Hey there, beer lovers, and welcome to a new installment of New Belgium’s “Hop Kitchen” series of hoppy brews. Actually, the beer under consideration today, New Belgium Hoppy Bock Lager, is the first installment of this series that’s new for 2013. Released in January, Hoppy Bock Lager is a traditional German Maibock in style. Here are some details from the bottle label:

“A German-style springtime lager brewed with rye then loaded with Hallertauer, Perle and Fuggle hops for a spicy, earthy aroma. This Hoppy Bock Lager offers a medium body and slightly sweet malt character perfect for your spring hop-fling.”

And stats from the company website:

IBU:  70

Hops:  Nugget, Hallertauer, Perle, Fuggle

Malts:  Rye, Melanoiden, Munich, Goldpils Vienna 

Yeast:  Lager

New Belgium Hoppy Bock has an alcohol content of 6.9% by volume, about right for the style. I paid $6.99 for a 22-ounce bottle at Total Wine, not bad as beer prices go these days. My bottle has a date of June 16^th, 2013 as a best by date, but I drank mine well after that and it had held up nicely.

New Belgium Hoppy Bock Lager pours to a bright golden orange color with a medium sized head of creamy foam and a soft golden malty nose laced with a hint of grassy hop aroma. Taking a sip, the beer has some gently toasted malt underneath followed by a bit of cooked corn flavor and aroma, a subtle sweetness, and then a gradually progressing herbal grassy hoppiness. In the finish, that hop character lingers and becomes very dry on the tongue, more so than is the standard for the style for sure. Indeed, it’s intensely bitter and grassy dry, very Teutonic with big grassy aroma and flavor, too. But then this is a hoppy bock, after all, isn’t it?

I didn’t really notice the rye here, but I do like this beer very much. As a hoppier version of a classic German Maibock, New Belgium Hoppy Bock succeeds and is worth your time and money.

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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