Troeg’s Cultivator Helles Bock

There is an old wive’s tale that Bock beer is made from the leftover liquid that remains in the bottom of a lager tank.  The notion is pure myth.  The truth is that Bock is a style of lager beer that got its name from Einbock, Germany the town in which it was originally brewed. The residents of Bavaria often pronounced the word einbock as two words ein and bock which literally translated means “goat,” and it is common to see to a picture of goat on the label of a bottle of bock beer.

The term bock doesn’t describe a singular style of beer but rather it refers to a variety of brews including: Maibock (Helles Bock), Eisbock, and Dopplebock. Bock beer was brewed typically in late Fall for consumption at celebrations during the Spring of the year.  

Beer made in the bock style has a higher alcohol content, in the neighborhood of 6-7.5% abv, which is more than most lagers.  Its color can vary from a light brown to a dark, nearly opaque liquid.  In terms of taste, a typical bock beer tends to be on the sweet side due to its high malt content in contrast with a low level of hops. 

The Troeg Brewery of Hershey, Pennsylvania has introduced Cultivator Helles Bock to celebrate the beginning of the Spring hop growing season. Cultivator’s aroma and flavor characteristics are provided by Magnum and Hersbrucker hops.  Both hop varieties come from the famous Hallertau hop growing region in Bavaria.  Magnum hops provides a base layer of bittering agents while Hersbrucker hops contribute to the overall aroma and finish of the beer.

Cultivator’s unique taste, pale gold color, and light white head is the result of the use of floor cured pilsner malt. Combined with hop notes that are both floral and bitter, the hops give the lager a nice aroma and adds just enough zing in its taste.  The sweetness of the malt nicely balances the hops and make it a drinkable session beer.

Troeg’s Cultivator Helles Bock is a perfect introduction to the bock style for someone who has not previously tried a bock beer, and as the weather finally turns warmer, Cultivator is a beer to be enjoyed while sitting on the porch enjoying the sights and smells of Spring.