Olde Hickory Brewery – Weizen-Bock

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Clouded peach color with a short head and nice lacing.
• Aroma/Flavor: Heavy banana and clove spiciness – akin to a hefeweizen. Sweet.
• Mouthfeel: Moderate to high carbonation, sticky, a tad boozy.
• Overall: A slightly different take on the style, but tasty nonetheless. Give it a try and share with friends.

Rating: B

 

Weizenbock is a German style of wheat beer. While bock is a style that is traditionally a lager, a weizenbock is often an ale. This example is presented in a waxed 22oz bottle. The wax exudes class and a hand-crafted touch – stamped on top of the bottle is the brewery’s initials and on the front is the year (2011).

The label portrays a horned goat atop a mountain – traditional symbolism in a German style beer – I am reminded of Spaten. The label description reads:

“Our Weizen-Bock was inspired by the rugged majestic beauty of the Alps. Brewed with malted wheat and barley, select German hops and a special Bavarian yeast. This handcrafted beer is best enjoyed in the company of good friends.”

So far I am liking what I see. Sadly, Olde Hickory’s beer does not get out very far from home – Hickory, NC. For a brewery more readily known for its stouts, Weizen-Bock is shaping up to be a nice treat. And at 8% abv, this will help to stave off the chill of the encroaching onset of winter.

The Review:

The green waxed bottle does not pose too much difficulty in relinquishing the prize sealed within. While some wax is so brittle it will chip infinitely all over your rug, or so pliable that it creases rather than peels, the wax used here is easy to remove with the blade on a wine corkscrew.

I appropriately poured the majority of the bottle into a large stein. The ensuing cap of foam never gains much height, but it is thick and sticks around long enough to appreciate the view. The beer itself is an unfiltered ripened peach color. Lacing is inconsistent but is also something worth appreciating at times.

The aroma is possibly the best part of Olde Hickory Weizen-Bock. Immediately one is reminded of all the best hefeweizens out there. While this aspect might be somewhat beyond the scope of the weizenbock style, I really enjoyed it nonetheless. Clove spiciness is really big in the aroma, as is an orgy of super-ripe banana. I didn’t order any hefeweizen, but hey, somebody’s gotta drink it! There are also nice floral notes of honey and sweet, chewy biscuit malt.

Once you really dig into the beer, each sip rewards the palate with waves of clove and bright orange blossom sweetness. The yeast and wheat combine to create a very traditional olde world Bavarian style beer. The aftertaste is sticky and coats the mouth with notions of boiled corn and noble hops. The alcohol starts off rather muted, but towards the end of the glass some warmth builds steadily in the back of the throat.

Overall this is a pleasantly drinkable beer despite the 8% abv. Quite sweet at times, but this plays well off of the estery yeast used. It may be difficult to track down unless you live in North Carolina, but definitely worth a try when you’re looking for a more simple offering next to all of those more hyped up Double IPA’s and Imperial Stouts out there.

Recommended.