New Belgium Hop Kitchen Hoppy Bock Lager

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Tried this when it first came out months ago and thought it was decent. Over the last few weeks, every place in town has been trying to clear it out at bargain prices ($1.50 bombers and 2 talls for the price of a pint). Caramel and biscuity malts along with earthy hops and what I think is New Belgium's distinct yeast profile.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 6

Golden pour with perfect clarity. Small head, but thick lacing. Earthy grains are central to the aroma and flavor. Rye certainly plays a role. At one point, the flavor was leaning so earthy, i thought I noted pinto beans. Medium bodied, well carbonated. I really haven't had too many bocks, so to me this one was kind of a star in the category. I also really appreciate NB putting out a special line of beers at such a reasonable cost. It's been a while since I paid only $3.99 for a 22oz beer that was actually good. Most Oklahoma bombers are running $10 and up.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 7

Pours a clear light amber with a very thick and rather persistent white head. OK, this is a lager, give it a chance. Hearty aroma has a malty core and firm pineapple and hoppy notes plus a hint of cloves. Now for where the proverbial rubber meets the proverbial road: Whoa, interesting flavor - and I mean that in a good way. Pineapple and hops dominate, but malty and subtle apple and cloves notes manage to stake a claim of taste buds. Very refreshing, a perfect beer for spring. Smooth texture has about average fizz and body, maybe a little above average. Bock it to me!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Beautiful amber color, nice white head, ample lacing. Sweet caramel aromas and palate upfront, then the malts give way to ample hops bitterness, earthy and pleasant, clean and very tasty Bock. Very nice Spring beer.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

A clear rich golden body with a fluffy white crown that settles very slowly into a thick frothy mass leaving a few chunks of lace behind.Big spicy hops in the nose over top of bready caramel malts,a tinge of iron is light but noticable as well.Not a full bodied pale bock,a little lighter feel for the style.Bold sharp hops at the onset with a light caramel sweetness underneath,toasted and more drying hops in the finish.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Sampled on 3/19/2013. This heller bock pours a light yellow orange gold color from a 22 oz bottle. Small to medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is fruity and sweet, with some grain and some spiciness. A light to medium bodied heller bock. The malts are fruity, caramel and sweet. The hops are earthy and slightly spicy. Decent carbonation. It’s a little thin for a heller bock, but there is some nice fullness under the surface of this beer. It’s very drinkable, and would almost make a really nice session ale if it weren’t nearly 7% alcohol. Touch of rye spiciness as well. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 5

22 oz bottle, dated 6/16/13. Pours clear straw gold with a medium creamy white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is subdued - sweet biscuity malts, spicy rye and some slightly metallic, grassy noble hops with some stinky musty yeast.

The flavor is sweet malts and a little rye with a decent sized grassy peppery hop finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and a little thin.

Overall, a decent hoppy lager.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

The description of this beer was intriguing. It was ok, but really didn't live up to expectations. A good food beer, but there's not enough to really catch my interest as a stand-alone. Light in color and body, and surprisingly light on the hops given the name. The slight spice from the rye and a light bready malt backbone put this just over average, but barely.