Spring is in the beer

According to Michael Jackson in his book Ultimate Beer, the beers of spring are Bocks:
The idea of special beers for spring is strongest in Germany, especially in the state of Bavaria and its capital, Munich. Spring beers there are usually strong lagers, often dark in color. German brewers call a very strong product a Bockbier. Some even have "Double" Bocks. In Munich, a Doppelbock is regarded as a strong warmer to cure the winter blues as spring arrives. A third variation is the May Bock, sometimes paler and drier. The Doppelbock was first brewed by the Pauline monks of Munich to be consumed during lent, as they are high-gravity beers designed to supplement and fortify the soul during fasting. This beer was named Salvator (still available today), and many other Doppelbocks have names ending in -ator to honor this first brew.

Perhaps the best known commercial Doppelbock—and highest-rated on BeerAdvocate—is Ayinger Celebrator. The charming thing about Celebrator—aside from how good it is—is that every bottle comes with a small plastic goat ornament tied around the bottle neck. Shipping those without losing them must be a logistical nightmare.

So celebrate the first weeks of spring and fight the remaining chill of winter with some Bocks and Doppelbocks.

*Double Bock*
AYINGER Celebrator		Germany
	A beer that has a dominant malty taste. This beer’s origins in a monk’s recipe are reflected in its heartiness. The Pope of Beers, Conrad Seidl, describes it as: “Almost black with a very slight red tone, a sensational, festive foam and truly extraordinary fragrance that at first summons up visions of greaves lard. The first taste is of mild fullness with an accompanying coffee tone, which becomes more dominant with the aftertaste. There is very little of the sweetness that is frequently to be tasted with doppelbock beer.” The Ayinger Celebrator has been ranked among the best beers of the world by the Chicago Testing Institute several times and has won numerous platinum medallions.
PAULANER Salvator		Germany
	The original of the style, produced by Paulaner each year just before Easter, brewed as a springtime beer, but available year-round. Salvator pours with a medium butterscotch colored head. The clear body is a deep amber. Its aroma is full of sweet toffee. The flavor is full of round flavors of malt, toffee, bread, and hints of coffee. It is wonderfully complex and has a full mouthfeel. There is a hint of graininess in the finish with lingering toffee sweetness.
NEW HOLLAND Blue Goat		Michigan
	Chestnut in color with a nutty malt profile from its signature Munich malt. A muted hop presence and smooth caramelized body culminate in a clean, dry finish. Excellent choice for hearty meals with dark flavors and sauces. Grilled meats, musty cheeses or pecan pie.
LEINENKUGEL'S Big Butt Doppelbock		Wisconsin
	This is a traditional, full-bodied Bavarian-style seasonal lager beer. With its deep, dark color and hearty taste, this beer provides a link to the brewery's German heritage. Originally introduced in 1996 and discontinued in 1999 when Leinenkugel's streamlined its portfolio, Big Butt Doppelbock returned in 2001 as the brewery's winter seasonal and remains in the portfolio today. The name refers to two male goats butting heads in their annual spring mating ritual. The goat is the icon of the bock style of beer - in German, bock means goat and Doppel means double, which leads to both the beer's extra-rich and malty flavor, as well as the memorable moniker. Leinenkugel's Big Butt Doppelbock is brewed with five varieties of barley malt, including Caramel, Carapils, Munich and Chocolate, carefully combined with select Mt. Hood and Cluster hops from the Pacific Northwest.
AUGUST SCHELL'S Maifest Blonde Double Bock		Minnesota
	Maifest is a seasonal specialty beer offered in the spring months. It is brewed with a blend of three different specialty malts and the finest imported and domestic hops, in the tradition of Munich's Hofbrauhaus Maibock (My-Bock) beer. Considered by the locals as the birthplace of the Bock beer style, the Hofbrauhaus brews different versions of Bock beer at several points during the year. Most important of these is their Maibock or Maifest beer. The Prime Minister of Bavaria and the Mayor of Munich are quite likely to take part in the tapping of the first huge barrel of Maibock each year, as they celebrate the end of winter and the promise of warmer weather. Maifest has a very large hop aroma, is smooth to the palate, and a unique malty sweetness.

*Ale*

BLUE MOON Rising Moon Spring Ale		Canada
	Celebrate the end of winter with this amber wheat ale. This smooth balanced ale is brewed with 3 varieties of specialty malts and an infusion of fresh Kieffer lime leaves and lime peel to bring out the freshness of spring.
NEW HOLLAND Red Tulip Ale		Michigan
	A red ale with rich and smooth flavors of malted barley, balanced by underlying hints of dark fruit. Brewed in homage to our hometown tulip festival, Red Tulip evokes spring’s renewing spirit. Excellent with roasted pork, red-meats and dried fruit.
SAMUEL ADAMS White Ale		Massachusetts
	This unfiltered wheat ale is a fresh American version of a classic Belgian white ale. An intricate blend of unusual spices creates its distinctive and refreshing taste. White Ale is unfiltered and displays a beautiful cloudy haze with a fine sediment at the bottom of the bottle.
SIERRA NEVADA Early Spring Ale ESB 2008		California
	ESB 2008 combines the best of English tradition with West Coast style. A blend of malts featuring British-grown Maris Otter is balanced with the earthy spiciness of hand-selected English and US hops. The ale is left unfiltered, which enhances mouthfeel and hop aroma creating a slightly reddish-copper hue.