LENTEBOCK ~ KONINKLIJKE BRAND BIERBROUWERIJ

6.5% brewed in Wijlre, Limburg Netherlands

Lentebock, a helles bock, brewed under the Budweiser umbrella, is only available in the spring. Sampled on Draught in Amsterdam, the beer poured a clear coppery amber with a small white head, that receded quickly, and left scant lacing. The nose had sweet malts, Belgian yeast, caramel and cloves, with subtle fruit notes and floral and lemony hops. The flavours on the nose continue on the palate (bread, caramel, fruit, cloves, yeast), with floral lemony hops making their appearance at the finish. The aftertaste is slightly bitter, but also has traces of orchard fruit. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, the body is on the light side of medium and the carbonation was average. Quite a pleasant, drinkable beer after a long day of walking.

WINTER LAGER ~ WELLINGTON 

6.8% from Guelph, Ontario
This winter lager is a helles bock. Sampled on draught the beer poured a very lightly hazed deep golden-orange with a small white head. As the head dissipated, small wispy lacing remained on the glass. The aroma has notes of grainy malts, light caramel, subtle fruit, and earthiness and herbal earthy hops. The flavour followed as expected from the nose (bready malts, caramel, noble hops). The beer had a slightly warming booziness not the finish. The body was medium (on the heavier side) and the carbonation was moderate. Very pleasant.

HOLSTEN MAIBOCK ~ HOLSTEN BRAUEREI

7% from Hamburg, Germany

This maibock (helles bock) was sampled from a 500 mL tin. It is advertised as being brewed under the German purity act and only contains four natural ingredients (water, malts, grain and yeast). The beer poured a clear medium amber yellow with an average size bright white head, which disappeared fairly quickly and left no lacing to speak of. That aroma in mostly pale malts, but there are also traces of cereal, bread, alcohol, corn, hay, honey and a little herbal/floral hop. The taste was somewhat sweet, with lots of malts and cereal. The alcohol makes an appearance mid swig and the finish has a light herbal/floral hoppiness to it. The body is medium as is the carbonation. This beer reminds me of an amped up adjunct lager - perhaps not the best example of the style. That being said, it is cheap and cheerful.