The bock is back

I’m no beer connoisseur, but I know that a particularly large and tasty variety of beer is produced in Germany and Belgium. Germany, in particular, is famous for beer varieties like the Hefeweizen, Märzen and bock. In fact, Sacramento’s own German culture organization, Turn Verein, will be celebrating the bockbier this weekend at its annual Bockbierfest. Bocks are particularly strong beers brewed in the winter for summer consumption.

Different versions of bock include dunkelsbock (a traditional dark bock), helles bock (a paler bock) and weizenbock (a wheat-based bock). Bockbier even has its own informational page at Turn Verein’s website (www.sacramentoturnverein.com). In addition to beer, Bockbierfest will feature authentic German food and entertainment. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 12. It happens Friday, April 13, at 6 p.m., and Saturday, April 14, at 3 p.m. at Sacramento Turn Verein’s Turner Hall, 3349 J Street. Call (916) 442-7360 for more information.