Hofbräu Maibock (Urbock) - Hofbräuhaus München

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Foamy and a beige body. Malty and some hoppy aroma. Easy drinking, a light bitter well malted. Understated carbonation though present. A good example of the style, and while good does not blow me away. Picked up at Eagle Provisions. Better than average a bit.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2007 05:44:33 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.43/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Blazing bonfire orange with Sunkist highlights. The cap is the color of tangerine mousse and is at least as creamy. As the rumpled surface of the head slowly sinks, small scraps of sea foam lace appear on the glass. What's not to like?

For one thing, the aroma is underpowered. For another, what reaches my nose isn't all that compelling. It's earthy and herbal and musky at once, with no real identifiable personality. In fact, I'd have a hard time identifying Maibock as a maibock at all.

Although it makes something of a comeback on the palate, I've had much better versions. The basics are these: mostly pale malt with more than a hint of sweet caramel, dried orange peel (especially on the finish) and earthy, grassy hops of the German persuasion. I'm pretty sure this bottle is from *this* spring, but it lacks the flavor focus that I was expecting.

The mouthfeel is pretty much where it should be for a beer of this style. Good points include a gem-like smoothness coupled with very little carbonation. This lager is a cinch to drink, I'll give it that. Only the ABV keeps it from being sessionable (for most people).

I have yet to be blown away by a beer from Staatliches Hofbrauhaus (their helles lager and their hefe are decent). I'm sure I'd feel differently if I was able to experience it fresh from the tap in Munchen... "I'd like to be seated in the beer garden please, it's such a nice day"... but the bottled product doesn't meet my expectations. This is still a worthwhile purchase if you love the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2007 13:17:41 | More by BuckeyeNation

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a moderate copper color that is slightly hazed. Off white head with good retention and some good lacing. Nose is loads of malt with a tiny bit of hop and spice. Taste is malty with some light fruits lingering in the background. A slight yeast character is present as well. Body and carbonation are a little off, but overall this is a pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2010 10:41:47 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

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

Appearance: Pours a copper color; decent head that leaves some nice lacing behind

Smell: Sweet, caramel malty nose with bready overtones and some noble hops coming through

Taste: Caramel malt dominates (rather bready) but is nicely balanced by the hops; ulitmately, the malt overcomes the bitterness until it is finally replaced by the warming alcohol

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, with just the right amount of carbonation

Drinkability: a very nice Maibock

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2004 22:12:33 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.55/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear dark orange with a 1 inch foamy orange-white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Thin foamy rings of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt/grain and some burnt caramel aromas. Taste is very much the same with a mild bitterness that lingers on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but nothing too memorable.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 03:18:13 | More by UCLABrewN84

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.33/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Upon second tasting, it's over strained grain flavor gave off an apparent astringency and harsh bittering. Light caramelizing can't mask.

Looks brightly golden and straw. Active carbonation forms a white head that faded to a trace, but laced nicely. Smells sweet malty. Spiciness and lightly fruity. A bit grainy and yeasty to the nose. Tastes sweeter than expected. Sweet fruits of pears and plumbs arise. Spiciness or coriander and ginger hide behind. Thin, resinous sweetness of honey and powder sugar remain throughout. Firm, consistent body holds mild hop flavor and round mild textures. Finishes clean and slick. Alcohol persists in the aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2005 16:50:04 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of my favorite mai-bocks,poures a nice reddish/copper color with great blooming head.Nice malty aroma and nutty flavor and somewhat spicey.Alcohol is prevelant but not overpowering,great spring time beer,I get this when ever I can find it,wich is not often enough.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2003 09:41:16 | More by oberon

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

drabmuh

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a half liter Hofbrau stein at Stubbies, the greatest glassware bar anywhere, ever.

Beer is red and clear and heavily carbonated with a good head with some nice retention, some lacing.

Aroma is malty with a mild yeast character that fills it out nicely.

