Stoudts Honey Double
Maibock
Review Date 7/17/2000
Try?
Re-buy?
One
of the really weird things about buying beer in Pennsylvania is that you
have to buy beer by the case, at a beer distributor store. Oh you can buy a
six-pack or two at a bar or restaurant, but you'll generally pay through the
nose for that privilege. I got a swift education in this the first time I
visited Pennsylvania as an adult about 12 years ago. I had stopped at a beer
distributor and, upon being confronted by so many wonderful beers I had
never partaken of, proceeded to rip open a case of Red Feather Ale (RIP).
Suddenly, the clerk on duty glanced at me as if I was a criminal and
screamed at the top of his lungs, "HEY! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?", and
then proceeded to inform me I must purchase a case of the stuff. You can
believe I never made that mistake again.
The upshot is that case beer is usually reasonably priced (though not much more so in my opinion than what you can buy it for in case lots here in New England). Sometimes there will even be a special on a certain beer; I got a case of this for about $20 along with a free logo pint glass from which I now drink the brew.
I have visited the brewery in Adamstown, it is indeed a beautiful place. There's a quaint gift shop where you can buy Stoudt's beer, a beer garden where you can sip a pint, and a restaurant run by owner Carol Stoudt's husband. Only 765 ml wine-size bottles are produced here however, the 12 ounce bottles (like the one I am drinking tonight) are contract brewed and bottled at the Lion brewery in Wilkes Barre, PA.
Stoudt's Honey Double Maibock pours to a cloudy golden-yellow color with
light head formation and a sweet malty nose. The palate is quite rich and
sweet, with a slightly toasty, very sweet finish. There's lots of alcohol
richness and warmth in the finish. This is actually an excellent Maibock,
aka Hellerbock, or light colored bock beer. Stoudt's interpretation reminds
me of the better German versions I have tried, such as Wurzburger and
Einbecker (though those don't use honey by order of the Reinheitsgebot, or
German beer purity law). The honey, being mostly fermentable sugars, is just
going to be eaten right up by the yeast during fermentation anyway.
The sweetness of the beer lends it to compatibility with desserts, I can imagine this going nicely with an apple-raisin strudel.
The upshot is that case beer is usually reasonably priced (though not much more so in my opinion than what you can buy it for in case lots here in New England). Sometimes there will even be a special on a certain beer; I got a case of this for about $20 along with a free logo pint glass from which I now drink the brew.
I have visited the brewery in Adamstown, it is indeed a beautiful place. There's a quaint gift shop where you can buy Stoudt's beer, a beer garden where you can sip a pint, and a restaurant run by owner Carol Stoudt's husband. Only 765 ml wine-size bottles are produced here however, the 12 ounce bottles (like the one I am drinking tonight) are contract brewed and bottled at the Lion brewery in Wilkes Barre, PA.
Stoudt's Honey Double Maibock pours to a cloudy golden-yellow color with
light head formation and a sweet malty nose. The palate is quite rich and
sweet, with a slightly toasty, very sweet finish. There's lots of alcohol
richness and warmth in the finish. This is actually an excellent Maibock,
aka Hellerbock, or light colored bock beer. Stoudt's interpretation reminds
me of the better German versions I have tried, such as Wurzburger and
Einbecker (though those don't use honey by order of the Reinheitsgebot, or
German beer purity law). The honey, being mostly fermentable sugars, is just
going to be eaten right up by the yeast during fermentation anyway.The sweetness of the beer lends it to compatibility with desserts, I can imagine this going nicely with an apple-raisin strudel.
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
