Now here’s an interesting beer my friends: Apostelbrau Dinkel Bock from the Apostelbrau Craft Brewery of Hauzenberg, Bavaria. Apostelbrau should not be confused, however, with the Apostel Brau brewery of Worms in the Rhineland. I’m sure their beer is every bit as wonderful (it’s German beer after all) but I can’t say as I’ve never tried it.

Anyway, Apostelbrau Dinkel Bock is an interesting beer indeed because it is brewed with spelt (Dinkel is German for spelt). This is not a gluten-free beer however, as there is also barley malt used here. Apostelbrau Dinkel Bock is imported by B.United, and they have this information about the beer on their website:

Apostelbraeu Dinkel Bock is quite refreshing inspite of its 6.6 % alc/vol. It shows a distinct dry/fruity finish which comes completely unexpected from a “German brewery”. The estery character of Rudi Hirz’s “house yeast” and the unique Hallertauer Saphir/Austrian Opal hop combination [plus dry-hopped with Opal hop] harmonize very well.

Its big body consisting of Pilsner malt, Rudi Hirz’ own floor malted barley and Spelt provide the perfect malt sweet balance.

Although the above states that Apostelbrau Dinkel Bock has an alcohol content of 6.6% by volume, my bottle says it is actually 6.8%. The beer has 35 IBUs and I paid $7.00 for my half liter bottle at Bruisin Ales in Asheville, North Carolina.

Apostelbrau Dinkel Bock pours to a cloudy caramel color with a light head formation of tightly packed foam and a soft malty chewy toffee nose. Taking a sip, the beer has more of the toffee and caramel notes the nose promised with a definite husky pasty grain character from the spelt. Bottle conditioned. Lacks the dark melanoidin notes of a bock but there is definitely a toasted nut element. Sharp grassy herbal hop aroma and bitterness in the finish, more than is common for a bock for sure.

A very tasty and different German beer. I didn’t really get the fruity notes that B. United mentions, but I did get the grainy flour-like spelt notes that are common to spelt beers. Though strong as a doppelbock, the flavors here seemed more in line with a single bock to me.

Would I buy it again? Not at $7.00, no. While this is a unique and interesting beer that I’m glad that I tried, I wouldn’t pay that price again when there are other wonderful German bocks for less than half that price. 4 stars on its own merits with a half star deducted for the very high price.

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



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