Things
are looking good for beer lovers in Atlanta. Last night, I dropped by
the Five Seasons Brewing Company for a brew or two. Five Seasons is
one of my favorite local watering holes, of which we seem to have an
abundance here in Hotlanta. If you visit Atlanta (and you like beer),
then you should drop by at Five Seasons. If you drop by during May or
June, then you should definitely try an Me-262 Maibock.
As I mentioned in a previous rambling, Georgia recently brought its
beer laws a bit closer to the Twenty First Century by raising the
legal limit on how much alcohol a beer can contain from 6% to 14%. The
law takes effect on July 1st, and you can expect a full report of the
festivities from yours truly some time after that.
The changes in the law should have important implications for beers
like the one under consideration today, Me-262 Maibock.
Maibocks are pale in color and usually have an alcohol content of
around 6% or so by volume. The more alcohol present, the more warmth
can be perceived in the finish, something I like in the style. So,
perhaps next year Me-262 will have a bit more kick.
Me-262 is named for the Messerschmitt 262 fighter plane, one of the
world's first jet aircraft. That plane was flown by German pilots
during World War II, and the name is in keeping with the beer's German
heritage. Mai is German for May, and this style is (as you
might expect) a spring seasonal. It's slightly higher strength is
perfect for the warming days but still cool nights of the season.
As fate would have it, I bellied on up to the bar next to a guy from
Berlin, and we enjoyed some conversation over a few brews. He liked
the Me-262 just fine, and he should know I would think. I like the
beer a lot, myself, too. It's rich and hearty, full and satisfying.
Update: June 9, 2013: My how times have changed. Seems I haven't reported back on this wonderful German-style Maibock beer since Georgia changed its law on beer strength. The limit was raised from 6% to 14% shortly after I wrote the above about 5 Seasons ME-262 Maibock, and 5 Seasons has popped the cap on this beer, too: it now weighs in at 8.5% alcohol by volume.
Taking a sip tonight, I have to admit that this is one of the best Maibocks I have ever had bar none. Fresh candyish malt, cooked corn, dry grassy hop finish-they're all here. The price is average at $6 for the 20-ounce "true" pint. They don't call this ME-262 anymore; it just shows on the draft list as Maibock. I will always think of it as ME-262, but whatever you call it it should not be missed.
Enjoyable indeed with a house-baked buckwheat pretzel served with savory, creamy cheese spread ($5) and a huge stack of sweet vidalia onion rings thick and tasty with onion and dipped in a beer batter accompanied by a spicy tomato mayo dipping sauce ($8).
About 5 Seasons Brewing Company
5 Seasons Brewing Company was founded in 2003 by Atlanta beer maverick Dennis Bruce. They quickly became known for world class beers paired with exciting seasonal and staple cuisine.
Tasting Notes
Me-262
Maibock pours to a full amber color with a huge foamy head formation
and a sweet malty nose. The color of this beer is a bit darker than your
average pale bock, but keep in mind that pale bock can be relative. The
brew is still much lighter in color than a standard bock. The palate is
full of rich sweet malt and is slightly toasty. A faint amount of
vegetal character could be detected, though not enough to detract from
the overall enjoyment of the beer.
In the finish, a hint of alcohol warmth, a bit of sweetness and a touch
of hops punctuate nicely. You can easily drink a mess of this, and I
did. You could probably fuel a jet quite nicely with this stuff, too.
Value & Verdict
For $7.00 you can get it in a Maas, a huge dimpled glass mug that holds a full liter of beer. Just ask them for a mess of beer, and they'll know what you're talking about.
