Mahrs Der Weisse Bock

Review Date 6/27/2003 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Weizenbock   Brewery: Mahr's Brau   Country: Germany   State: N/A   $ Per OZ: $.17 (B)   ABV: 7.2%

Every now and then, a beer lover realizes why he or she fell in love with that glorious malt beverage in the first place. It’s easy today to become complacent, what with the wonderful assortment of delicious beers available to the beer enthusiast. We’re spoiled, I think, and we take for granted beers that would have been viewed as godsends three decades ago. Still, every now and then a beer comes along that just reaches up and smacks you in the face with flavor and character. “Hey! I’m an incredible beer!” it seems to say, and you’d better be listening when it does.

Such a beer is Mahr’s Weisse Bock. To be sure, I had enjoyed this on tap more than a year ago. Still, I was happy to see it for sale in bottles at Green’s Liquors on Buford Highway here in Atlanta. Green’s is a recent find for me, but they have an amazing selection of beers and if you travel to Atlanta you should stop here. But that’s another story.

Back to Mahr’s Weisse Bock, a beer I think is even better in bottles than it is on tap. Even the packaging of this beer is special. When I saw it, I have to say that my eyes drank in the beauty of the packaging long before my lips had the pleasure of doing the same with the beer. Ah, the classic tapered brown glass wheat beer bottle with a captivating label that features a goat, the traditional symbol of bock, heartily enjoying a tall foaming glass of brew. The borders adorned with hops and malt. Such things are the dream of any true beer lover.

Mahr’s Weisse Bock pours to a dark ruby brown color with a thick creamy head and a rich malty nose. Indeed, I didn’t even need to pour the beer into my glass before the wonderful aromas of thick chewy caramel, vanilla and clove wafted to my nose. As soon as I popped the cap these wonderful notes were readily apparent. What the nose promised, the palate delivered and then some.

Mahr’s Weisse Bock is packed with delicious notes of caramel, molasses, prune, banana, clove, chocolate, raisin, and fresh bread. It finishes tart and slightly sour; despite the amazing complexity, rich body and malty sweetness this is a remarkably drinkable brew. This beer is a steal at $2.99 a bottle; it’s one of the best beers I have ever tasted.

This is a rare and special treat from Bamberg, Germany. It should not be missed. And lest anyone try to tell you that beer is not as complex as wine, I submit that they have never tasted a glass of Mahr’s Weisse Bock. ‘Nuff Said.