Heller Hound Bock Beer - Flying Dog Brewery

yankeeheel

Maine

1.93/5  rDev -45.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Pours a clear yellow with a smallish off white head.

Smells faintly caramel in it's malt with not much else coming through.

Starts off slightly malty and then just turns in to a big wad of buttery goo. Diacetyl coming out of the woodwork. Now don't get me wrong, I like a little butter with my ringwood, but this is disgusting. Finishes with a little hop for your butter sauce.

This one was a pour out. Glad I didn't buy this 12 pack.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2004 23:00:27 | More by yankeeheel

ADR

Pennsylvania

2.28/5  rDev -36%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Clear gold color, head is frothy but slightly soapy and short-lasting. Decent laces, strings and small dots. Honeyish aroma, lightly floral. The main flavor impression for me is certainly malt-emphasized but with pastey and glue-like qualities, like the tang and lingering brightness of a bottle of Elmer's Glue-All. It doesn't finish well for me either, papery with an odd sense of undercooked bacon. All this makes it difficult to pick out hops nuances and better carbonation might have helped distract me. Of the reviews so far, obviously my impression differs -- and maybe its just me, but I don't like this beer at all...

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2004 14:58:20 | More by ADR

shbobdb

Indiana

2.55/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2.5

Maybe I'm spoiled, having grown up in Wisconsin and having lived in Germany . . . but this Bock just ain't very good. The mouthfeel is dead on, thick and rich and wonderful but the rest of the beer just falls short.
I think it is the overabundance of wheat coupled with an unbalanced yeast. The wheat clouds a lot of other flavours that should shine, while the fruity yeast should for for the style but it clashes with the wheat flavours and their hopping strategy. Couple that with a very soapy aftertaste and you've got a very sub-par beer from a pretty good brewery.

Stick to making ales, flying dog. You do a mighty fine job in that department.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2006 18:09:35 | More by shbobdb

mortarit

North Carolina

2.63/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

The Maibock style of beer tends to be lighter in color than other Bock beers and often has a significant hop character with a noticeable alcohol around the same as a traditional Bock. Maibocks are customarily served in the spring and are oftentimes interrelated with spring festivals and celebrations more often in the month of May.

Taken from the description, yes it is lighter in color. OK malt or hops, I can tell the resemblance of hops now. Learning here as I go along from sip to sip.
According to the time schedule I am a little late in drinking this one. Funny, it's a new selection at the store I bought it at.
I'm glad I bought this in the varity pack not that it isn't good but not my style of beer. But it has been a good beer to experience the specific style from tonight.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2005 01:49:51 | More by mortarit

umustdrink

Minnesota

2.68/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A - Hazy, dark orange color. Bright white head, settles to a patchy film. Lacing is slightly below average.

S - Dark but sweet malts with a grassy wheat stalk note.

T - Taste is mostly bitter (very bitter) malts and earthy, grassy wheat flavors. Not very tasty.

M - Overly-carbonated, hinders the taste. Consistency is thin to medium.

D - Overall this beer doesn't taste all that good. The combination of bitter and grassy doesn't seem to be working.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2007 03:42:40 | More by umustdrink

yourunclewalt

New York

2.73/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Very clear reddish pink body with light lacing

S - Smells very balanced; candy malts and floral hops share the scene here

T - Wasn't too impressed with this one; lots of pears that finish almost spoiled / sour, very malty

M - Similar to a Tripel, creamy and silky

D - I was disappointed by the sour aftertaste, definitely detracts from repeat drinking

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2007 22:49:41 | More by yourunclewalt

ybnorml

Rhode Island

2.78/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

An orange/amber beer with a slight haze to it. Has a nice off white head. The aroma starts with a light malty sweetness the gives way to a musty sour fruit scent. The flavor, although it wasn't bad, wasn't much of anything. Some hints at malty character and a slight hoppy note on the finish. But overall quite dissapointing.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2005 22:51:40 | More by ybnorml

Winter

Wisconsin

2.78/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pours a dark golden in color with a stoney colored thin white head. Seems lighter in color for a bock beer. Aroma's pretty average- some fruitiness, caramel and malt. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied and sharp from the carbonation. Biscuit and caramel (though not sweet) tones in the flavor. Mildly hoppy finish. Alcohol is also noticeable in the finish. This is too bitter for a bock beer. Overall the caramel and malt flavors are rather unbalanced. This is my first beer from Flying Dog and I'd have to say that I'm not impressed. There are a lot of bock beer out there that are bettter than this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2005 03:41:21 | More by Winter

ryantupy

Minnesota

2.83/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a very dull golden straw shade. The head is small but white with ok retention and a little bit of lacing. This beer tastes alright, while it pleasntly smooth the hops have kinda a bitter bite to them. Another review suggests hints of rum. I also noticed hints of dark rum and also a little hint of honey. This beer isent exactly my first choice from Flying Dog I found it to be ok and nothing more.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2005 20:34:11 | More by ryantupy

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

2.85/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle, served in a pilsner glass.

