Rock Art Extreme Hell's Bock

Like it's Rock Art Extreme counterparts, Hell's Bock is a higher alcohol lager with a larger malt and hop profile. The marketing label Hell's Bock undoubtedly refers to the style of beer too, with a funky design and word play with the style it represents - Helles Bock. Helles Bock (or Maibock) is referred to as a pale lager that is typically found in the month of May (Mai).


Alcohol Content: 8%
IBU: 75
Malts: ?
Hops: ?

Price: $6.00/ 22oz bomber
Medium: Self-poured into a pint glass

Aroma: Moderate noble hop character is perhaps stronger than a typical Helles Bock. Hop character can be described as a distinct spiciness (spicy character should not come from malts or yeast). Moderately strong malt aroma supports the higher hop profile. Relatively warm nose from malts and the higher alcohol content - this time alcohol was perceived as sweet. Lightly toasted malts. DMS (creamed corn-like aroma) is present at a minimal amount - the bigger hop character detracts from this. Some carbonation in the nose.
Appearance: Bubbly carbonation like champagne. Very clear (as a lager should be) with a deep amber to copper color. This particular example expresses more color for the style. Persistent head at first but looks oily after the initial pour. No lacing and a very thin tan to brown head lingers around the rim.
Flavor: Pilsner malt dominated with a predominantly grainy and pale malt sweetness. Some caramelization, but not from the use of crystal or caramel malts; instead, most likely from a long kettle boil (note that the slightly darker color than expected could lead to misperception, such that a darker beer could mean more kettle caramelization, which could lead to this expectation in flavor). Hop character is mildly spicy and sort of peppery. No fruity esters - clean like a lager. Crisp finish with only a lingering alcohol warmth that cuts off the malts. Bitterness is more assertive than expected as well.
Mouthfeel: A bit chewy and grainy character, which I don't think is a good representation of the style. Moderately high carbonation aids in scrubbing the palate and finishing crisp. Medium body with an oily texture. No astringency or harshness other than a prickly alcohol warmth.
Overall Impression: Once again another bigger, bolder version of the base style Rock Art is depicting. Its as if the Extreme line of beers is just a fancy way of Imperializing all of the regular styles of beer. I think the craft beer industry is seeing an increase in this. The IBU of 75 is way out of range of 23 - 35. However, enough supporting malts helps bring balance so IBU is not a great indicator. Food pairings include bratwurst and saurkraut for a fuller experience. Would be a great addition for a beer batter.

Rock Art "Extreme" Magnumus ete Tomahawkus

The first of the Extreme series of Rock Art beers resembling something of a European extra special/ strong bitter (ESB). I bought this one on a whim while visiting the Sweet Clover Market in Essex. Kristine and I sampled a few hoppy ales in preparation for the nice weather to come.

Alcohol Content: 8%
IBU: 80
Malts: ?, Caramel/Crystal
Hops: Magnum, Tomahawk (Columbus), Tettnang

Price: $6.00/ 22oz Bomber
Medium: Pint glass (Nonick glass preferred)

Aroma: Lots of caramel and dried fruit characteristics from the malts combined with moderately fruity esters - from yeast, hops, or a combination of both. Hop aroma is moderately low with a floralness to it. The carbonation is very forward and sort of scrubs the nose with each inhale. Other malty notes are molasses and honey (which is common from the use of treacle in British-style ESB). No diacetyl or other strong off-flavors - moderately warm from the alcohol instead.
Appearance: Hazy with a strong flowing head and bubbly carbonation. Color lies somewhere along the lines of copper, golden, and amber altogether. Its tan/brown head vanishes to a thin lacing rather quickly.
Flavor: Moderately strong caramel malts start, supporting the strong bitterness through to the finish. Warm alcohol can be described as sweet - perhaps too "hot" for the style. Hop flavors are lightly earthy but the bitterness feels clean otherwise (but still strong). Moderately fruity esters. Caramel malts rounds off and alcohol becomes ever-more present into the aftertaste. Fairly balanced.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, seemingly fit for the style although it leans more towards a fuller experience due to the larger volume of malts, hops, and alcohol. High carbonation helps clean the palate of its 80 IBU profile (caramel malts also help). Carbonation will typically be higher in bottled versions of ESB as opposed to traditional English-style drafts. Somewhat of an oily mouthfeel and dry finish to the fermentation character.
Overall Impression: Rock Art typically starts with a base style of beer and then disregards, which makes for uniquely crafted beers that find themselves in between styles or their own. This one is another example of that, with the label ESB2 (squared) referring to a ramped up version of the English Pale Ale. Tettnang hops are almost completely masked. Considerable yeast character, which is not uncommon.

Rock Art Vermonster

Many of us know the feud between the small Rock Art Brewery and a larger corporation, Monster (energy drinks), over the trademark of the Vermonster name. The dispute seemed to be over Rock Art attempting to go national under this name, but for now its here to stay for all the locals to enjoy. Known as the Ridge Runner's big brother, its an American Barley wine with a showcase of hops to support its large malt bill of 110 lbs per barrel (31 gallons). For homebrewing purposes, thats close to 18 lbs of grain/ typical 5 gallon batches (which is a lot!)

Alcohol Content: 10%
IBU: 100
Malts:
Hops:

Price: $12/ 22oz bomber at the farmhouse; otherwise somewhere around $6/ 22oz at a local grocery store.
Medium: Served with a small snifter for me to pour (wide-mouthed goblet is suggested)

Aroma: Combination of fruity citrus and floral hops dominate the nose at first. After taking note of this I noticed the bottle said it was dry-hopped, no doubt adding to the pungent hop aromas. The hops mask its 10% ABV very well. After letting it settle and picking away at the layers, the malt nose starts to shine through. Moderately warm, sweet, dark amber malts consisting of dried fruit, bread, and maple aromas - supporting but still hop dominated.
Appearance: Deep amber with brownish and reddish hues. Quite hazy. Each pour created a bubbly tan head that clings mostly to the sides. Decent head retention - disappears after a couple of minutes but easily agitated. Barleywines typically have low head retention but this one held out a little longer than my past experiences.
Flavor: The aroma threw off my expectation of its flavor profile. A dried fruit character to the initial malt sweetness is quickly ridden off by a spicy, peppery bitterness and flavorful hops. Molasses/ thick sweetness of malts gains momentum and rounds off into the finish, along with an alcohol kick lingering into the aftertaste. I thought it finished more of a barleywine, mainly because the aggressive bitterness doesn't fully allow the complex malts to give a big first impression. Balance favors hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and thick, chewy texture. Alcohol warmth was well hidden but gains momentum in the finish and aftertaste - outlasts most other sensations. Attenuation seems good as its not too syrupy nor cloying. Moderately low carbonation
Overall Impression: Sweet, warm, pleasant, masked alcohol content - all of these descriptions make for an enticing beer that should be approached with caution as can only be found in 22oz bombers. Split amongst a friend over a light appetizer. Aged gouda and apples on warm bread would be quite the pairing.

Rock Art Jasmine Pale Ale

The Rock Art Jasmine Pale Ale is an Herb beer that uses just a touch of jasmine and hops added to the fermentor to give the beer more of an aroma as opposed to extracting more flavors from the jasmine. Kristine and I headed to the Brewery to sample some others and I think this one was both our favorites.

Alcohol Content: 5.0%
IBU: 8
Malts: ?
Hops: ?

Price: $3.50/ 22oz bomber @ the Brewery
Medium: Poured into a stemmed water glass

Aroma: Very light herbal hop aroma and of course jasmine. Perhaps a bit of fruitiness from the yeast, although more of a pleasant breadyness with a touch of honey sweetness. Some hints of butterscotch from the malts. Overall sweet nose with a delicate, herbal tea-like character.
Appearance: Quite hazy with a deep amber color. Poured for a very large off-white head which dissipated to just a thin surface. Carbonation appears very bubbly/ champagne-like - can hear it through most of the session. Lacing is wet.
Flavor: Opens with a delicate honey & bready sweet malt flavor with a very light toffee (not very noticeable). The jasmine adds a very nice herbal character starting about mid-pallet and gaining momentum towards the finish. Bitterness is herbal and tea-like with an almost lemony tartness - perhaps similar to a ginseng tea. Aftertaste consists of a lingering honey/ butterscotch. Overall very balanced and pleasant.
Mouthfeel: Light body with a large presence of carbonation. The jasmine plays a role in the mouthfeel too, sort of coating the mouth but not drying out the palate.
Overall Impression: Very pleasant and unique, but perhaps a little too light on the palate. The carbonation could be toned down a notch as well, but it complements the lighter feel and desired experience. I would prefer it with the lighter herb dishes or freshly tossed greens.

Rock Art IPA (II)

Offering bigger and bolder beer flavors, the Rock Art Double IPA is part of the Brewery's Extreme product line. Like other hoppy ales, it is suggested to serve this IPA a little warmer (50-55 degrees F). Kristine and I headed to the Brewery to take a look around and sample some other beers on tap, including the Double IPA, Jasmine Herb Pale Ale, Pumpkin Imperial Spruce Stout, and Black Moon IPA.

Alcohol Content: 8%
IBU: 90
Malts: ?
Hops: ?

Price: $3.50/ 22oz bomber @ the Brewery
Medium: Poured into an English tulip pint glass

Aroma: Floral, perhaps grassy with a complimenting fruitiness - not sure if this is from the hops or the yeast. Hops also present a slightly spicy character but not overly strong. The supporting malt backbone is of light toffee and biscuits or bready notes. A little sweeter than I would expect for an Imperial. Acidic/ tartness present and no strong alcohol aromas for an 8%.
Appearance: Slightly hazy with a deal of larger "snowflake" particles present. Presented for a deep golden amber with a persistent off-white/ tan head.
Flavor: Initially sweet with some light butterscotch and toffee flavors (subtle). This is overrun by the presence of off-flavors hitting about mid-pallet. This includes, but is not limited to, phenolic, sour/acidic, grassy, and stale flavors. Bitterness is sharp and unpleasant. Finish was rather stale and the aftertaste was slick with some lingering dryness.
Mouthfeel: Moderate body with some alcohol warmth. Lacked a decent hop character; Instead, it was rather harsh/ unpleasant combined with a waxy coat. Somewhat tart/ acidic. Moderately low carbonation.
Overall Impression: This was just one of those experiences that was problematic for a combination of reasons. I sampled it at the brewery and had a way different experience than the bottle I took home, so I'll be on the lookout to try it again and overwrite my notes. Not at all what I would expect from an Imperial.

Rock Art American Red

Rock Art American Red is and American Amber Ale (section 10B of the BJCP style guidelines, although known simply as Red Ales in some regions). According to the brewery, this year round brew is "malty rich with a hint of spicy hops and roasted grains." It was purchased at City Market in Burlington.

Alcohol Content: 4.8%
Malts: American 2-Row Pale, Oats, Flaked Barley, Black Patent, Chocolate, Red, and Melandolin
Hops: Magnum, Centennial, Liberty, and Crystal

Medium: 12oz bottle poured into a standard pint glass
Price: $14.00 for a 12-pack Rock Art sampler

Aroma: The hop aroma on this one vanishes after only 5-10 seconds; However, I was quick to put my nose into it and caught the hint of spiciness (as expected) and an ever so slightly floral aroma. Shortly after, a toasty character is revealed with hints of caramel and even a very mellow chocolate aroma.
Appearance: Pours for a thin, white head that vanishes with the initial hop aroma (15 seconds at most). Carbonation appears to be moderate. Presents itself with a nice coppery brown and decent clarity - perhaps a minimal amount of chill haze.
Flavor: A mild caramel sweetness is first to roll over the tongue followed by a roasted character next, and finally a very clean bitterness sweeps in last (fits with the use of Magnum hops used for primary bittering). The bitterness complements the malt profile nicely and is fairly balanced. Unfortunately there is a strong metallic presence - I may have mishandled it and then let it sit around for a couple of weeks, undertaking the metallic cap flavor.
Mouthfeel: A rather light body, this beer is thinner than I expected and is moderately smooth. It drinks more like water and comes with a slippery or slick character.
Overall Impression: I should sample this again and re-evaluate as the metallic flavor should most likely be disregarded. The mouthfeel was also rather disappointing and did not fit with the style. Despite the off-flavors and general disregard to style, it was still one of the more drinkable beers because of its thin, light quality (complements a high carb meal). Please offer any comments to your experience as mine was lackluster!

Rock Art India Pale Ale

Rock Art IPA is an English India Pale Ale (section 14A of the BJCP style guidelines). The website suggests this beer has been cask conditioned for a long period of time - if not, this is still a more mellow IPA and a must try!

Alcohol Content: ?
Malts: ?
Hops: ?

Medium: 12oz bottle poured into a standard pint glass
Price: $14.00 for a 12-pack Rock Art sampler

Aroma: Contains a strong floral aroma similar to freshly cut flowers along with grassy/ piney notes. There are also some fruity citrus characters in the presence of a sweet caramel & toasty aroma.
Appearance: Poured for a great looking tan/ light brown head about one finger high with good retention. Just a bit hazy with tiny particles floating throughout the glass - yeast sediment in the bottle as well. Presents a nice glowing copper to golden amber in color. Carbonation looks strong.
Flavor: This is a well balanced beer with a distinctive sweet malty presence upfront and a mild spicy bitterness that lingers in the aftertaste. While sipping, it offers a floral taste along with some fruity citrus qualities. Toasty and caramel notes throughout.
Mouthfeel: A moderately high carbonated beverage with a smooth, medium body. Also a slight warming sensation and some drying in the aftertaste (in the presence of sweet toffee-like characteristics). No Astringency.
Overall Impression: This IPA is well balanced and certainly very drinkable. Although it is a little darker than expected, it still presents itself nicely. I would recommend this IPA over many others - it is neither too bitter nor dry.

Rock Art Ridge Runner

The Ridge Runner is Rock Art's version of a Mild Barley Wine. Not recognized as an official style, this beer gives for some confusion as it does not exactly fit with an English or American Barley Wine (Section 19 of the BJCP style guidelines).

Alcohol Content: 7.5%
Malts: 2-Row Pale, Dark Crystal, Munich, Flaked Barley, Chocolate & Black
Hops: Challenger, Crystal, Cascade & Perle

Medium: 12oz bottle poured into a stemmed/ wide bowled water glass (A 'snifter' is preferred)
Price: $14.00 for a 12-pack Rock Art sampler.

Aroma: At first a nice minty green or noble aroma is released with some "peppery" and floral notes second, followed by the sweet malt characteristics last. Also, there seems to be some hints of bitter chocolate and dark caramel.
Appearance: There is initially some chill haze; however, it clears up nicely as it warms and presents a nice dark mahogany hue. Poured for a characteristically small carbonation and a small tan head that was quick to disappear (after about 10 seconds) - Poor head retention is appropriate for Barley Wines
Flavor: Surprisingly a bit roasted with a deep chocolate/ caramel character complemented by a nice subtle spicy bitterness that lingers a bit on the pallet. There are also no harsh alcohol flavors present, which makes for a drinkable beer. Fairly balanced, with some leniency towards the bittering qualities over the sweet maltiness.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with some "chew" and some creaminess. Moderately low carbonation and a moderately dry finish.
Overall Impression: Only the second of Barley Wines I have ever tasted, I was quite unsure to the level of appropriateness to this style considering its remarkable differences to the previous. However, the alcohol is well hidden by the sweet malts and complementary bitterness. Since the alcohol qualities are masked, I recommend approaching this beer slowly. Great for a nice relaxing evening out/ over dinner.

Rock Art Midnight Madness

Rock Art Midnight Madness is a Smoked Porter under section 22B (other smoked beers) of the BJCP style guidelines. This dark brew possesses a slight hint of smoke from a small portion of German grains that are smoked with beechwood.

Alcohol Content: ?
Malts: 2-Row Pale, Crystal, Chocolate & Black Patent
Hops: Northern Brewer & East Kent Goldings

Medium: 12oz bottle poured into a standard pint glass - served a little warm at 56 F.
Price: $14.00 for a 12-pack Rock Art sampler

Aroma: Possesses clear smokey and chocolatey qualities with a nice fresh earthy hop aroma that is quick to clear after only a few seconds of pouring. There are also some underlying hints of sweet malts as well.
Appearance: When held up to the light it shows a brilliant dark ruby red/ mahogany with good clarity. Poured for minimal head and poor retention with absolutely no lacing. However, the carbonation appeared to be strong and fast flowing. Pours more like a coca-cola as it loses its carbonation rather quickly. Yeast sediment in the bottle.
Flavor: A nice chocolatey/ smokey flavor dominates from start to finish with hints of burnt coffee as well. A pleasant bitterness balances the smokey characteristics well.
Mouthfeel: A rather lighter body for a porter, this beer also feels a little "watery" and contains low levels of carbonation (contrary to appearance). Perhaps a little boozy and a minimal degree of harshness in the aftertaste.
Overall Impression: As much as I liked to drink this unique porter, I expected a little more from Rock Art. Despite requiring some fine tuning, it is still better than Otter Creek's Stovepipe porter as it finishes a little smoother and leaves more of a pleasant aftertaste. This is surely a beer that will not fill you up, and it would pair nicely with heavily smoked meats.