2023 version which is (I suppose) release number 3 if my notes below are to be believed. Interesting changes here. New ABV at 7.8%, now in a can, and evened out a bit from two years ago.

The lower ABV makes this beer better in every respect. Who didn’t know that? Maybe they read my notes from July 2021.

Less slick than in 2021 and a better mouthfeel as a result. Still alcohol up front, but it feels som much more appropriate for the style now. Good malts, complemented by the alcohol. Finish with a dry kick. Very drinkable in this version.

Release 1, 2021 (pictured)

When I first poured this I thought, “This seems a little under-carbonated”. Then I checked the ABV! What exactly is an, Imperial Maibock, anyway … ?

Ho hum.

Pretty golden pour, but there’s just too much alcohol in the taste for a beer of this ‘style’. Nose doesn’t reflect the alcohol and is appropriately malty and sweet. The tastes basically have all of the elements of a simple bock, but the alcohol keeps cutting in and abusing the palate.

TBH I’d even take this at 7%, but at 9.2 it feels a bit abusive. Syrupy, a little cloying and a tiring beer.

It’s actually competent in terms of a bock in many ways, but then the silly alcohol kicks in.