Flensburger Winterbock

Winterbock by Flensburger Brauerei is a bock beer and is being evaluated as a Helles Bock (category 4C in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Helles Bocks are known as pale lagers of moderately high strength with a clean fermentation, rich maltiness and a slightly higher hop level than the other bock sub-styles. Flensburger continues to use swing-top bottles, which is a practice that has become increasingly rare.

Winterbock pours golden in color with a small, fluffy, cream-colored head and excellent clarity. The aroma is moderately toasty and bready with a light graininess; light spicy hops add a little contrast. The flavor is of rich bready and toasty malt with just a hint of sweetness, but again, a light graininess detracts. A light spicy hop flavor adds some contrast to the malt-driven flavor. The beer finishes with a moderately light bitterness and a lingering bready malt and light spicy hops in a semi-dry finish.

Winterbock has an excellent balance between the malt and hops for the Helles Bock style. The malt is appropriately rich for the style, but the light graininess detracts. Be sure to seek out this seasonal while it is available. Prost!