The Barley Blog Reviews Gansett Bock

From TheBarleyBlog.com.

Last week, a couple of tall boy cans arrived from the kind folks at Narragansett Brewing. I will say this for the packaging of their products, they certainly know how to pick out some distinctive colors. Check out the green below or the orange of last year’s Fest. I can only imagine what sort of cranial complex would be induced having both of these products sitting side-by-side.

At any rate, the company’s recently announced Bock turned out to be an easy drinking, malty little brew that has a nice balance and good flavor. Hell, even the wife, who has an aversion to canned beer (I’ve spoiled her through the years), enjoyed a good bit of it.

The beer is brewed with light and dark Munich malts, Pilsner malt, Malted Wheat, and hopped with Northern Brewers and Hallertau varieties. This combination makes for a beer (Helles bock in style) that doesn’t require much on the drinker’s part. It’s got a refreshing nature with a smooth, balanced character that any once could enjoy.

Appearance

Crystal clear and golden amber in appearance, the beer sat in the glass with a fairly good-size cap of foam.

Aroma

Along with a light sweetness, there’s a toasted malt presence and a surprisingly forward hop character, though not in an IPA sense.

Taste

Sweet, bready malts are the first thing to cross the palate, but quickly fade to a nice level of grassy, spicy hops that add a subtle bite to the mix without any sharp bitterness. The crisp mouthfeel works well for this balanced brew that’s a bit drier than most bocks I’ve enjoyed. The finish lingers nicely and the 6.5% ABV isn’t any where in sight.

Overall

I’ve had a few brews from Narragansett through the past couple of years now and while I enjoy the Porter a bit more, this bock was pretty damn tasty. The refreshing and approachable nature of this brew are reason enough to go out and get a case (or two) of this brew.

Rating: 3.75/5