Beer is heavier in body that I expected but tastes nice. The beer leads off with this mild sweetness and a bitterness on the end with a mildly dry finish. Mouthfeel is good and the flavor is nice, if you are looking for a slightly heavier maltier lager that's highly drinkable, here you go. I'd have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2011 00:28:09 | More by drabmuh

metter98

New York

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: It poured clear amber in color with a two finger-sized head that took a long time to fade away. A moderate level of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles.
S: The nose is filled with sweet malty aromas with notes of caramel; some hints of alcohol are also detectable.
T: There is a bit of sweetness in the overall taste, which primarily contains flavors of caramel malts.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and relatively smooth given the amount of carbonation.
D: This beer is very easy to consume and highly sessionable. The alcohol is very well masked from the taste.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2010 00:56:04 | More by metter98

zeff80

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a clear, copper/burgundy color with a two-finger, tan, bubbly head of foam. It left little to no lace.

S - It smelled of caramel, grains and grasses.

T - It tasted sweet and malty with a nice bitter grassy bite. A little boozy alcohol flavor, too.

M - It was crisp and vary sharp with a dry finish. A medium-bodied brew with a warm alcohol presence.

D - This is a pretty good maibock. Another quality brew from Hofbrau that I'd like to try fresh on tap in Germany.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2009 19:15:15 | More by zeff80

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.65/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours amber with a 4 fingers sand colored head. Good lacing & Head retention

Slight maltiness & caramel

Taste: caramel & slight smokiness, along with unexpected hop bitterness. As it warms caramel asserts, followed alcohol notes. Finishes malty & "caramelly"

MF: Chewy, but needs mroe carbonation

Drinks okay, just not complex enough to get excited about

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2006 04:53:29 | More by russpowell

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

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

Poured from an 11.2oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light golden brown color with a large off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains honey, caramel, light malts, some lager yeast and a little bit of hops.

T: The taste starts out bready with a hearty malt character and lager yeast. Then some sweet flavors of caramel, honey and a touch of fruit. The hops presence is mild but complementary and brings some balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, this is a nice beer with flavor and substance that make it worth drinking for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2010 02:25:11 | More by TheManiacalOne

emerge077

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On-tap at Resi's Bierstube in Chicago.

Half-liter sample in a dimpled HB mug. Arrives with a frothy head of foam, atop the tawny amber Bock. It's slightly darker in tone than other bocks, namely Spaten which was also on tap here. Presentation in the appropriate glassware gets points, it just looks so appetizing.

Aroma of green apple, light caramel malt.

Big smooth caramel on the palate, punctuated by a green apple tartness. This is rounded out by a gentle hop in the finish. Smooth, medium mouthfeel. A step up from a Pils, but a shade less chewy than a Dopplebock.

Insanely drinkable. 2 liters later, you could find yourself in some trouble...

Edit: Just had a bottled sample, which would rate much lower than the tap version. Look for this on tap...bottled, it ain't anything special.

2nd Edit: Don't know if the keg from Resi's was different somehow, but 2 tap samples i've tried since then haven't been the same (possibly going downhill with age). More flat and bready, not much apple or fruity notes at all. Oh well...May is over afterall, better luck next year!

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2007 00:51:22 | More by emerge077

jwc215

New Jersey

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

Pours light amber with a head that quickly fizzles to a lasting patch.

The smell is of caramel and other sweet malt. A touch of mustiness is present.

The taste is malty - caramel, barley and other sweet malts - balanced by a nutty flavor. Pretty steady throughout. Slight warming alcohol comes through in the finish.

It has a coating, medium body.

This is a nice maibock - will get more of this in the Spring. Tasty, though gets to be too sweet after a while. A classic maibock.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2007 23:23:39 | More by jwc215

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Crystal clear amber hue with a nice sized cream colored head leaves specks of lacing. Aroma: Caramel tinge to it with herbal clove like hop profile nice sweet bready tone. Taste: Clean tasting with a caramel sweet malt profile and bitey hope profile classic maibock in my opinion. Mouthfeel: My one complaint is the body is a bit thin, leaves me wanting more texture carbonation is solid though. Drinkability: A definite treat for any fans of the maibock style solid, but next time I hope to try this on tap from a biergarten in Munich.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2004 20:31:13 | More by WVbeergeek

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Good starting head that settles slowly. Very little lace (a couple of spots here and there). The color is a deep gold and is nearly clear.

Powerful, sweet caramel aroma. Gentle and soft--it has an element of plum to the nose.

