Two new beers from McKinney’s Franconia Brewing Company have appeared on the scene locally that should draw your attention.
The first is the Franconia Maibock, just recently released. Maibock (literally, “May bock”) is both a term and a defined craft beer style. Many brewers use the term to denote a helles bock, or “pale bock,” to distinguish it from the darker and heavier doppelbock.
The Franconia Maibock is just what a bock should taste like (as opposed to Shiner Bock, which doesn’t really qualify as a true bock any more). Franconia’s version is mild but lightly caramel sweet, a good mid-range bock that favors the malty side rather than the hops.
The other beer by Franconia is their Koelsch (often spelled kölsch in print), which has been out for a while now. Kölsch is a beer that has a specific origin in the city of Köln (Cologne), Germany, from which it takes its name. This makes kölsch a site-specific, protected regional product style name along the same lines as champagne or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
Kölsch is a very underappreciated style, and Franconia’s Koelsch is quite good. Although it is straw yellow in color, this is an ale with a light pale malt flavor, a slight nutty taste, dry with just a tiny hop bite. It is clean and easy to drink, and the style has been rumored to settle an upset stomach.
Availability: Franconia does not have a bottling operation just yet, but both of these beers should be available on tap at better beer bars and pubs all around the Metroplex.
Other beers by Franconia: Franconia Lager
Cheers!
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