Here we have an Urbock from the Austrian brewery Schloss Eggenberg. (As an aside, I was trying to get their 14% Samichlaus but I couldn’t get enough of it ). But I’m not sad as this is the first Urbock we’ve featured in the beer packs, and it is one delicious beer.
An Urbock is traditionally a strong, dark bock (strong lager), though this one is a pale version. And the ‘23’ refers to the plato – a measure of the undissolved solids in a beer that give an indication of the eventual strength (ABV) attainable for the beer. It is a measure commonly used in Europe, not really used in Australia.
This beer is matured in the brewery’s caves for 9 months, and over that time the beer darkens a little, while softening out to create a creamy, smooth mouthfeel even for such a strong beer.
Sometimes referred to as the ‘cognac of beers’ for its rich flavour, you can taste caramel malt, raisins and brown sugar. There is also a woody aspect from the aging that works so well with the earthy hop character to lift the full flavour. Good carbonation has all those flavours dancing across your palate.
If this is your first Urbock, I reckon we are setting a high benchmark!
As the can suggests, this is a classic Austrian Marzen from one of Europe's oldest breweries
