I just love bocks and double bocks, and my good buddy Jeff Evans knows this. He also knows Troegs beers are not sold here, so he brings me beer from them, too. Two years ago it was a six-pack of the legendary Troegenator Doppelbock. This year, he hooked me up with a bottle of Oak-Aged Troegenator and two bottles of the beer I’m here to talk about tonight, Troegs Scratch Beer Series #222 Bock Beer.
This, however, is a single bock, not a doppelbock. American brewers don’t put out enough lagers, let alone bocks and doppelbocks in my opinion. That’s a shame because doppelbock is my favorite style, and bock not far behind. America’s beer scene today is highly hop-centric, and these two styles celebrate malt to the utmost. Hence their relative dearth.
Troegs says of the beer:
The dark, strong and sweet lager known as Bock has become synonymous with springtime. Although we’re knee deep in winter, we’re always thirsty for a nice Bock beer here at Tröegs. We view this latest Scratch Beer release as the feisty little brother of the Troegenator. Brewed with local PA Dutch malt from our friends at Deer Creek, this traditional Munich style malt produces a deep amber coloration and hints of burnt straw, caramelized nuts, and toasted bread. Light on hop bitterness, Scratch #222 instead provides a good swift kick of dark stone fruit, sweet caramel, and chewy bready notes.
Ingredients from the website:
Malt: Deer Creek PA Dutch, Vienna
Hops: German Northern Brewer
Yeast: House Lager
Troegs Scratch Beer Series #222 Bock Beer has an alcohol content of 6.3% by volume with 18 IBUs. My bottles are marked best by 5/25/16, and I got them from Jeff in early March of 2017. I got around to drinking the first on September 22nd.
Troegs Scratch Beer Series #222 Bock Beer pours to a vibrant orange color with a thick creamy head and a robust nose that shouts toasty nutty melanoidins at you. Taking a sip, the beer is firm in body with smooth toasty-nutty melanoidin laden malt appropriate to a single bock. There’s a fresh malt character here that is slightly bready and wonderfully drinkable. A light herbal bitterness balances but doesn’t let you forget the malt rules this style, and this beer.
I’m in Jeff’s debt for all the great Troegs bocks and doppelbocks. This is another feather under my bock cap, and a rare treat that I hope Troegs brings back someday.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft