Schell's Bock Brewed by the August Schell Brewing Company - New Ulm, MN

Each year the promise of spring was confirmed as the first keg of Schell's Bock rolled onto waiting delivery wagons. And since 1860, Schell's Bock has continued in the true German tradition. Completely reformulated for 2009, Schell's Bock has replaced Caramel Bock as our late winter seasonal. Brewed with a harmonious blend of 10 different types of malt and noble hops, Schell's Bock is fermented slowly, and then lagered for an extended period of time to ensure a smooth finish. Perfect for passing even the coldest winter day. This dark amber colored beer sports a robust malt character.
    

       
Review by Beer Advocate
Appearance: Beer is a sort-of lighter-end mahogany, with a dull translucence. Head is bubbly and fades away quickly, leaving an eggshell-colored foam around the edge of the glass.

Smell: Rich apple cider with a touch of cinnamon. Bubble gum in the malt, perhaps. Very nice, actually! 
    

    
Taste/Mouthfeel: Beer is pretty oily going in, but a nice amount of carbonation balances it out well. Toasted bread with a nice marmalade comes to mind. Just a touch of lemony zest perhaps in the aftertaste. Rinses medium-dry, and there's a smooth bitterness which is most pleasant.

Overall: One thing Schell has going for itself is the ability to master the mouthfeel. The level of carbonation couldn't get any better, it perfectly reveals the flavor of the beer and allows for a great glass anytime.

  
   
August Schell Brewing
The August Schell Brewing Company is a brewing company in New Ulm, Minnesota. It was founded by German immigrant August Schell in 1860 and passed into the possession of the Schell family in 1866. It is the second oldest family-owned brewery in America after D. G. Yuengling & Son and became the oldest and largest brewery in Minnesota when the company bought the Grain Belt rights in 2002. In September 2010, it celebrated its 150th Anniversary with a two-day festival.

  

The History of August Schell Brewery
In the fall of 1860, August Schell partnered up with Jacob Bernhardt, a former brewmaster at the Benzberg Brewery in St. Paul, MN (what today was known as the Minnesota Brewing Company). They erected a small brewery just two miles from town along the banks of the Cottonwood River. During their first year of operation they produced 200 barrels of beer, a very small amount based on today’s standards.

The location of the brewery was ideal. Aside from the beauty of its natural surroundings (August was especially fond of his hikes into the woods), the brewery was located next to an artesian spring, providing exceptionally pure water for brewing. Its proximity to the Cottonwood River gave the brewery a means of transporting beer and supplies, and the river also became essential to the refrigeration process. Each winter, large blocks of ice would be harvested and hauled up the hill where they would be stored in underground caves. The ice would keep the caves cool throughout the spring and early summer in order to allow proper aging and fermentation of the beer.