A - hazy, golden color with a tight white head that went away in a hurry, leaving no lacing.

S - fruity aroma of apricots.

T - light malt and lightly bitter finish.

M - thin, light bodied with medium carbonation fizz.

D - I couldn't drink more than one of these, there are much better Maibocks out there.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2007 01:07:38 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

2.88/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Clear, pale bronze color, with an thick, creamy, solid head of foam.
Aroma: malty, herbal, vegetal, smelling of adjuncts.
Taste: hardly there, just a bit of sweetness, approaches the palate meekly, then fades fast away. Light bodied, with a mere whisper of flavor, hardly any finish to speak of, ...way too boring.
Chased this bland bottle with a zingier, tastier maibock from Summit and compared it with Town Hall's deliciousness released just yesterday...Heller hound, why can't you be more like them?

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2004 00:37:56 | More by feloniousmonk

Padron4KM

Arizona

2.9/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle from a mixed 12 pack. 193A05 on lower right corner.
Pours hazy golden, with a thick fluffy head. thick sheets of lace coat the glass.
Malty aroma, bready, toffee, maybe some bubblegum in there too.
Favor is sweet, vanilla and honey with just a little hops in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2005 08:09:26 | More by Padron4KM

goochpunch

Texas

2.93/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours out a honey colored body with a thinnish head and some solid sheets of lace left on the glass. Big, worty, Grape-Nut-like smell with a lot of over-ripe/rotten fruit all comes out in the nose. Flavor is sickly sweet. Very bready (good) but with abundant rotten fruit (bad). Lots of honey. There's a forceful bitterness that comes in midway and really sort of ruins the mood. Mouthfeel is rather thick and the carbonation manages to be intrusive. I'm not into this.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2007 03:32:33 | More by goochpunch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

2.95/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a three finger white head that fades quickly to a ring leaving some lace. Clear amber color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Bready nose. Starts balanced but some maltiness, then hops, expecting more sweetness. Bitter hoppy aftertaste. $1.49 for a 12oz bottle from Chalet Party Goshen, In.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2006 23:24:28 | More by jdhilt

Onibubba

Kentucky

2.95/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pours a pretty clear amber and leaves a short creamy beige head. Does not last, but can be coaxed back up with a bit of a swirl. I don't really pick up a whole lot in the aroma, but that's not a slam - smell is my worst sense. Taste is a bit sweet, but is quickly overtaken by a lasting bitterness. Bitter beer face indeed. This is not a hoppy citrus / pine bitterness like you would find in an IPA. This is more of a lingering nasty bitterness that coats your tongue and sends you searching for another beer to get the taste of wet gym sock out of your mouth. On the plus side, this beer made me appreciate the hell out of the Holy Moses I followed it with.

Mouthfeel is fine. Drinkability is fine too. If you are comfortable with bitter beers, you'll like this one. It's not a repeat buy for me though.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2007 18:14:52 | More by Onibubba

Gusler

Arizona

3/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On the pour the beer after disassociating it self from the 12-ounce brown bottle sets in the glass tralucent gold with a bulky white head that is spumous in consistency and as it abrades the lace forms a thin white curtain to conceal the glass. Nose is mostly malt, crisp and clean with the start lightly sweet and a fair to middling malt presence, the top thin. Finish is merciful in its acidity, the hops placid, quite dry aftertaste, rather a disappointment as I expected more body


.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2004 00:22:24 | More by Gusler

maxpower

Missouri

3/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle pours a clear bright copper with a small off white head that leaves some lacing in my glass. Fruity apple aroma, bread, honey, apple and caramel flavors, medium bodied with a soft and full mouthfeel, finishes with a mild sweetness, an average bock.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2005 18:36:09 | More by maxpower

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Tangerine peel orange. The head is French vanilla with a hint of orange, a nice color contrast to the beer beneath. The cap is semi-firm which causes it to resemble a wind-blown mesa as it descends. Undulating rings of lace look like strands of a foamy necklace fastened to the inner surface of the glass.

The aroma is odd. It's predominantly malty with a harsh, earthy, vegetal character, like rotting plant matter. It may not as bad as all that, but it isn't pleasant either. Although repeated sniffs allow me to appreciate herbal hops, they don't have a chance to impress given what else is going on in the nose.

