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Cabin Fever Honey Bock
New Glarus, Wisconsin
BJCP Category: 5A Helles Bock
New Glarus Brewing Co. <visit site>
40
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[expand]Total Score: 37/50
A very drinkable and tasty beer. All the flavor expected of a Classic American Pilsner. I personally liked the grainy malt and corn presence, but it’s out of place in the traditional helles bock where more >
[close]Total Score: 37/50
Aroma: Pils based malt profile up front with hints of honey and noticeable alcohol presence. No diacetyl. No fruity esters. No DMS. Very low hop aroma. Very pleasant aroma but no melanoidins or toastiness often associated with helles bock. (8/12)
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Appearance: Dark gold color. Brilliant clarity. Thick, white, long-lasting head. Well carbonated. Very pretty beer. (3/3)
Flavor: Grainy malt profile up front. Very pleasant but more Pilsner-like than a helles bock with rich melanoidins and some toasty notes. Almost a Classic American Pilsner even with some corn-like character. A bit of a sweet finish. No hop flavor but moderate hop bitterness balances the malt sweetness. Alcohol is quite apparent but I didn’t initially perceive the honey in the flavor as it likely fermented out and contributed to the alcohol presence; as the beer warmed the honey character became more evident. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Alcohol warming, but not hot or harsh. Medium body and mouthfeel. Moderately high carbonation. Not creamy or smooth but no astringency or harshness. (4/5)
Overall Impression: A very drinkable and tasty beer. All the flavor expected of a Classic American Pilsner. I personally liked the grainy malt and corn presence, but it’s out of place in the traditional helles bock where melanoidins and some toastiness would have worked better for the style. The German brewing with American ingredients tradition was apparent. A great beer to have with brats and Philly soft pretzels. (7/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 44/50
Delightful Maibock with lightness on the palate from honey, which actually could be just a bit more pronounced and not overwhelm the biscuity, bready malt. more >
[close]Total Score: 44/50
Aroma: Moderately strong biscuity malt aroma, with hint of cinnamon and black pepper spicy hop. Clean fermentation. Clean lightly floral honey aroma hangs in the background, emerging more strongly when the beer is roused. (10/12)
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Appearance: Brilliant clarity, deep golden color. Low creamy off-white layer of foam doesn’t persist as a head, but lingers as a light layer of foam with a pearly sheen. (3/3)
Flavor: Pronounced, but not heavy toasted bread crust and biscuity malt flavor, with very low peppery hop flavor, and moderate bitterness. Low alcohol flavor; very clean. Well balanced presentation of all components. A hint of clover honey at first gives way to the bready malt, finishes with a lingering bitterness and light, sweet residue of honey that accentuates the spicy peppery hop. Sweet finish is more pronounced as the beer sits. (18/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium full body with smooth, creamy texture. Moderate carbonation, not prickly, clean finish with low alcohol warmth. No astringency. (5/5)
Overall Impression: Delightful Maibock with lightness on the palate from honey, which actually could be just a bit more pronounced and not overwhelm the biscuity, bready malt. Malt profile is well supported with a clean fermentation and low peppery, cinnamon hop flavor. A flavorful beer to celebrate with any day, any time. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 40/50
This is a very nice beer that expresses the honey well. Although honey is nearly completely fermentable, the beer ends up a little further on the sweet side than one typically finds in a German lager. more >
[close]Total Score: 40/50
Aroma: Medium-strong clover honey aroma with some light toasted malt underneath. The fermentation character is clean, but there is some light alcohol in the background, and the honey adds some fruitiness. It smells a little on the sweet side due to the honey, but that would be expected given the name of the beer. (9/12)
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Appearance: Everything is on the mark, including the light golden color and good effervescence. The head retention is impressive, and the clarity is brilliant. (3/3)
Flavor: There is light biscuit/toasted malt up front with a little graininess. The honey sweetness crescendos, adding some fruity notes in the middle, before being slowly attenuated by a moderate hop bitterness. The fermentation character is clean, as it should be for a bock. There is some alcohol present, but at a low enough level to only add a little sweetness. The balance would be better if there was a little more hop bitterness to dry out the finish. A little medium Munich or Vienna malt would also enhance the complexity. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: The body is medium with some residual sugars coating the lips and tongue. There is a light prickle from carbonation, and a little alcohol warmth that is appropriately well-hidden. (4/5)
Overall Impression: This is a very nice beer that expresses the honey well. Although honey is nearly completely fermentable, the beer ends up a little further on the sweet side than one typically finds in a German lager. A little more bitterness from hops or moderately kilned malts would make it a little tighter. The honey in the aroma is distinctive and lets the drinker know what to expect. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 39/50
Easy to drink. The honey is very well balanced with the malt. As a German style bock, it is a little lacking. Could use more of the richness and depth of flavor that German malt typically provides. more >
[close]Total Score: 39/50
Aroma: Mild aroma. A light sulfur note along with a hint of noble hops. The honey is subtle but noticeable. Lacks the typical richness of a German Maibock. Fairly clean. The honey aromatics come out as it warms. (9/12)
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Appearance: Tall off-white head, frothy and persistent. Beautiful gold color. Brilliant clarity. (3/3)
Flavor: Nice blend of malt and honey flavor. The bitterness is medium-low, allowing the malt and honey to dominate. The honey flavor comes out more in the finish and aftertaste, while the malt is more apparent early. Clean lager fermentation with just a hint of sulfur. The malt is quite neutral in character, flavor-wise; it lacks the characteristic richness of German bocks. The clover honey is noticeable as a varietal. Light noble hop flavor. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Medium carbonation. Creamy and palate-filling. The honey adds a nice quality to the mouthfeel. Lightly warming; not hot at all. The body and mouthfeel enhance the flavor experience nicely. (5/5)
Overall Impression: Easy to drink. The honey is very well balanced with the malt. As a German style bock, it is a little lacking. Could use more of the richness and depth of flavor that German malt typically provides. The yeast is a little sulfury; it’s not overly distracting but it is noticeable. I’d suggest a different strain or perhaps lagering longer. (7/10)