Round flavor/feel of an ale. Reminds me of a Scotch Ale. Lots of caramel, but the swallow is nicely balanced with a notable hop spice. Interestingly the aftertaste is sweetness (brown sugary). Very rich body, almost like whole milk. Carbonation is also above average, making this a great mouthfeel. Overall, one of the nicest Bocks I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 17:56:20 | More by smcolw

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.43/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a two-finger white head that fades slowly leaving some lace. Crystal clear amber color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Nose is light bread, flavor is malty bread with hints of sweetness but hops are there. Lingering bitter aftertaste. $1.69 for a 330ml bottle from Kappy's Fine Wine & Spirits Peabody, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 22:06:15 | More by jdhilt

Jason

Massachusetts

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

$2.45 @ Charles Street Liquors, Boston, MA:
http://beeradvocate.com/beerfly/user_reviews/1008/

Presentation: .5 liter brown bottle with no freshness date, just a lot # which means nothing to the consumer. Blurb about the beer on the back label.

Appearance: Foamy head at the start, thin wispy lace afterwards on top of a sunset red color brew.

Smell: Honey and grassy of malt and hops, sweet bread comes to mind, thick aroma with some hints of alcohol also.

Taste: Medium bodied with a light carbonation. Grassy at first with a wild hop and malt mix, hints of very mild fruit and honey come next. Maltiness goes a touch nutty with a slight dextrin character. Malt sweetness is bigger than it actually looks but is modest in character as the hops and alcohol set down on the taste buds. Finishes sweet but still draws on the hops and some toasted grain flavor in the finish.

Notes: This is one yummy Maibock, a ton of flavor packed into each sip.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2004 02:46:07 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

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

.5 litre bottle, pours light amber and clear. Crisp nose of fruit, cherry, and popcorn. Clean malty backbone, lots of fruity notes. Malty, bready, moderatly hopped, great mouthfeel, adds to high drinkability. Very pleasant summer quaffer. Toss a few brats on the barbie and enjoy

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2004 00:48:11 | More by Billolick

jlindros

Massachusetts

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

Not sure about the green bottles, but I haven't had any of the Hofbrau ones before.

It pours a nice fluffy 1.5 finger head that fades at a medium pace, over a very clear copper orange color.

The nose has lots of nice toasty and meaty malts, plenty of Munich malt, toasty bock style malts, some light sweet malty aromas, some nice crisp lager, and some nice fruit with raisin and other darker fruits.

THe taste is nice and crisp, with plenty of toasty malts again, similar to the nose. Some toasty lager flavors, a little wheat, plenty of Munich malt and Bavarian lager like flavors. Some sweetness, a little thick, and more of the fruit. A touch of warming booze. It almost has a chewy feel to it. The finish has lingering sweetness with more malts, and a little syrupy, touch of bitterness here as well.

THe mouth is medium bodied with a little syrupy and chewy feel with decent carbonation.

IT has a pretty good drinkability for being 7.2%abv. It has some nice crisp lager flavors, but a little sweet as well, and just a hint of warming booze.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2010 23:03:39 | More by jlindros

Zorro

California

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

.Pours a clear light brown brew with a near nonexistent head.

Smell is sweet malt with a prominent biscuit scent. Faint herbal hops in the smell.

Taste is malty but not sweet. Clean grain flavors and a stout bi8tterness in the finish that clears away the malt. Faint flavors of butter, molasses and biscuit.

Mouthfeel is good.

Very drinkable Bock beer. Tasty and non-tiring. Flavorful without any soy sauce taste or other defects that can appear in high malt beer styles.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2005 22:10:00 | More by Zorro

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Clear bronze tone. Slight, creamy long-lasting white head. Lacing is pretty decent. Pretty sweet nose. Honey and malts. A little corn syrup. Also a little bready yeastiness. Upon tasting, I notice that breads are evident on the palate as well. And sweet munich malts. A little caramel characteristic as well. A very slight, dry herbal touch of hops. Thick, full body. Lightly carbonated. All in all, a pretty nice maibock.

Thanks to the Man from Fargo...Budgood#1.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2004 04:19:48 | More by Bighuge

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

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours a bright, clear amber-orange with a slight foamy white head. Visible carbonation was very high.

S: some malt sweetness, light bread notes, and fruit (apples).

T: a sweet toasty malting and fruitiness (cantelope, honey dew, apples) along with good bread notes. Finishes dry, alcohol is very well hidden for its 7.2%.

M: creamy, medium bodied with a nice fruitiness on the swallow.

D: A nice fruity drink for the hot summer weather.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2008 22:54:57 | More by beerthulhu