Bock
A strong, malty German lager, smooth and warming, with deep bready and toasty malt.
About the Bock style
The bock is a strong lager that originated in the German town of Einbeck in the Middle Ages and was later adopted by Munich brewers. The name became associated with a billy goat, which appears on many bock labels.
It is a malt-driven beer, strong but smooth, traditionally brewed for seasonal occasions. Stronger and darker variants such as doppelbock and the pale, potent maibock grew from it.
Bock is a strong German beer, usually a dark lager.
Grain, hops and yeast
Malt and grain: Munich and Vienna malts for a rich, bready, toasty malt profile.
Hop character: Low noble hopping for balance, well behind the malt.
Yeast and fermentation: A clean lager yeast able to ferment the higher gravity cleanly, lagered long.
A typical Bock runs 6.3 to 7.2% alcohol by volume, with a bitterness of about 20 to 27 IBU and a colour of 14 to 22 SRM. It is traditionally served in a willi becher or goblet. These figures describe the usual range for the style; a given example may sit a little outside them.
Yeast and fermentation notes
A clean lager yeast, pitched in a large healthy dose and fermented cold around 9 to 12 degrees Celsius, ferments the higher gravity without stress. A long cold lager smooths the strength and lets the rich Munich malt shine.
Serving in brief
Serve a bock cool, around 7 to 10 degrees Celsius, with a moderate carbonation, in a sturdy glass or goblet. It is a strong, warming lager, so pour measured servings and let its malt open up as it warms slightly.
Classic examples
Well-known commercial examples of the style include Einbecker Ur-Bock, Aass Bock and Great Lakes Rockefeller Bock. Tasting a benchmark example is the best way to understand what a style should be before brewing your own.
| Vital statistic | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Origin | Germany |
| Strength (ABV) | 6.3 to 7.2% |
| Bitterness (IBU) | 20 to 27 |
| Colour (SRM) | 14 to 22 |
| Traditional glass | Willi Becher or goblet |
Typical published ranges. Individual examples vary.
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Sources: BJCP Beer Style Guidelines ยท Wikipedia