Review of Yuengling Bock Beer

Size: 12 ounce bottles and kegs.
Availability: Seasonal January through April based on demand.
APV: Unknown although Bock beers can range from 6 to 8%.
Website: http://www.yuengling.com

America's oldest brewery, Yuengling, is based in Pottsville, PA. They are most well known for the Lager beers; so well known that most bar goers in PA and surrounding areas can say "Lager" and get a Yuengling Lager without mentioning the brewery name.

In the 1940s through the early 1970s they produced a beer known as "Yuengling Bock Beer." Bock beers originated in Germany and were often brewed for special occasions. They are typically a dark beer.

In 2009 to mark the 180th anniversey of Yuengling Brewery, they reintroduced Bock as a one time celebratory beer. Apparently it was so popular, they decided to relaunch it again in January 2010 as a spring seasonal beer. Most Yuengling brews are available year round, so this makes Yuengling Bock a nice seasonal treat.

The bottles themselves are labeled with labels matching the original labels used in Bock's initial run until the 1970s, giving the beer a bit of a classic look.

The aroma of the beer is different from traditional mass produced beers, some might find it to have a smokey aroma kind of like tobacco smoke. But it is a faint aroma.

The beer itself is dark and some may confuse the color with Yuengling's darker porter style beers. But the beer's taste is surprisingly light with a nice texture to it.

It reminds one slightly of the taste and texture of Yuengling's Black and Tan and for the classic Yuengling lovers, there is a hint of the Lager flavor in this bock beer. It is smooth and lacks the bite you might find it crisper beers but the flavor is full and satisfying.

Food wise, it seems Bock would pair with a wide range of foods. Burgers and steaks come to mind. In a slight way, some drinkers might consider it a dessert beer, but far less heavy than traditional dessert beers.

One can also appreciate that while it is a dark beer, it doesn't feel as heavy going down and doesn't fill you up too quickly. As far as the alcohol content goes, for the Yuengling specific Bock reviewed here, the APV isn't provided, but bock styles can range from 6 to 8% APV depending on the brewer.

Yuengling limits most of its distribution to the Northeast but has also begun to expand to new markets such as Florida. If you have a change, try a Yuengling Bock on tap but remember it is only available during the Spring beer season.