Ur-Bock (dunkel) -- Einbecker (Einbeck, Germany)

This beer proudly claims to be the very first bock and the source of the "bock" name (courtesy of those Munich dukes and citizenry who kept calling for the "oanbock" or "einbock")... thus the "ur-bock" designation. Packaging in German, Dutch, English, Spanish, French, and Italian tells that story, but fails to offer anything more particular about the style of this variation.

Characteristics:  Tawny gold color, light body, starts sweet but finishes dry and bitter -- thus failing to hide or incorporate the 6.8% ABV kick to the taste buds.

Minor Gripes: The finish could stand to be a little rounder or fuller.  Also, what gives with the 11.2 ounce bottle? (Yes, I'm being a standardweight snob and rejecting 1/3 liter instead of the 12 oz / 355 ml size -- but I didn't realize that 1/3 liter was a standard beverage size on the continent.) Also, the coloring didn't strike me as a true "dunkel" or dark version of the bock style.

Bottom Line: An interesting take on the bock  --  probably better in the homeland but still worth sampling here in the US.

Rating: 5.75 / 10