The Spring Beer Tourey: # 3 GB Maibock vs # 6 Yuengling Bock

     Back  in the Bocks Plus Region we have two hopefully yummy bocks. # 3 Gordon Biersch Maibock lost in the first round last year,but they were victims of a bad match-up.  Yuengling Bock is new to the tourney.  GB pours light amber with honey, caramel and citrus on the nose.  Yueng is a very light brown with strong caramel and light mocha.  GB steps up with big flavors of honey and caramel with citrus herb on the finish.  It also brings a big body.  Yueng also brings it strong with the flavor, nice caramel and mocha, but there's a bit of an odd aftertaste.  It has body, but a gulp of the GB washes any trace of it away.  GB has that almost syrupy thick body to it. Nice.  The Yuengling has nice flavors, but Gorden Biersch has it all. GB wins, but I could go for a six of this Yuengling Bock, it's good.

Gordon Biersch Winter Bock

      Last time we visited Gordon Biersch, their very good Mai Bock lost in a stunning upset to Garde Dog in the Spring Beer Tourney. This was a classic, check it out here.  Winter Bock is light to medium brown and the nose is heavy on the caramel.  The taste is lush with strong caramels, light mocha and medium crisp hop.  Strong balance shines here and makes this an excellent Winter Beer.  Go and get this strong, flavorful, warming Winter Bock while it's still out.  GB is sure to be near the top of the nice list.

#3 Gordon Biersch Maibock vs Flying Dog Garde Dog

Back to the North-East bracket we have the #3 seed versus the #6 seed. The three seed is Gordon Biersch Maibock, out of San Jose California. Maibock is surprisingly hard to find, but is one of the best styles ever. Flying Dog's Garde Dog is a French farmhouse ale brewed right up the road from me in Frederick, we usually say Fredneck, Maryland. The palate cleanser for this match-up will be plain crackers. The Maibock pours out a nice redish amber, while the Garde Dog is a very cloudy pale straw. The bock has sweet caramel and mild hop bitterness on the nose. The dog has some bitterness and a sort of not unpleasant funkiness. A sip of Garde Dog brings total balance of hop, malt, sweetness, and bitterness. Now to enjoy my delicious plain cracker. Wow, that's an amazing cracker, orgasmic. The Maibock is loaded with caramel malt, a nice light hop throughout, and a sweet finish. Oh god this cracker is so memorable and amazing.

Now let's go to the head to head match-up. Must have more cracker. The Maibock has a nice body and strong flavors, but the Garde Dog has a nice body and balanced flavors. I'm really shocked by how well the Garde Dog holds up against a strong style like this Maibock. Wait, hold on, I can't wait to enjoy another one of these incredible crackers. Wow, these crackers are better than doing rails of blow off a strippers ass. This contest is really close. I can't help but think the Maibock should be pulling away, it's very good, but I keep reaching for the Garde Dog. Seriously, Maibock is a great love of mine, but the Garde Dog finds my hand again. Oh my god, Garde Dog drains a three at the buzzer. GARDE DOG WINS, GARDE DOG WINS. A stunning upset as the # 6 seed advances. A stellar match-up, but not as great as that plain cracker.