I have to say that when a friend gave me a can of Lancaster Rumspringa Golden Bock, I really thought the name was cool. Rumspringa (pronounced room-shpring-ah) just sounds cool, doesn’t it? Of course, I had no idea what it meant, so I broke out the trusty dictionary. The word is Pennsylvania Dutch in origin (no surprise coming from a Lancaster, PA brewer). It means “to run around”, and comes from the German word “rumspringen”, which means to jump around.

That’s the literal definition, anyway. Figuratively, Rumspringa is sort of like an extended Amish spring break. Apparently, some Amish teens decide to test the outside world, and do weird things like drink beer and wear modern clothes. We might call it sowing your wild oats too, I suppose.

However you slice it, Rumspringa seems pretty popular. Not only does Lancaster Brewing have their Rumspringa Golden Bock, but there is a Rumspringa Brewing Company in Bird-in Hand, too. Try not to get them confused.

Rumspringa Golden Bock has an alcohol content of 6.6% by volume. The back of my can says:

Embrace your rebellious side! Our feisty golden bock lager is brewed with real Lancaster County honey and has a subtle malt flavor complemented by a flawless balance of domestic and European hops.

Lancaster Rumspringa Golden Bock pours to a bright golden orange color with a soft toasted malt nose and a light wispy head formation. The palate is laced with a hint of caramel but more toasted malt, with some rich sweetness in the finish and a hint of cooked corn flavor. The honey adds a note of richness and depth in body as well. A bit of grassy hop aroma emerges in the finish, and the beer is balanced just so with bitterness. Perhaps there’s a slight sweetness in the finish.

All in all, a very nice maibock, I think, I enjoyed it.



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