Skip to main content

Prepare for spring with these great bock beers

The best bock beers for spring

Bock beer
Pawel Kadysz/Unsplash

Originating in Germany, bock beers got their name because of a mispronunciation. Its history can be traced to Bavaria in the 14th century. When it began to gain in popularity and moved south to Munich in the 17th century, it was initially referred to as Einbeck (named after the city where it was invented).

But a mispronunciation led to it being mistakenly called “ein bock” which translates to “billy goat.” This is also why many bock beer bottles and cans are adorned with a goat image.

Recommended Videos

While there are different types of bock beer when you crack open an American brewed beer labeled simply as a “bock,” you’re going to find yourself with a beer loaded with caramel malt flavors, roasted malts, nutty sweetness, and floral, lightly bitter hops.

Beer taps
Robin Lyon/Unsplash

Why are bock beers imbibed in the spring?

You might wonder why this malty, sweet beer is labeled a spring beer. This is because, traditionally, this style was brewed in the autumn, lagered in the winter, and served in the spring. On top of that, medieval monks were known to imbibe bock beers to get some nutrients and sustenance while they were fasting during Lent.

And while nobody says that you should try the beer-only diet during Lent, you can spend the end of winter and all of spring imbibing bock beers. Just try to pair them with a full belly of actual food.

Bock beer
Joaquin Romero/Unsplash

Our six favorite bock beers

When the winter begins to turn toward spring, not only are we excited about the milder temperatures and longer days, but we’re looking forward to the bock beers. Breweries all over the country make a version of this seasonal classic. Keep scrolling to see six of our absolute favorites.

Troegs Troegenator
Troegs

Troegs Troegenator

While this beer is best enjoyed during the still chilly spring months, Troegs Troegenator is luckily available all year long. This 8.2% ABV double bock is brewed with Chocolate, Munich, and Pilsner malts as well as lager yeast. It gets its hop presence from the addition of German Northern Brewer and Magnum hops. The result is a complex beer featuring caramel malts, toasted grains, dried fruits, and gentle hops. It’s crisp, sweet, and memorable.

Buy Here

Shiner Bock
Shiner Bock

Shiner Bock

When it comes to American-made bock beers, there are none as famous as Shiner Bock. This Texas-made bock beer has been available all year long since 1973. This award-winning brew is known for its mix of roasted barley and imported German hops. This creates a highly sippable beer with notes of caramel malts, dried fruits, cereal grains, and lightly bitter, floral hops at the finish.

Buy Here

Genesee Spring Bock
Genesee

Genesee Spring Bock

You’ve probably heard about the beloved Genesee Cream Ale, but you should know about its spring seasonal Genesee Spring Bock. Brewed and lagered every spring since 1951, this cartoon goat-adorned beer is known for its palate of candied nuts, toffee, dried fruits, toasted malts, and lightly floral hops. It’s sweet, lightly hoppy, and perfect for spring.

Buy Here

Rogue Dead Guy
Rogue

Rogue Dead Guy

If you haven’t realized it, Rogue Dead Guy is a bock beer. Specifically, it’s a Maibock. It’s brewed with 2-row, C15, and Munich malts, as well as the brewery’s proprietary Pacman yeast. It gets its hop aroma and flavor from Sterling and Perle hops. This creates a memorable beer known for its flavors of caramel malts, toasted malts, honey, and floral, earthy hops.

Buy Here

Community Beer Texas-Style Bock
Community Beer

Community Beer Texas-Style Bock

Available year-round, this traditional amber lager sits at a very drinkable 6% ABV. It’s loaded with caramel malt flavors paired perfectly with floral hops. The result is a sweet, crisp, easy-drinking Texas beer that has enough alcohol content to cut through those still-cold early spring days.

Buy Here

Saint Arnold Spring Bock
Saint Arnold

Saint Arnold Spring Bock

Proving once again that Texas is the heart of American bock beer, Saint Arnold Spring Bock is brewed with five different malts (including some from Minnesota and Belgium) as well as Perle and Saaz hops. First launched in 1998, this seasonal favorite is known for its caramel and toffee sweetness and floral hop presence.

Buy Here

Dark beer
Dan Barrett / Unsplash

Stock your fridge with bock beers

Depending on where you live, you might still see quite a bit of snow outside your window. But, if the groundhog was right, spring is coming soon. The time is right to stock up your refrigerator with bock beers. Loaded with caramel sweetness and gentle, floral hops, bock beers are perfectly suited for spring drinking. Pick up a six-pack of one or more of the above beers. You’ll be glad you did.

Christopher Osburn
Christopher Osburn is a food and drinks writer located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. He's been writing professional
Belizean rum is where it’s at and these cocktails prove it
A couple of classics, with rum front and center
Copalli Rum trio.

We're living in the rum renaissance. The spirit is no longer just a quiet backseat mixer, it's a star in its own right, playing a major role in classic cocktail recipes across the board. Perhaps best, it's wildly place-specific, showcasing the flavors of the very place its raised, whether that's Belize, Hawaii, the West Indies, or somewhere else.

Turns out, you can swap that bourbon or gin for rum in a lot of cases within the wide world of cocktails. You just need the right rum, like Copalli. The Belizean maker features white and aged rums, as well as a decidedly delicious and unique cacao rum. Whiel you can sip these offerings on their own, we suggest them in the following mixed sippers.
Old Fashioned

Read more
Starbucks just made its secret menu official — and you can help shape it
Starbucks debuts app secret menu and $25K contest for custom drinks
Starbucks brown sugar oatmilk

Starbucks fans have been talking about the coffee chain's "secret menu" for years, but today marks the start of a whole new era. Launching today, the secret menu is now available on the Starbucks app under the "offers" tab, which will regularly feature new beverage customizations and secret menu drinks. To celebrate the launch of the secret menu, Starbucks has also announced a new secret menu contest where customers can submit their favorite drink customizations for a chance to have their unique coffee creation featured on the secret menu. Chosen contest winners can also win a $25,000 grand prize.

Starting today, July 14th, Starbucks fans will see four delicious new flavor pairings to order through the Starbucks app, which include:

Read more
A pair of Indian cocktails for your summer sipping
Exciting riffs inspired by faraway places
Spritz.

We are well into summer and the dog days are kicking in. That could mean a lot of things, from backyard hosting fatigue to a need for another vacation. Either way, we thought you could use a good cocktail recipe or two to have in your back pocket.

Perhaps you're tired of Mojitos. Maybe Margaritas aren't cutting it anymore. Don't worry, we reached out to some top NYC bars and restaurants for an injection of inventiveness.

Read more