Skip to main content

Bock Hunting

Bock Club

The Schell Bock Fest is still the first and best bock hunt we've found, but we're always on the lookout for 'dem der snowgoats.'

 

Hunting for bocks isn't much different than hunting for medallions in that you're still calling upon skills learned in childhood Easter egg hunts. Generally sponsored by breweries as part of the festivities surrounding the early spring tradition of tapping into a fresh batch of bock beer, bock hunts are a fun way to involve a group of adults and/or children in something whimsical. Yes, beer is plentiful and heavily consumed by some, but any hunt worth its stripes will have plenty of root beer for the no-alcohol set.

The Cooler Crew has been involved in at least two bock hunts over the past year, those being Schell's Bockfest in the German enclave of New Ulm, Minnesota, and Fitger's Bockfest in Duluth, Minnesota. We'll soon have more details of the Schell's hunt than the Schell Brewery Web site itself, but for now let us fill up on details of the most recent Fitger's hunt, courtesy of Terry Valentine.

Bock Hunting

Submitted by Joe Medallion (not verified) on
-

So the medallion hunt is over, but you still got the itch to dig through some Minnesota snowpack. Then head on down to New Ulm, MN, the land of good German sausage, exceptional polka, and the bestest bock beer west of the Mississippi. It's time to find some goats! Saturday, February 24th, is the date. Arrive earlier than you think. The goats are more active in the early hours. See our Bock Page for more background, but check with the Schell Brewery for the serious lowdown. If you're 21+ ... bring a driver or rent a hotel.

Schell's Brewery
1860 Schell's Rd
New Ulm, MN 56073

Tags

Schell Bock Hunt

Submitted by Joe Medallion (not verified) on
-

So you barely cozied into your coin-huntin' gear this year, and the durned thing gets found on ya. Don't fret. Just gear up for the next hunt on the schedule, the Bock Fest in New Ulm, Minnesota. March 4 is the date and the time is usually well before noon. The Schell Brewery Web site has not been updated for 2000 yet, but it likely will soon. You can always get proactive by contacting them first at schells@schellbrewery.com or call (507) 354-5528. Details about bock hunts are provided at the Cooler Crew Bock Club.

Tags

Crew Veterans Ace Fitgers Bock Hunt & Festival

Submitted by Joe Medallion (not verified) on

Cards, Conversation, and Camaraderie

The annual bock hunt at the Fitger's Hotel and Brewery complex in Duluth was a smashing good time for several of our Coolerheads. With a year's hunting experience already under their belts, they were able to find five of the seven bocks hidden. Considering only six of the seven were found at all, the Crew came as near a sweep as they could get. It may not be as well known as the granddaddy medallion hunt, but the Fitger's hunt serves as a nice confidence booster and an excuse for family fun on the shore of Lake Superior. For details, check the Bock Club.

1999 Fitger's Bock Hunt and Festival

Submitted by Terry on

Those attending the 1999 Fitger's Bock Hunt and Festival in Duluth, MN: Dave Young, Eags, Ian and his wife Micki and sons Kris and Kollin, Allison and his friend Kirsten, Inks and Terry Valentine.

The Cooler Crew was extremely successful this year! Of the seven bocks hidden, and the six found, the crew found five of them! Kris found the King; