Beer · Explainer
What is the difference between autumn bock, spring bock, dubbelbock and eisbock?
Bock is a bottom-fermented strong beer: in Germany the Starkbier category begins at 16 percent original gravity, in the Netherlands bock beer is at 6.5 percent by volume or higher. Autumn bock is dark and belongs to autumn and winter, spring bock is blond and comes in spring. Double bock has more original gravity and more alcohol. Eisbock is frozen after brewing; the ice is removed and the alcohol percentage rises further as a result.
In brief
The key figures
| Stamwort Starkbier, including bock | 16 percent and more |
|---|---|
| Alcohol in bock beer in the Netherlands | From 6.5 percent by volume |
| Alcohol of bock according to Deutscher Brauer-Bund | About 7 percent by volume |
| Original gravity weizenbock | 13.4 to 15.5 percent |
| Fermentation | Bottom-fermented and cold-conditioned |
| Autumn bock versus spring bock | Dark with roasted malt versus blond |
| Eisbock | Frozen and stripped of ice, higher alcohol percentage |
| Excise duty on beer | 8.12 euros per hectoliter per percent by volume |
What makes a beer a bock?
A Bock is a bottom-fermented strong beer: the Deutscher Brauer-Bund classes Bockbier as Starkbier, with 16 percent original gravity or more.
Original gravity is the content of dissolved substances in the wort before the yeast is added, expressed as a percentage by weight. The higher that content, the more sugar the yeast can convert and the higher the alcohol percentage. The German trade association gives about 7 volume percent alcohol for bock beer. Nederlandse Brouwers uses 6.5 volume percent and higher for bokbier.
What is the difference between autumn bock and spring bock?
Autumn bock is dark and brewed with roasted malt, spring bock is blond and brewed with lighter malt; the alcohol percentage of both is around 6.5 percent by volume.
Nederlandse Brouwers describes bock beer as a seasonal beer with a ruby-red colour from roasted malt and an aroma of caramel, and for spring mentions the spring bock or Maibock, which is usually blond and has fruity notes. The difference therefore lies in the grain bill and in the season, not in the fermentation. Both are bottom-fermented and are lagered cold.
What is a doppelbock?
A doppelbock is a stronger bock, usual in Germany from about 18 percent original gravity and with 7 to 9 percent alcohol by volume.
The style comes from München and can be recognised by brand names ending in -ator, such as Salvator, Optimator and Celebrator. Compared with a regular bock the malt charge is larger, which makes the wort thicker and leaves more sugar to ferment. What remains as unfermented sugar gives the beer more body. Serve a doppelbock less cold than a pilsner, around 10 degrees Celsius.
How is eisbock made?
Eisbock is made by freezing a doppelbock after brewing and removing the ice; water freezes before alcohol, so what remains is stronger.
Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius, ethanol only at well over a hundred degrees below zero. If you freeze the beer and remove the ice, mostly water goes out. The alcohol percentage of an eisbock is therefore higher than that of the doppelbock it is made from, and can go well into double digits. Pour small glasses.
When do you drink which bock?
Autumn bock belongs to autumn and winter, spring bock to spring, and doppelbock and eisbock are winter beers for small glasses.
Nederlandse Brouwers calls bokbier a typical seasonal beer for autumn and winter, with the spring or May bock as the spring variant. Serve herfstbok and doppelbock at 8 to 10 degrees Celsius, because too cold suppresses the malt aromas. Lentebok may be cooler, around 6 degrees Celsius. For an eisbock 12 degrees Celsius is enough, in a glass of 15 centilitres.
From the shop in Bathmen
Which bock beers are there in Bathmen?
The store in Bathmen stocks 35 bock beers from 26 different brands from 2 countries. Prices range from € 1.40 to € 66.99. Alcohol content ranges from 5.9% to 26%.
- 't Zwarte Schoap De Verschoappeling Pale Dubbel Bock 8.4% · 33 cl · Netherlands
- Amstel Bock Netherlands
- Bock Damm 5.9% · 25 cl · Spain
- Brand dubbelbock 7.5% · 30 cl · Netherlands
- Brouwerij Durs Gèthebok Bockbier 6.7% · 33 cl · Netherlands
- Brouwerij Kees Porter of no Return Eisbock 20% · 75 cl · Netherlands
- Budels Herfstbock 6.5% · 30 cl · Netherlands
- DAVO weizen bock 8.8% · 33 cl · Netherlands
- Dochter Van De Korenaar La Bock Brunello 7% · 33 cl · Netherlands
- Eggens Stevige Bock 2025 8% · 33 cl · Netherlands
Related questions
What is the difference between pils, helles and kölsch?What is the difference between stout and porter?What is the difference between weizen and witbier?
Short answer
Short answers to related questions
- Is bokbier the same as bockbier?
- Yes. In the Netherlands you usually write it as bok, in Germany as Bock. It is the same bottom-fermented style.
- Why is there a billy goat on the label?
- Bock means billy goat in German, and many breweries therefore put a goat on the label. The style name is traced back to the city of Einbeck.
- Which food goes with bock beer?
- Herfstbok and dubbelbock go well with braised meat, game and mature cheese. The roasted malt matches roasted and caramelised flavours.
- How much excise duty is there on a bottle of bock beer?
- The rate is 8.12 euro per hectolitre per percent by volume. At 6.5 percent by volume and 30 centilitres, that comes to about 0.16 euro.
- Can you store bock beer?
- A strong bock or doppelbock can be stored cool and dark for a year or longer. Spring bock is best drunk within the season.
The reasoning
Sources
- Bockbier, Deutscher Brauer-Bund (accessed 5 September 2026)
- Biersoorten, Nederlandse Brouwers (accessed 2026-09-05)
- Weizenbock, Deutscher Brauer-Bund (accessed 5 September 2026)
- Tarievenlijst accijns en verbruiksbelasting, Douane Nederland (accessed 2026-09-05)
This page was written and checked by ’t Bockje Bathmen, wine and spirits shop at Brink 2 in Bathmen. Last updated on 7 September 2026.
Verkoop van alcohol onder de 18 jaar is verboden. NIX18.