Local Oak “Chill Out, Gary.”

Style: Bock
ABV: 6%

Its FriYAY y’all. This weekend opener turned out to be a pleasant evening from a rainy morning. As the sun peeked through the clouds we knew we had to make our way to the beer garden at Local Oak Brewing Co. With several new options on tap we had our choice for a new release post but made sure to fill our stomachs with the Prevail food truck fare before imbibing in the selections. What we settled on was “Chill Out, Gary” a bock from Ben and crew. Its been a bit since we have reviewed a beer from this style and figured it would be a great addition to the lineup.

Nick’s Take

In the remaining sunlight on this Friday evening, the dark amber color of the beer really came to life. There was an orange-red shine emanating from the glass. Initially, there was a foamy offwhite head that soon enough fleeted into just a wispy layer.

Some strong, rich aromas came about and mixed well. I got some early whiffs of chocolate, some caramel, brown sugar, and dark bread. There was an element of roast to this bock, but the scents of sweetness balanced that out and made for a delicious-smelling beer.

I took my first sip and my taste buds were met by a soft, foamy wave. The carbonation was there but was not as crisp as it was foamy. It was medium-bodied and had nice volume to it, encouraging me to sip it quickly.

At first, I wasn’t able to note a ton of complexity in the taste, which was surprising. The aromas were strong and diverse. However, after I had consumed about half of the beer, some more flavors emerged. I think warming up benefitted in this regard. Rich caramel tones came forth, surrounded by bready and nutty flavors. 

This bock went down very smoothly (and quickly). I could crush several of these in an evening, and may have another before the night is over. I think the flavors would allow for a surplus of food pairings, and would’ve fared well with the pork sliders I had earlier.

Joe’s Take

“Chill Out, Gary.” That he did, in a nice tall pilsner glass. The beer was nicely clear and featured a red-copper hue that had a color gradient in the glass. The sunlight amplified this effect and it transformed from a light brown to a cherry red at the top. The thin collar of foam faded down to a nice healthy ring around the edge of the glass.

The aroma of Gary, as we will affectionately call him, was muted and not as pungent as a man going by the same name…I promise I haven’t sniffed a bunch of dudes named Gary. The aroma that came through was malty and featured nutty, roasty smells with a hint of burnt sugar and spice.

The beer was smooth with a medium viscosity. The carbonation was moderate and healthy enough to wash the beer from the palate. There was a hint of mouthcoating left behind by the brew despite the washing carbonation. Overall, the mouthfeel was smooth and refreshing.

The flavor of Gary (nice band name) was highlighted by malt, with slightly sweet but dry flavors of caramel and an exiting flavor of toasted marshmallow. Slightly nutty roasted notes flared up on retronasal olfaction but weren’t as strong on the aroma. The malt flavors were balanced out by a nice dose of bittering hops, making it easy to sip down during the tasting. Although you get the bitterness from the hops, smooth bread/biscuity malts rule the flavor of the beer.

Drinkability is at a high with “Chill Out, Gary” and the gentle but inviting malt flavors coupled with the balancing bitters make it a great summer crusher. I could easily have a few of these on a beautiful night such as this.