Did someone mention goats?
February 17, 2010
Goats and beer have a strange affiliation, as I mentioned in a recent comment to Scott’s review of Ayinger Weizen Bock the word ‘bock’ appears in many European languages and means ‘billy-goat’. Where ‘bock’ isn’t in the language, such as the Czech Republic, they have a strong lager called ‘Kozel’ which too has a ‘billy-goat’ on the label.
Some people have attributed the name to the kick such as beer would have, while a more poetic origin is the fact that the original bock beers were brewed in the autumn for consumption at Christmastime, or during the zodiacal period of Capricorn – the goat.
Other bocks followed on including Mai Bocks, Double Bocks and even a few Triple Bocks, but the underlying premise of a bock is that it should be a strong (5-10% ABV), slightly sweet dark lager and should thus be bottom fermented. It’s the lager equivalent to ‘winter warmer’ ales and barley wines.
All very interesting, but why is Bob writing this? I hear you ask. Well, I was reviewing a pale lager recently and observed that it smelt slightly ’soapy’ – I first experienced this when I reviewed Heineken for The Brew Club a while ago. Again I checked my glass, rinsed in clean water and poured another, still soapy, and even my wife could detect the smell.
I was intrigued, so I contacted Alex Barlow who is a Master Brewer and the UK’s leading beer presenter (he’s also the author of the excellent ‘All Beer Experience’) and he explained that what I describe as ’soapy’ many people describe as ‘goaty’. It’s caused by the presence of Octanoic acid, sometimes known as Caprylic acid. It’s naturally produced during the maturation process and is more prominent in lagers that have been lagered for longer.
This ISN’T like ’skunkiness’, it’s NOT a fault, it’s produced in small quantities in most lagered beers, but some people are more sensitive to the smell than others.
So there you go, we can have ‘goaty’ beer as well as skunked beer!
Posted in Other Stuff, Seasonal Beers, Views from a Brit
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February 17th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
That’s interesting. I’m going to be looking for that “goaty” flavor in the next few lagers I drink.
nate´s last blog ..Sink the Bismark: Craftbeer Wars?
February 17th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Nice post Bob! I wouldn’t have even thought of ‘goaty’ as a beer flavor descriptive, but then again I’ve recently learned that some beers (sours I think?) have a ‘horseblanket’ flavor.
Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence
February 18th, 2010 at 3:48 am
@nate – I’ve only noticed the smell in a couple of lagers (and I’ve tried a lot of lagers over the years. As I said, it’s not a fault. I’d be interested to hear if you do detect it.
@scott – given that we’re talking organic fatty acids here, then that’s prbably the same thing… I can imagine horseblankets and goats smelling pretty similar.
Bob the Brit´s last blog ..Pancake Day
February 18th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Mmmmm….Goaty…Never run into this before, but I do tend to shy away from lagers. I find them boring. Next time tho I will be looking for the goat!
Don´s last blog ..What Is Your Favorite Bargain Beer or Whiskey?
February 18th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
I’m a little afraid to know that some people know what a goat tastes like!
February 18th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
@Don – I hear ya. More of an Ale guy myself but I know there are some good lagers out there I need to try.
@Bob Mack – LOL! I think the goat thing relates to the smell not the taste!
Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Rare Vos – Brewery Ommegang
February 19th, 2010 at 3:16 am
Riggwelter, which I drank recently, has this tone.
Michael Reinhardt´s last blog ..Koningshoeven Dubbel Review
February 19th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
@michael – while Riggwelter (if I recall correctly) refers to a sheep that’s fallen or stumbled I’ve never noticed goatiness the ale. What I do notice is the distinctive flavour attributed to brewing on ‘Yorkshire Squares’ although the squares in Black Sheep’s case can be traced fifty miles south to Nottinghamshire, as they were salvaged from the old Hardy Hanson’s brewery.
Bob the Brit´s last blog ..Pancake Day
February 20th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
I did notice it on the aroma. I think the Riggwelter means that the sheep is stuck upside down. Funny you mention the squares. I noted, in my review, with some degree of irony, that the squares they use are cylindrical. http://thankheavenforbeer.com/2010/02/03/riggwelter-by-the-black-sheep-brewery/
February 20th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
That is kind of funny how the squares are anything but! I think I read someplace that Samuel Smith also uses squares and they are actually square. Also, are sheep that lame that they can get stuck upside down? Even some turtles can right themselves!
Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Southern Tier Porter
February 21st, 2010 at 5:14 am
Good question about Riggwelter – I’m guessing that it’s the closest that a Yorkshire sheep can get to being legless – a popular euphemism for being intoxicated.
And yes, a good point @Michael about Black Sheep using ’round squares’ I confess I wasn’t aware of this, but there are photographs on Flickr.
Bob the Brit´s last blog ..Pancake Day
February 25th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
Bob, I’ve been waiting to comment on this post until I had a goat beer, and sure enough, I have an Ayinger Doppelbock in my hand. Can’t say I taste the goatness, but it’s a fantastic beer and comes with a little plastic goat hanging from the neck which is badass. I also (embarrassingly) didn’t know about the bock-billy goat connection. I’m going to see if I can get my girlfriend to call me Bock from now on ; )
Billy Broas´s last blog ..How to Make a Black and Tan
February 26th, 2010 at 12:32 am
@Billy, I think Bock would be a badass nickname! If you get a bottle of the Celebrator, you can wear that little goat on the bottle as a pendant or something!
Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Beer Review -Yards Extra Special Ale (ESA)
February 26th, 2010 at 9:41 am
@Scott haha Yea I had the Celebrator and definitely hung on to that little goat. He’s going up on the rear view mirror today.