New from California's Sierra Nevada is Glissade, a golden bock which follows their Kellerweis in being an attempt at recreating a German style, only in smaller bottles. It's similarly successful too, in that it has all the elements you'd expect from the real thing, but doesn't quite do enough with them.So, at 6.4% ABV it's the right strength for a German bock and has the same relatively heavy, sticky, nearly syrupy, body. The nose and foretaste have the slightly herby, nettle-like character of noble hops, and the finish is sugary malt. I'm not much of a fan of the style in general, but even I can tell that they haven't put the elements together in quite the right way. I found it inoffensive, as did my bock-loving wife.
Far be it from me to say breweries should stick to what they're good it, and making the styles appropriate to their region, but I will say that if I do want a pale German bock I'll be getting some Einbecker or the like; and when I recommend Sierra Nevada to people, it'll be for Torpedo, not this.
It was on draught in Chicago in a couple of places, but I didn't bother. Seems I made the right call.
ReplyDeleteMind you, I'm not a fan of pale bock anyway, so the point is probably moot.
Had the Kellerweis the other day and I'm in agreement with you. Not bad, but instantly forgettable.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I agree about sticking to what you're good at or only making beer from your region. We'll all be drinking the same stuff in 50 years time if breweries do that!!
Chunk.
Agree? I didn't actually say that.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if breweries did make only the styles appropriate to their region (and again I'm not saying they ought to), how would it lead to homogeneity?
I don't know if the question is whether Sierra Nevada should be brewing something like this or not, but whether there is a point in bringing this beer all the way to Europe where you can sure get the real deal cheaper.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, PF. I guess there must be brand loyalty, even among Irish specialty beer consumers. Though pricewise it's on a par with the German equivalent for us, weird and all that that sounds.
ReplyDeleteI found it ok. I was happy to drink it but was missing the bigfoot ale I had before it.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't blown away by this but found it enjoyable, but I have to agree with you that Torpedo is the preferred choice.
ReplyDeleteI took from you post that you were inferring that to be your opinion.
ReplyDelete"if breweries did make only the styles appropriate to their region (and again I'm not saying they ought to), how would it lead to homogeneity?"
It would limit creativity because they'd be tied down to one (or a few) specific styles. Also, in todays world of modern chemistry and water treatment, "styles appropriate to their region" is a redundant concept.
Chunk.
Yes, but breweries in different areas would continue to create their appropriate different styles -- they wouldn't be allowed drift into homogeneity. Drinkers would still be allowed buy beer from all different breweries in my exceedingly liberal Orwellian nightmare.
ReplyDeleteSummary executions for confusing "infer" and "imply", though. Soz.
Your range of choice as a drinker would be less though. If London breweries only brewed stout and porter for example, how easy would it be to get a US Pale Ale in London? It wouldn't. How easy would it be to get a fresh US Pale Ale? It wouldn't.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of walking into four different pubs on the same street and having a choice of 3 porters in each one doesnt appeal to me.
Appreciate that import/export wouldnt cease to exist, but overall the range of choice would decrease.
I have yet to try Glissade, but I quite liked the Kellerweis, and absolutely adore Torpedo! It does seem though that making a bock to import to Europe is a touch like carrying coals to Newcastle.
ReplyDeleteI really don't see how choice of imports would be any way affected: anywhere that stocks a US pale ale now would continue to stock a US pale ale then. It's got nothing to do with London pubs (which, being 300-odd miles away in another country, have very little impact on my drinking life anyway).
ReplyDeleteJames Clay will still be beavering away under the new regime. Busier than ever, I'd imagine.
Considered getting this in the offie yesterday, instead I threw four bottles of Torpedo into my basket. Thanks for posting this, I know now made the right decision. Torpedo is definitely my favourite beer at the moment.
ReplyDeleteLondon was just an example, I could've said "CityA" or "TownB".
ReplyDeleteTwo of the best US Style Pale Ales I've had recently have come from within 1 mile of Tower Bridge (central London). Pubs tend to sell more local cask beer than they do imported beer, logically that would be mean more of the same thing and less choice (if locally everyone was brewing the same style).
Pubs tend to sell more local cask beer than they do imported beer
ReplyDeleteI doubt that. In the UK maybe, but I doubt if it's true anywhere else.
More as in variety or selection, not volume.
ReplyDeleteEven still. I'd be willing to bet that there are more pubs selling imported Guinness and Corona than have a single local cask beer on sale.
ReplyDeleteI am not expert in this style, but I liked this beer. I liked Torpedo more, but that's a function of my affinity for IPAs.
ReplyDelete