Spring is a season of in-betweens. That is especially true up here in the Northland where spring can mean heavy snows and biting cold one day and temperatures in the 50s the next. Spring up here calls for in-between beers; beers that are light enough for when the weather is fair, but heavy and warming enough to take the chill off your bones when it gets rough. Maibock, the traditional spring seasonal beer of the Germans, is just such a beer. It’s malt-forward, but lighter in both color and flavor than it better known cousins. It’s rich and warming, yet crisp and light; perfect for the season.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company released their version of a maibock, Glissade, last year. The brewery describes it as being a subtle take on the style “with restrained sweetness, [emphasizing] subtle malt flavor, balanced against delicate aromas of spicy and floral European hops.” Here’s my notes:

Glissade
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, California
Style: Helles Bock
Serving Style: 12 oz Bottle

Aroma: Honey sweet with hints of caramel and bread. Faint background of citrus.

Appearance: Brilliant deep golden color. Ample fluffy white head that is very persistent.

Flavor: Luscious honey and caramel are the stars of the show. Fresh bread adds complexity to the malt mix. Medium-low bitterness cuts the sweetness, keeping it light and crisp. Herbal, almost minty hops offer a welcome counterpoint to the honey. The finish is long with lingering honey notes.

Mouthfeel: Rich, creamy, and full-bodied. Pleasantly mouth coating. Medium carbonation. Very drinkable.

Overall Impression: This is not a complex beer. Everything is up front to be easily grasped without a lot of searching. Yet it’s not without depth. Perhaps that what makes it such a well-crafted beer. Soothing, warming, rich, yet utterly drinkable.