“It’s the year 2120, your brain has been transferred to a T1000 looking like Robert Patrick and there’s a blistering (nuclear) storm going on outside. But you don’t want to get your metal wet. So what better way to spend the afternoon than to pour yourself an ‘I’ll be bock’, lay down the rocket launcher for a moment and sink into the couch while enjoying the subtle flavours of toasted caramel and good ol’ fashioned German hops. Don’t worry, you’ll be bock.”

Glassware: Half Stein.

Appearance: Chestnut brown with mahogany hues. It only manages a short head which collapsed and struggled to produce any lacing.

Aroma: We can smell it as it sits stationary on the table. Absolute sweetness overload with caramel, toffee and butterscotch leading out. Plenty of support from a swathe of dark fruits like raisin, dates/prunes, blood plum, cherry and blackberry. A bit of a fruitcake accent that opens up more as it settles. Brown sugar, honey, cookie dough and brioche for extra measure. Damn fine aroma.

Flavour: A little bit more yeast coming through on the palate…subtle spice, fruitcake and brioche. Obviously the big and sweet overtones (caramel, raisin, butterscotch) dominate but it’s balanced with a hint of black tea, toast and roasted grains which carry in to the nicely drawn out finish.

Mouthfeel: Pretty well balanced. Smooth, creamy, some warmth from the 6.5% ABV. Mild-moderate Co2. Medium body.

Overall: We had no idea what we were in for with this very little known Dutch brewery but the risk has certainly paid off! Very traditional German style Bock executed with pin point precision. Brilliant.