Hellgoat Hellerbock

Hellgoat Hellerbock. Brewed by Spotty Dog Brewers in Hobart, Tasmania.

Heller Bock is a hard to find beer, even in the areas it originated, around Bavaria and alpine Europe. Bock simply means “Billy Goat” in German, and is used to describe any high strength beer - beer with a kick - although most commonly you’ll see it referring to a dark, malty, strong lager. “Hell”, in comparison, means light - in this case, light in colour, not alcohol! So, putting it all together, Heller Bock is a lightly coloured, high ABV lager. Ours is 8%. Be weary though - it doesn’t present as strongly as it is. The “kick” is well hidden.

For the beer nerds out there, we brewed this beer as close to traditional as we could - single malt (the same malt that we use in Biergartenwetter) for bread, straw, sultana and the lightest caramel character. We used a blend of Aussie and imported hops for a spicy, herbal yet restrained bitterness, we decocted the mash (because of course we did) and we fermented low and slow - a 9º primary ferment, with almost four months in maturation, letting the yeast do its thing and produce their wonderful fruity and spicy esters; bonus points if you can pick them out as you taste it.

It pours crystal clear and beautifully light, like sunshine through a field of wheat, the gossamer liquid supporting a dense, rich head. The nose is ester driven and complex: light banana, grape skins, bread and straw. Sulphur is but a fleeting encounter, the briefest tryst that could not last. On the palate suddenly you realise there’s more here than you first thought - unctuous and rich, is the raisin? Perhaps caramel? Lovingly baked bread, rich and warm.  Where did that spice come from, that herbal bitterness? Go back in too quickly and bitterness may be overpowering; take it slow and let the esters play on your tongue.

Best served in our limited edition Libbey Glassware, emblazoned with the Hellgoat artwork and logo!

This beer is about savouring the process and living the slow life. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Details:

Yeast:  The yeast is our house lager strain (wow, that’s fun to say): Bluestone Pilsner.  Originally from the Augustiner brewery in Munich, it ferments clean, produces wonderful esters, doesn’t mind high gravity, and gives you just the slightest whiff of sulphur.  Heaven!

Malt/Grain:  This is a fun one - malt is 100% Australian Extra Pale Malt (meaning very light in colour).  It’s exactly the same base as Biergartenwetter, there’s just more of it.

Hops:  Blended Aussie and German hops.  Topaz for primary bittering and Spalter for strong noble vibes.  Grassy and herbaceous.  

Production Techniques: Decocted (obvs), fermented for almost a month, matured after that for more than four…this beer was a process. What that leaves you with is a crystal clear, beautifully mellowed high strength lager with no sharp edges. Malt liquor in a beautifully tailored suit.

Cheers, 

Rhyley

Head Brewer

PS: This art work is by the incredible Tilly @tillmanilli who absolutely nailed it!