Forget the groundhog. In Minnesota, Bock beer means spring is on the way! Every year at the August Schell Brewery in New Ulm, Minnesota, Bock Fest, a community gathering and beer festival, is celebrated the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, in anticipation of warmer days ahead.
What is Bock?
Bock is historically a strong lager with German origins dating to the 1300s. It is brewed internationally and can be dark to light copper in color with light carbonation. Traditionally the mouthfeel is smooth and the taste is sweet and malty with a light hop flavor and hints of toasty caramel.
Originally brewed in the town of Einbeck, some citizens in nearby Munich pronounced the town’s name as Ein Bock, which means billy goat. To this day the connection has stuck and many breweries show a goat on bock labels. Another theory for the goat connection says bock was only brewed under the astrological sign of Capricorn – a mountain goat. Whichever story you subscribe to, bock beer means winter is near its end and a good excuse for a beer festival.
Clay medallion award given those who find the Seven Bocks of Winter
Bock Beer Festival
Several bock beer festivals are held each year in the U.S. Perhaps the longest running one is right here in Minnesota, where this year marks the 30th anniversary for the nationally famous Schell’s Brewery, the second-oldest, family-owned craft brewery in America. Each year, up to 5,000 hearty Minnesotans turn out to weather the bitter cold in search of seven hidden Bocks of Winter – which are wooden goat cutouts hidden in Flandreau State Park. The saying is, if all seven Bocks of Winter are found, an early spring is soon to follow. Besides the prizes for finding the bocks, or goats, the capturers also receive a prestigious clay medallion to wear, made for Schell’s by Grey Fox Pottery.
“Bock Fest is an all outdoors event, and people just love it. I think it gives them a chance to get outside and to kick their cabin fever. We have 4 bonfires to keep people warm, 4 bars, and food locations that feature Schell’s Bock Brats and good New Ulm sauerkraut, among other things. So we have it all – right here on our grounds. It is such a beautiful place, it’s hard not to have a good time!” -Jodi Marti, Special Projects Coordinator for Schell’s, and also part of the Marti family.
Ted Marti, president of Schell’s, is the fifth generation descendant of August Schell. Now in its 156th year of continuous operation, Schell’s continues into it’s 6th generation.
“This has been an amazing festival for August Schell Brewing Company. We have as many as 5,000 festers laughing, singing, dancing, sipping and “Prosting” with Schell’s Bock beer, while enjoying whatever weather we are dealt. It is truly fantastic.” – Ted Marti
The Pottery artisans at Grey Fox Pottery have been making custom logo beer steins and logo medallions for the Schell Bock Fest since the early 1990’s. From Jack, Mike and our entire staff at Grey Fox Pottery; it is truly a pleasure for us to make commemorative custom mugs and other treasures for such a prestigious craft brewer who makes really lights out beer!
Thanks Jodi, Ted and all the employees at Schell’s for letting us partner with your beer festival over the years and Prost to an early spring in Minnesota!