Gordon Biersch Blonde Bock
Blonde Bock
Bock beers are represented by a male goat, which in German lore symbolizes strength and virility. In accordance with the Reinheitsgebot (German Purity Law of 1516), bock beers must have a pre-fermentation malt sugar concentration of 16%, which converts over to at least 7% alcohol after fermentation. These strong beers were made popular in the early 1600’s by monks in order to minimize their hunger during fasting periods. While most bocks are dark, Blonde Bock is golden-colored and malty with a rich, creamy head. The rich flavor is counterbalanced with just the right level of bitterness from the Hallertau aroma hops and create a very smooth profile.
Bock beers are represented by a male goat, which in German lore symbolizes strength and virility. In accordance with the Reinheitsgebot (German Purity Law of 1516), bock beers must have a pre-fermentation malt sugar concentration of 16%, which converts over to at least 7% alcohol after fermentation. These strong beers were made popular in the early 1600’s by monks in order to minimize their hunger during fasting periods. While most bocks are dark, Blonde Bock is golden-colored and malty with a rich, creamy head. The rich flavor is counterbalanced with just the right level of bitterness from the Hallertau aroma hops and create a very smooth profile.
3
388 reviews
San Jose, United States
Community reviews
Aroma of yeast and bread, golden color with a lasting creamy well laced head. Creamy feel with a taste of bread and malt. With a bready finish.
"a pretty nice malty aroma and flavor. the body is a little bit lacking for a 7% bock, but isn’t bad at all. average for the style, slightly better than the average beer overall."
Orange/gold with a small white head that doesn’t last long. Nothing in the aroma portends a firm maltiness. Flavor is toffee/caramel sweet with a light bitterness. Feels like a bock, full bodied with a slick creaminess. If i was going to drink a beer of this style I’d prefer something darker with more malt character.
Draft. Very pale yellow color, small white head. Aroma of straw and paper. Taste is bland hay.
Poured from bottle into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer pours a clear amber color with a one finger head of white foam. The head fades quite fast to leave only a trace of lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma is big and bready with lots of sweet caramel smells. Some lighter hop aromas, of a grassy and citrus nature, are mixed with these subduing the sweetness ever so slightly.
Taste – The taste begins with a moderate doughy taste mixed with lots of sweeter flavors. The sweet is a mix of fruit, caramel and honey with the caramel being the dominate taste but complemented well by some apple and pear. As the taste moves on, some hop hits the tongue with a bit of a grassy and citrus hop coming along. All the while, the doughy flavors dwindle a bit while the sweet flavors get slightly stronger. With a decent, but not obnoxious, alcohol taste coming to the tongue at the end, a rather nice sweet and lightly hopped warming taste is left to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the thicker and chewier side with a carbonation level that is on the lower side. The thicker body and lower carbonation help create that creamy feel which is quite nice for the sweet, light hop and light booze flavors of the brew.
Overall –A bit sweeter and less malty then I was anticipating, but very pleasant none the less. A nice brew for the price.
Bottle pour. Clear light amber color with medium head that fades quickly. Sweet malty aroma. Light to medium body. Malt taste but quickly becomes very sweet and moved to a sour taste. Not a horrible beer for "having a few" but not many flavors and nothing special.
From a bottle at Whole Foods Beer School. Pours a clear gold with an off white head. Light biscuit nose. Flavors of toast with some light caramel notes. Light bodied, medium carbonation, crisp finish.
Aroma is light sweet honey malt. Appearance is dark golden clear with small off white head. Taste is sweet malt followed by hop bitterness and a bit of tangy aroma hops. Palate is medium light. Light malt and a crisp hop bitterness lingers. Overall a nice beer that is a good drinker. Smooth and hides alcohol well. Malt could be larger and more complex. Hop bitterness also a bit too pronounced detracting from the malt.
Had out of a bottle. Just an okay beer nothing ti write home about. Would not have this one again
Poured from a bottle. Clear golden color, medium white frothy head. Yeast and corn smell. Sweet malt corn flavor with a very mild bitter note.
Decent bock beer on tap at Gordon Biersch in San Francisco, easy to drink, cold, refreshing, nice
Really I do not know why a Bock is a seasonal in July but it was good, somewhat strong and nice to drink.
Draft. Pours clear amber with no head. Tastes like malt and mild hops. Light body and low/medium carbonation. Smells musky and bready, not much aroma.
Tap. Pours clear gold with creamy white head. Aroma is cereal and toasted malts, light pear and apple, and light yeast. Flavor is dry malts, light hop bitterness, and some grassy notes; dry finish. Light body and medium carbonation.
Bottle: Light amber and clear. Very light head dissipates quickly. Light malty nose. Slightly sweet and bitter finish. Not rich or fresh. Simple or funky. Just not quite clean. Good depth.
July 2011. From bottle. Golden color with a white head. Malt, honey, spice and fruit. A bit thin and lacking flavors, but drinkable.
Draft. Pours amber with a whitehead. Grainy base, light sweetness, low earthy bitterness, and a hint of honey. Decent.
Aroma: slight scent of honey. Appearance: nice golden color, minimal head and lacing. Taste: initially sweet then medium bitter finish. Palate: medium body.
This bock is a mild twist on the traditional malt-bill of the style. The color is golden and it is a beautiful beer in a glass. The taste strikes a good balance of malt and hops. This beer will pair well with a variety of foods. All that said, I prefer a more traditional bock.
Nice beer for its style that pours cloudy yellow and has a nice head. GB always has a good presentation. Bit of a bit but a good alcohol content for their beers. I have been alternating between this and the summer lately.
Draft sample @Syracuse location. Clear yellow color some head and lace. Nose and flavor is the same. Decent balance of hops and malt. It’s true to the style just a tad boring. Maybe upping the hops would help kick this up a notch. Body is thin and watery. Meh
draft at the brewery, Cheektowaga. golden blonde pour, creamy body. sweet maltiness, mild bitterness. A nice beer
From tap. Golden color with decent head. Aroma was esters and bread. A taste followed with a little bitter and sweetness. Esters threw me here.
karamel, ................................................................................. nahorkly,
[US West Coast Trip 2013] gyllene, smakrik, lite jäst. Viss beska som hänger kvar. Mycket kolsyra.
Airport beer - not that good, should have stuck with the hefeweizen rather than feeding my need to try new inferior beers.
Scoff at Gordon Biersch if you must, but at least they are right upfront about their beers. These are not the overly hopped West Coast abominations, but the proper balance between hops AND malt, resulting in a balanced brew just like the Germans make. Sure they make some weaklings, but overall the German way is the proper way, and will remain long after the current pine tree fetish runs its course.
Pours gold color with 1 inch creamy white head. Smell is of malts, some hops and a floral or citrus undertone. Taste is of sweet malts, some hops and a dry bready finish.
A finger and half of head on a clear, straw colored body.
The aroma is grain with metal. Not great.
The taste is average: grain, mild bitterness and mild sweet finish.
The texture is crisp with moderate carbonation.
A mild drink overall without any offensive notes... or redeeming qualities.
Another good bock. Pours a great golden color. Smells slightly of bananas. Taste is similar, basic lager taste, with some fruitiness. Easily drinkable. Had in the bottle.