Heller Hound tastes like it smells. For some reason, though, it's more tolerable on the palate. There's something about this malt-hop combination that I don't care for; I wish I could figure out what. Then again, maybe it's a maibock thing and I wouldn't understand. The truth is, I haven't had very many beers of this style that have even loosened my socks, much less knocked them off.

The flavor profile tastes like rock candy (which I've never liked), musty fruit, vanilla and incompletely masked alcohol. It's a strange melange that I've felt ambivalent about from the first sip. As I make my way into the second half of the bottle, I can't say that I'm warming up to it at all.

Heller Hound is an ugly mutt of a beer. It isn't completely without merit, but I struggled to find something to like in the curiously offbeat flavor profile. A recipe overhaul and a long stint in obedience school is my recommendation for taming this unruly pooch.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2005 23:51:17 | More by BuckeyeNation

Truh

New Hampshire

3.03/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Consumed on 5/7/2004. 12 oz. pour from a bottle into a shaker glass. Poured a crisply clear and clean muted golden hue. Dreary, wood-shaving thin initial head. Sweet malt, but otherwise muted bouquet, some clover and maybe sweet hay. Aspirin-like aftertaste, with some warming alcohol kicking in later. Overly wrought yeast presence seemed to mimic much of what I would refer to as the “Flying Dog style,” which is summed up in one word – ugh. I had hoped that this seasonal would be better than other Flying Dog offerings I am acquainted with, but this one was only a tic better.

The true saving grace of this, and the other Flying Dog products I have tasted, is the label art by Ralph Steadman. Given a chance, I would frame posters of these labels.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2004 23:07:30 | More by Truh

NEhophead

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Presentation: 12oz brown bottle; "Anti-Spring"

Bright white, frothy 1" head, that gives way to a bit of lacing that doesn't hold all that well. A golden-yellow color that looks a tad on the light side.

Sweet malt nose with a dark fruit aroma: grapes and apple are the ones I can most readily pick out. Nothing overpowering though in terms of aromatics.

A burnt fruity quality that really encompasses the palate. A malty sweetness that really carries the bock to the point of being too much. A strange bitterness is present at the end of the sip that isn't flattering.

I just find this bock to be a bit unbalanced in terms of the sweetness and bitterness. IMO it just doesn't settle well on my palate.

The 5.6%abv would allow you to drink this all night, since it is a bit on the lighter side, but I wouldn't recommend this one to those looking for a good (mai)bock.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2004 13:12:00 | More by NEhophead

JISurfer

South Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is a strange brew. It looks like any run of the mill macro, except for the nice head that stays around. The smell was nutty and malty, as well as citrus smells. The taste was kind of like Schlitz beer, but more depth, which made it better. It had the malty taste up front, and then quickly switches to a hoppy taste. The hoppy taste isn't too strong though, so that's a good thing for me, since I like my beer with big malt. Everything about it was just average, except for the taste, which had it's good points.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2004 02:37:04 | More by JISurfer

DevilDogBeer

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

This bock beer has a very light appearance from the bottle. The head pours a pure white with regular bubbles and has good retention. The smell is light with malt undertones. The taste is bitterer than the nose let on with a detectable malt (acidulated?) aftertaste. The mouthfeel was watery and unimpressive. This is a drinkable beer if you can get past the aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2006 00:47:15 | More by DevilDogBeer

nortmand

Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Golden yellow pour, with thin white head.
Smells yeasty and doughy, a little hoppiness.
Tastes very thick and yeasty, with a doughy, bready, dominant yeasty maltiness. The best way to describe this beer.
Mouthfeel is full bodied, but too much, should be easy drinking, but truly isn't.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2004 04:02:02 | More by nortmand

pootz

Ontario (Canada)

3.2/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle.

Poured a light amber color with a nice lacing cap.

Aromas of cooked cereals with a little toasted toffee and some grassiness.

Chewy malts in the front like a Marzen but the balancing hopping is woody-earthy like spalters and tattnangers...slick viscous mouth feel...finish is wet and warming with some sweetness and a strange taste like custard.

Not my favorite offering from this brewer.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 00:36:21 | More by pootz

Beaver13

Colorado

3.23/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle. Pours a clear golden with a thin white head that quickly diminishes to a thin film.

The aroma is sweet toasted malts, corn, biscuit and a little fruitiness.

The flavor is sweet, slightly sugary, toasted malts with some Noble hop bitterness in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium and slightly watery.

Overall, not my favorite style, but this was better than I expected (although, I wasn't expecting much).

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2006 02:02:08 | More by Beaver13