When you think of a beautiful autumn day, you spontaneously feel like a nice bock beer. Right? Autumn is the bock beer season par excellence. But there is also a bock in the spring, better known as lentebock in the Netherlands. And honestly, there is so much more to bock beer than meets the eye!
What is Bock beer?
We start at the beginning. What exactly is bock beer? With an average alcohol content of 6.5% or higher, bock beer by definition belongs among the stronger beers. It is brewed as a lager, after which the long maturation creates beautiful, powerful flavors. Bock beers are darker in color - ranging from amber to dark brown - and more focused on the malt profile than the hop profile.
The history of bock beer
Originally, bock beer was drunk by monks, as a kind of ode to the future. Thus, during Lent, the beer symbolized the better times that would follow after a long, cold winter. Bock beer is a German tradition for special occasions, and one that has been around for centuries.
For the monks, bock beer served as an extra source of energy, as the "liquid bread. Yet beer today does not have the same nutritional value as it did then, and alcohol plays a greater role today.
Bock has been brewed since the 14th century and originated in Einbeck, northern Germany. And soon it turned into a big hit all over Europe. "Bock" is the German word for "bock," but that's not where the term bock beer originally came from. The name "ainpockisch," as the beer was called in Germany, was inadvertently changed to the name "bockbier" due to imports abroad. And, the rest is history.
The taste of bock beer
Bock beer is accessible in flavor and has lower carbonation than most other beers. There are two distinctive bock beer styles: 1. the doppelbock; stronger, malty and darker, and 2. the maibock; with more hoppy, light notes. Maibock, also originally called "helles bock," is often mentioned in the same breath with spring and the month of May. The beer is drier, lighter and not as malty as the dice bock. Less known is the existence of the third bock: the eisbock. By freezing and thawing the water of this beer during the brewing process, the alcohol content is higher than the doppelbock and the taste is fruity.
The difference between bock beer and stout beer?
The big difference is in the yeast. What bocks are to the lager family, stouts are to ales.
Bock beer styles
As you can read above, the bock beer style is so much more than you might think. The category of bock beers is so large, we could easily devote an entire web page to it. But no worries, we'll keep it short.
You've probably heard of our infamous, annual Apfelstrudel Doppelbock. (If not: go taste it! It's a topper!) The doppelbock is a larger, stronger version of the "regular" bock beer. And then there is the weizenbock - the wheat version of bockbeer - and the eisbockbier - whose beer is partially frozen and thawed for a stronger, super flavorful bockbeer. To give you an idea.
Bock beer? HELL YEAH
So, this was it, our short bock beer tour. And it is clear: bock beer is immensely popular. There are even special bock beer pubs and bock beer festivals, from a to z dedicated to bock. So, what are you waiting for? Go for bock beer, and you won't regret it!
What is Bock beer?
We start at the beginning. What exactly is bock beer? With an average alcohol content of 6.5% or higher, bock beer by definition belongs among the stronger beers. It is brewed as a lager, after which the long maturation creates beautiful, powerful flavors. Bock beers are darker in color - ranging from amber to dark brown - and more focused on the malt profile than the hop profile.
Bock beer at Uiltje Brewing Company
Whatever type of bock beer you drink, it's all about the perfect balance of sweet and nutty malt notes. With its low hop profile and medium bitters, bock beer goes very well with a piece of grilled meat, cheese or chocolate.
At Uiltje Brewing Company, we love powerful beers, like our Apfelstrudel Doppelbock. This annual comeback hero is one to remember anyway. With its 11%, it will keep you warm on a Dutch autumn or freezing winter day!
Discover the extraordinary bock beers from Uiltje Brewing
Wait a minute, a bock beer that tastes like apple strudel? Yes it does. Our Apfelstrudel Doppelbock is an enchanting doppelbock with hints of cinnamon, vanilla, apple and raisin. With its strong, sweet flavors and high alcohol content, it is a warming bock beer that is excellent on cold and/or drizzly days. In addition to the Apfelstrudel Doppelbock, we regularly brew other unique bock beers for fall and winter. Do you see few or no bock beers on this page? Then wait until the right season arrives!
Looking beyond bock beer?
Want to buy more delicious beers besides bock beer? Then feel free to browse our online beer store. Want even more dark and strong beer? Try our stouts and porters, or our complex barrel-aged beers. After all this dark intensity, are you looking for something fresh and fruity? Then check out our fresh and fruity beers, including NEIPAs and session IPAs. Order, taste and discover your favorite! Or did you know that our bock beers are also included in our beer subscription or beer package during the season?
Why buy bock beer online from Uiltje Brewing?
Buying bock beer online at Uiltje means you buy directly from the source. Your beer will be delivered to your home from the brewery without detours. In addition, we can tell you all about our special beers. After all, we brewed them ourselves. Read at your leisure our extensive product descriptions, weigh, weigh, and order the tastiest bock beers online directly.