What Exactly Is a Bock Beer?

When you savor a traditional German bock, you’re indulging in a beer rich with historical roots. Originating in the Medieval era, this dark lager had its beginnings in the northern town of Einbeck, Germany, during the 14th century.

By the 17th century, the bock had made its way south to Munich, and due to slight language variations, Bavarians began to pronounce the beer from Einbeck as “ein bock.”

In German, “bock” directly translates to “billy goat.”

This name became ingrained, as did the imagery of the goat, which remains a common feature on many bock beer labels to this day.

Some might be tempted to claim this beer style as the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time). We may not go that far, but it’s undoubtedly a lesser-known style that’s well worth discovering.

Bock Beer – The traditional dark German lager that sort of acts as the godfather to all these others bocks. Historically, according to the BJCP, bocks are “a dark, strong, malty German lager beer that emphasizes the malty-rich and somewhat toasty qualities of continental malts without being sweet in the finish.”

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