I’ll be honest and say that I didn’t expect much from Lakefront in this category. Turns out I should have been more kind to the Wisconsin brewery … they really did a nice job on this one. Poured into my pint glass a nice deep brown with a reddish hint, created a really nice head, and boasted some great aromas of toasted, biscuity malt. The smell of the beer is warm and sweet, and … if brewed to style … always reminds me of walking into the house as a child and being greeted by the smell of homemade bread. Lakefront’s Bock did all of these things.

The taste experience was also grand. The beer is well carbonated and delivers tastes evenly and fully. All of the great Munich malts dominate throughout, and are subtly tempered by … you guessed it (or did you?) … Hallertau hops. At 6.7% ABV, Lakefront’s Bock nestles cozily in the middle of the range for the style.

Overall I can’t find a whole lot to say against this beer. It is simply brewed, with total respect to the German tradition. And it’s hard not to respect a brewery that can brew a traditional style and brew it well. Some styles are better left untouched, and I think the Bocks are one of them. Cheers to Lakefront for a great version of this classic German style.

I didn’t know what to expect, really. I don’t think I’ve ever had a beer of this style, so if you’re a Bock-aholic, you may want to find an opinion infused with a bit more experience. I digress. From this point of view, this bock is black. Even held up to the light, all I can see is my reflection in the marble-like surface. An uneventful head was present initially, turning into a boring bit, floating like an ice ring in the holiday punch. Expecting chocolate, my nose got some, but not pure and straight, rather a little, well, off. It wasn’t malty either, but instead almost as though chocolate had been warmed, maybe burned a little and then doused in sugar. It was intriguing, so I held judgment until the sip. That’s when things got a bit more interesting. While not particularly complex, it most definitely matured on the scent. The malt foundation was there, with a stinging core of dirty chocolate and molasses. It was a bit boring, flat like a root beer out in the sun too long, and finished both earthy and bitter. An average choice, it seems like a middle child, an unexciting alternative to many better choices.

Tom: Any cabin fever that I might have had dissipated with one sip of this glorious brew. I tip my hat to New Glarus for producing a quality bock. I enjoyed the pale malt complexity and smoothness this lager possessed. Smelled crisp and clean like a Maibock. The nose had floral notes of hops and honey. My taste buds were excited by the malt and honey sweetness throughout. Mead-like qualities and the hay/straw finish caught me pining for Summer. With more body and minor caramel flavors, I’d say this is an amped-up version of Leinengukel’s Honey Weiss. A must try! Grade: A-

Michael: Do I have cabin fever? It’s 33 degrees outside and I’m grilling chicken in my t-shirt. I guess I do. The brew pours a typical straw golden with a frothy head that disappears like Chicago snow drifts in March. It smells simple, yeasts and a nondescript sweetness. Tastes good for a basic lager, but no real surprises or subtleties that make it intriguing. It is refreshing and goes down easy, a nice pair to a burger or brat on a hot summer day. Unfortunately, it seemed typical, no frills and worsened as it warmed. Grade: C

Matt: Pours a crisp, clear, pilsner-esque yellow with big frothy white head. Smells sweet, corny, with a hint of straw or grass. Does resemble of faint aroma of your typical European lager which intrigues me (probably the use of European hops). The taste reminds me of Leine’s Honey Weiss: light, not too much flavor, but more character than a light American beer. There’s a faint sweetness, which coupled with a slightly bigger mouthfeel than your typical light beer, gives this beer a good balance of taste and drinkability. The carbonation suits this beer well. Grade: B

Noel: Another Maibock, and I’m starting to get the feel for this style. Cabin Fever has maybe a tinge of honey in the taste (it’s labeled “Honey Bock”), but it’s mostly just the toasty, biscuity malt that you should always expect. Maibocks seem to be a perfect go-to for the hop-averse, and this one is no different. No hop bitterness to speak of, and whatever hops there are don’t quite balance out all the sweetness of the malt. Finishes with a touch of alcohol. A safe and solid option for those looking to expand their horizons; nothing too extreme here. Grade: B

Taylor: This is the only New Glarus beer I’ve had outside their Spotted Cow, and I must say that I enjoyed it immensely. While I’m not currently on a kick, I really love what I’ll call the “warmth” of a good maibock – it is definitely a break from the IPAs I’ve been exploring. Pours a golden copper, barely any head at all. Smells toasty and subtly sweet, reminds me of the warmth of a fireplace or oven. The taste is great, seems to have a baked quality to it, but it’s not bready. I couldn’t really sense any hop bitterness. To me, this one is all in the finish: crisp after the carbonation, toasty and faintly sweet. So good on a cold night. Grade: B+

Cyrus: This is a decent winter seasonal with a heavy finish. The beer poured caramel/golden with little head, and slight carbonation. I have always found myself to be a bigger fan of New Glarus brewery than the beers themselves. Always cool to hear of a husband and wife starting their own brewery, and having great success. Dan Carey, brewmaster and co-founder, was once employed by Anhueser-Busch (hence, Spotted Cow). Regarding the beer, I caught wheat, floral hops, honey, malts, grains and (especially) barley. I don’t know what it is, but the “sweetness” of this beer throws my taste buds off, perhaps its fruits or clove/honey aftertaste. Cabin Fever is typical of a Midwest shot at brewing a bock style ale. Personally, I think that New Glarus should stick to what they do best, lagers. Grade: C+

ABV: 5.5%

Final Grade: B

Pours a faint brown with a half a finger of head. The smell is unimpressive, a little bready but not very satisfying at all. On to the taste: fairly smooth, a little malty, but still … not a whole lot to write home about. Seeing as how there are a million beers in the world, and no time to try them all, I don’t believe I will be coming back to this one unless it’s at a wedding or party where it’s the Bock, or a light beer.

Now, I’d like to talk Bock for a second. Essentially these are darker, stronger lagers with a rich historical tradition dating back to 14th century Germany. So, I can’t complain about the style. They are very low on the hops, and feature Vienna or Munich malts, which donate to the color and “toastiness” of the beer. ABV is low, making it sessionable. Other than that Spoetzl’s Bock beer seems pretty tame to my taste buds.

ABV: 4/4%

Grade: C

This dark wheat lager is a caramel colored brew that is clear and inviting. It smells of caramel, orange/citrus, possibly ginger along with other spices. It tastes nutty with hints of citrus which impressively meets the demands of my taste preference in the winter months. There is a nice balance of flavors in this brew which allows it to slide right down with a smooth finish. The beer seemed a bit flat, however, this did not distract me from fully enjoying this winter beer! After the first one was gone I had to have another…I think most of you will too!

Good brew, good price and perfect on a cold winter night! Grade: B+

Michael: Winter is here. Officially. No, there’s no snow on the ground and its not because a certain date has past or a specific temperature has been reached. Its because The Boston Beer Company has released their Winter Sampler Pack. For $20.99 at Costco. Now that is a reason to love winter.

My first pick from the litter was the Winter Lager. The body of the beer was a rich mahogany, the way mahogany is supposed to be, not too brown, not too red. The head was a single finger, somewhere between eggshell and tan. The scent was rich in spices, cinnamon and yeast. The taste was slightly disappointing. While it was meaty and rich, it was basic, a no-frills, straight-and-narrow-type vibe with no variation or surprise. The center of my sip was bubbling with carbonation and orange peel, melting into a grainy, malty mix. There was a metallic flavor at times and an unpleasantly alcoholic finish. It had a caramel aftertaste which was rich, sticky and lingering. Grade: B

ABV: 5.6%

Overall Grade: B