The Empire Strikes Bock
Written: Oct 03 '00 (Updated Oct 03 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Malty, chocolatey brew
Cons: Not really a bock
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| Bruguru's Full Review: Michelob Amber Bock |
In the early nineteen-eighties, the craft beer scene in the United States was in an embryonic state. There were imports to be found here and there, but the Empire did not consider these a threat. Indeed, the Empire exerted its own influence on the imports' home turf. A few regional brewers survived and produced what we might consider a craft beer here and there, but these were hardly worth the Empire's attention.
Then something strange happened. A few pockets of resistance began to arise across the country. A rebellious Scot named Grant in Washington, a quiet but determined pioneer named Maytag in San Francisco, a mysterious guy named Slosberg in California, a firebrand in Boston named Koch all began to make their presence felt. At first, their impact wasn't felt to a great degree, but as the years went by they were joined by others. Their numbers grew, while the Empire stagnated. Something had to be done, and in the mid nineties, the Empire struck back.
The Empire I'm referring to of course is Anheuser-Busch. Realizing that the craft beer movement was something that wasn't going to go away, AB introduced the specialty line of Michelob beers in the nineties as an attempt to cash in and steal the thunder of microbrewers. Certainly, this was a valid response to the laws of the market, giving the public what the public wants. In 1995, AB rolled out Michelob Amber Bock as part of the specialty beer line.
Michelob's Amber Bock pours to a deep brown color with a prodigious head formation and a sweet malty nose. The palate is very light but has a touch of sweet malt and a hint of chocolate. The finish is slightly on the sweet side, no hops are discernible. The chewy, caramelly notes I want in a bock just are not here. This is not a bock that's going to pass the Reinheitsgebot any time soon (there's rice in this beer), but it's not a bad tasting beer in its own right. It was never intended to be a German style bock anyway, rather it is patterned on Texas-style bocks like Shiner. In that, the beer succeeds.
Recommended:
Yes
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