffee but I do get a bit of spicy and wet grass hops on the finish. The beer actually finishes dry and with just a little bite, which I didnt anticipate from the nose. No real hint of alcohol and a very easy drinking clean beer. Nothing too complex or to get excited over, but certainly enjoyable and not flawed.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 04:24:27 | More by sulldaddy

TechTriumph

Virginia

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes on 04/07/12:
No freshness date; Poured in a pint glass.

A - Over an inch of off-white carbonated head with decent retention; Light amber in color with a crystal clear appearance; No real lacing left behind

S - Aroma is a bit on the light side; Notes of herbal hops, esters, clove, bready sweetness, and faint grains and fruits

T - Faint alcohol comes through just slightly in the beginning and mid-taste; Also present are bready, yeasty, and some grainy flavors that come across as sweet and a bit syrupy at first; Herbal, grassy, and minty hops step forward a bit toward the finish and linger with a slight bitterness

M - Moderate and zesty carbonation; Just under medium bodied; A bit syrupy in the mouthfeel; Leaves the mouth feeling a touch dry

O - This is definitely a staple for Maibocks, having no real weaknesses and is just a solid, all-around, good beer. It packs quite a bit of flavor, yet is still very drinkable and satisfying, especially on this cool, early Spring day. Without a doubt, this is a brew that I'll be enjoying again during next year's Spring season.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 10:42:26 | More by TechTriumph

Durge

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at the East Side Restaurant in New Britain, Connecticut this is a dark amber color with a decent off-white cover and hearty lacing. The aroma is deep nutty malt and woodsy wheat. Very definitive and tasty. The flavor brings out more delicious malt grain with a herbal hop kiss. This is earthy stuff with a beautiful sweet molasses theme that is easy drinking in this medium bodied brew. Carbonation is relatively modest but it has a smooth feel that ends with just a hint of dryness. This is a wonderful malt flavorfest. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2012 02:39:40 | More by Durge

BierStein711

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Three and a half finger head, lively carbonation

Tastes like hop, caramel, spice, toasty, and a dry finish. You don't know this is a high abv beer.

Smells like hops

Mouthfeel is solid, not watery

Overall, it is a great beer, that is surprisingly sessionable. However, its high abv makes it unwise to do so! Understandably, it is not a beer you should consume in a sequence.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2012 01:28:32 | More by BierStein711

CHickman

New York

3.63/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours copper orange color with a nice 2 finger foamy white head that left good foamy lacing sticking to the sides.

Smells of sweet malt, caramel, brown sugar, bread, light toasted grains and light herbs; a very sweet and malty nose.

Taste follows the nose with sweet malt, caramel, brown sugar, bread, light toasted grains, biscuit, syrup, dark fruit, floral hops and light herbs. This hides the ABV very well, but is almost cloyingly sweet.

Mouthfeel is smooth with very light carbonation, a medium body and a sweet finish.

Overall this was good and is worth trying, but just a tad bit too sweet for me. Anyone into sweet malt and bready flavor will love this brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 16:45:23 | More by CHickman

teromous

Virginia

4.48/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is a rich clear orange color, with a fluffy orange-white head. The head stands very well and leaves lots of lacing.

S: It has the smell you'd expect from a lager, with some malt sweet scents, and a little bit of caramel. I don't pick up any hops.

T: The hops come through a bit more in the flavor, with a light bitterness. There is a pleasant caramel flavor.

M: Very smooth and easy to drink. It's wonderful.

O: Overall it's great. I'd love to try it at the HB Haus on draft.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 22:30:19 | More by teromous

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.45/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz served into SA perfect pint glass.

A - Pours a very clear amber with an off-white head

S - Dry bread, grass, sweet grain, nuts.

T - Honey covered grain, lemon zest, faint caramel, grassy hops add a light, but rough textured bitterness. Sweet alcohol comes through on the back of the tongue. Finishes wet and slick.

M - Heavier side of medium, alcohol is evident and appropriate, slick finish.

Overall all pretty good. This one was thin on flavor at times though. The hops seemed rough and didn't seem to pair with the rest of the components. I would drink this again but wouldn't seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 18:12:50 | More by StaveHooks

bump8628

Oklahoma

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz green bottle emptied into a pils glass. Clean and bready, toasted sourdough comes out as it warms as does a pleasant grassy hop bitterness and flavor. Alcohol flexes some on the nose and back of the palate. Just a hint of skunkiness from the green bottle is the only real flaw here.

When will the Euros finally realize Americans aren't fooled by the "exotic" green bottles anymore.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 18:57:07 | More by bump8628

horshack7

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: It's a clear and somewhat bright copper that has light foamy head an inch thick.

Aroma: Light lemon zest at the start. Mild grassy notes with a touch of dryness in the nose. Light sugary sweetness from the malts and the hops are towards the floral end.

Taste: Floral hop and a bit of a butterd biscuit texture. Sweetness from the malts is a light toffee. Touch of grassy notes and some lemon zest.

Notes: Dam good inside and out a pleasant dryness on the palate and very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 02:55:03 | More by horshack7