It’s Maibock season, darling—the glorious, fleeting moment when Germans collectively raise a stein, bid auf wiedersehen to the glum gray of winter, and welcome spring with a lager that straddles the solstice like a sun-dappled Valkyrie in a flower crown. Since 1614, the Hofbräuhaus in Munich has led the ritual: last week of April, first keg tapped, hearts thawed, lederhosen aired out. And the beer? Oh, the beer. Maibock (pronounced “my-bock,” as in my goodness, this is drinkable) is no timid wallflower. It’s malt-forward, full-bodied, strong enough to whisper warmth into chilly spring nights, yet floral and flirtatious enough to waltz with the blooming cherry trees and pollen-fogged air of May.
Unlike its brooding cousin the doppelbock—thick, dark, and inclined toward Gregorian chanting—Maibock is brighter, leaner, more extroverted. Sometimes labeled heller bock or helles bock (“helles” meaning “bright” in German, because of course it does), this style bloomed alongside the advent of paler malts, changing how brewers kissed their kettles forever, which brings us to now, and to Peaks and Pints Pilot Program: Maibock Beer Flight, our reverent, lager-laced tribute to this malty miracle of May. Take it to-go. Sip in sunlight. Toast the turning. Prost.
Peaks and Pints Pilot Program: Maibock Beer Flight
E9 Brewing Elders
6.66% ABV, draft
A collaboration with Varietal Beer, E9 Brewing brewed this Maibock before Varietal’s Goatfest Festival in Sunnyside, Washington, Saturday, May 12. Brewed with Weyerman Barke Vienne and Barke Pilsner malts, this rich, caramelized, quaffable bock with malty goodness sports crispy, crackle, and pop flavors of biscuit, biscotti, and pretzels. With aromas of a lovely summer day in May with the wildflower blooms of Sunnyside at Goatfest with friends.
Block 15 Alpine Ibex
6.9% ABV
Block 15 Brewing’s Alpine Ibex is a strong Maibock brewed with Hallertauer Mittelfrüher and Czech Saaz hops. It hits the nose with bready and lightly caramel malt, light grassy hops, lemon, and a touch of toffee, which is also the flavor plus honey, caramel, dried red berries, and floral elements. It’s an interesting mixture of dry and semi-sweet flavors with light dry field herbs character, and hops on the finish.
Bayern Maibock
7% ABV
Bayern Brewing’s owner, Jurgen Knoller, came to Missoula, Montana, from southwestern Germany in 1987 and he brews this spring beer to style with Harrington, and Munich malt, plus moderate amount of Hallertauer and Saaz hops. The mouthfeel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Sweet aroma of caramel malt, estery dried fruit, hints of grassy hops is followed by caramel malt with light biscuity elements, toffee, light grassy hops, tapering off to a somewhat drier, earthier caramel malt finish with light grassy hops.
Ayinger Maibock
7% ABV
About 25 kilometers from the Oktoberfest grounds in Munich, lays a little town called Aying, home to the beloved Ayinger Brewery (Brauerei Aying). This 144-year-old brewery has a deep family history, and remained almost completely unchanged until a new, updated brewery was built in 1999 to keep up with the growing market. Again and again Ayinger has won awards for its beers, including the World Beer Cup, and the Deutschen Landwirtschafts Gesellschaft — DLG (German Agricultural Society) gold and silver medals. In keeping with spring, Ayinger’s Maibock is a lighter representative than the dark doppelbocks from their brewhouse. Its golden-yellow color and malty aroma go hand in hand with the sweetness of a real bock beer, softened by Hallertau hops.
LINK: Peaks and Pints cooler inventory
