Amsterdam Spring Bock - Amsterdam Brewing Company

slitherySOB

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours out an almost near black, with a little film for head. Very dark, with just a hint of orange showing through the bottom. Smells nutty and chocolaty, with some tropical fruits and coffee thrown in. Tastes delectably sweet. Chocolate, coffee, raisins, figs, and big malty character. Some nuttiness in the background as well. Specifically... Walnuts, I think. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, and a bit sticky. Which seems appropriate. I like this beer. A lot. It's filling without being gassy. Almost a meal in a glass.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2012 00:11:57 | More by slitherySOB

KrisDLSmith

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

05-17-2013 18:31:40 | More by KrisDLSmith

jmkoscie

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%

05-08-2013 23:28:35 | More by jmkoscie

nullbort

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +28.7%

05-04-2013 12:55:24 | More by nullbort

chadmbogo

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -18.7%

05-02-2013 13:38:42 | More by chadmbogo

timiskin

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

04-24-2013 01:58:28 | More by timiskin

philmen

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

04-12-2013 04:08:20 | More by philmen

phirleh

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +8.4%

04-04-2013 13:05:25 | More by phirleh

RyFikes

New York

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

04-03-2013 13:36:17 | More by RyFikes

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

3.91/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

500 mL bottle from the LCBO; served only slightly chilled and poured into a mug. One of the few 'big name' Amsterdam brews I've neglected to try so far, I couldn't in good conscience pass this one up with doppelbocks being so rarely available locally.

Pours a deep brown, bordering on opaque colour, but with ruby red tinges under the light. Generates nearly two fingers of frothy, light-tan coloured head that slowly seeps away over the next few minutes, leaving behind a modest ring of lacing. The aroma is definitely sweet and malty, with hints of caramel, molasses, milk chocolate, figs and raisins. Don't know if I'd use 'rich' to describe it, but it's certainly far from subdued.

Fairly straightforward flavour; nothing too exotic, and heavy on the malts as one might hope. Brown sugar and molasses sweetness are the first things I pick out, followed up by roasted nuts, baker's chocolate and more raisin/fig flavours. The finish is a mixture of herbal hops, alongside some slight booziness and coffee-ground earthiness that lingers into the aftertaste. Medium-bodied, with appropriate balance between the big, sweet, malty flavours and the more subtle bitter/dry ones. Moderate carbonation that gives it a lively mouthfeel, although it leaves a rather sticky feel behind on the palate. Really drinkable for something listed at a sturdy 7.8%, with just enough kick from the ethanol to remind you it's a doppel rather than a standard bock.

Final Grade: 3.91, a respectable B+. Spring Bock may be my new favourite brew in Amsterdam's portfolio, narrowly beating out their Boneshaker IPA. It offers a pleasant balance between dark malty goodness and subtle hop bitterness, with enough ethanol heat to make it a great warmer for late winter/early spring. Not quite within the realm of Celebrator or other classic German doppels, but a worthy substitute that I wouldn't hesitate to pick up again next year. Worth a try this season while it's still around.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 18:28:49 | More by thehyperduck

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +15.2%

03-17-2013 20:05:48 | More by NightINgale

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%

02-12-2013 03:34:56 | More by DaPan

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -18.7%

11-06-2012 15:28:44 | More by cfalovo97

bigox420

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +8.4%

10-07-2012 00:48:48 | More by bigox420

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +15.2%

09-09-2012 23:07:40 | More by Molson2000

BigGruntyThirst

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

07-08-2012 02:42:34 | More by BigGruntyThirst

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Yeah! Derek's beer, finally! Thanks to Liamt07 for getting me this big want through the CANBIF.

Appearance. Pours a light cola brown with almost no head.

Smell. Roasted malts and caramel, booze and a little grassy hops.

Taste. Caramel, some roasted grains and some slightly bitter hops.

Mouthfeel. Medium+ body with medium carbonation.

Overall. Nice beer, easy drinking and not too sweet.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 06:01:16 | More by Rutager

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Rutger for this one.

A: Slight tan head over mahogany liquid.

S: Caramel, figs and cherries.

T: Caramel, chocolate, figs and cherries with some citrus hops.

M: Medium viscosity and a medium level of fine carbonation. Very smooth.

O: Frankly, this should be rated higher. Extremely drinkable and tasty. Reminiscent of celebrator.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 03:05:50 | More by DaftCaskBC

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%

05-21-2012 02:00:13 | More by oldp0rt

Yeoman9459

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - looks good, nice small layer of head.

Smell - its okay, doesn't smell like anything special. Malt, nutty, caramel, bit of hops.

Taste - better than it smells, nice hoppiness. Chocolate, coffee, malt.

Mouthfeel - solid bitterness, good amount of carbonation, quite refreshing. Closer to medium bodied.

Overall - really impressed by this beer, it is exactly what it says, a Spring Bock. All of the seasonal releases from this brewery are awesome.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 03:55:42 | More by Yeoman9459

WeissBoy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +8.4%

04-07-2012 05:14:29 | More by WeissBoy

traumaqueen

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%

04-03-2012 06:26:51 | More by traumaqueen

fostachild

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

03-31-2012 23:51:22 | More by fostachild

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: It has a nice mahogany brown/amber color to it. It has a nice thick beige head that dies down moderately and leaves some lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of sweet and roasted malts, caramel, nuttiness and floral hops.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a nice floral/tropical taste from the hops with the malts adding a roasty, caramelly, nutty, dark fruit flavor.

Mouthfeel: It has a low carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 19:36:19 | More by SebD

MattPS

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +8.4%

03-19-2012 01:25:19 | More by MattPS