Cranky Reviews

Dick knows best.

Farmer Steve tells us a little DAB’ll do ya’. I’m here to tell you that a lot of DAB may do ya’ in. The Maibock 7% solution left some questions unanswered so we are back again with an 8% DAB Ur-Bock kickin’ ass and takin’ names. After a Mai-Bock I thought maybe Ur was German for another month of the year but if there is one thing that the COMDB translation department loves more than anything, it is pointing out my lack of a second or third language. * “Sei nicht dumm” they told me (which they did not translate for me), “Ur” is a prefix in German meaning “original”. Fair enough, no need to be nasty about it.

A bit of deja-brew prompted me to check the records and sure enough, this isn’t our first Urbock, Creemore’s 6 percenter was a special edition super suds scorer way back in the day. Time to up the ante with Dab’s 8% Sup-Ur-Bock.

Mirella’s beer bible tells us that the Bavarian Purity Laws which restricted the use of adjuncts in brewing in Germany, prompted brewers to look for another way to boost the booze. Their solution, more malt. ** This Dortmunder Actien Braurerei Ur-Bock is 500ml at a malt driven 8%. When it comes to ABV there is strength in numbers.

A tan and tawny brawny bock, with a full froth of bright white. Great looking pour. Major malt aroma, maybe a bit of caramel in there but mainly malt. I braced for impact and took my first swig but wasn’t quite prepared for the full malt assault. A malt bready slightly caramel flavour with a strong boozy whisky finish. Whisky legs after this one. We mellowed together although I think I was just growing accustomed to the taste. the boozy finish backed off a bit resulting in strong but smooth suds and by mid sampling I was quite enjoying this strong flavourful bock.

Just when I thought it was safe to go back in the bock, the boozy jaws are back with the big bite. ***

This one is malt to a fault. Lots of flavour and strength, with a bit more booziness than most will enjoy. I am a one and done guy but I get the feeling if I had more than one I would be done.