Trader Joe's Hofbrau Bock

Ah yes, the finish line -- the last of four "Trader Joe Brewing Company" beers in my `fridge. Am I happy that I powered through all four in one day, just to knock them out and be done with it? To quote an old Redhook Ballard Bitter ad campaign, "You Sure? You Betcha!".

This immediately reminded me why I'm into "dry & bitter ales, not wet & malty lagers". Coats the tongue and the insides of my mouth with a wool blanket of malt and cotton candy, with very little in the way of complexity or character, IMHO.

I do recognize that this is nicely malty -- would have to be hit upside the head with a brick not to notice that much! But really, the malt bill is just so heavy-handed compared to the hop profile (this does have hops, yes?), that it all strikes me as being rather unbalanced and overally sweet and cloying.

Not the worst of the style -- which is good thing, since even the best examples of the style leave me rather cold and indifferent. But this really doesn't do a lot for me one way or the other. "Yeah, you got the malt going on -- I'll give you that. But otherwise, do you have anything else to say for yourself? No? Didn't think so...."

After all of these Gordon Biersch-brewed Lagers, can I now reward my taste buds with a solid IPA or Pale Ale. Again, to quote an old Redhook Ballard Bitter ad campaign, "You Sure? You Betcha!".
//TB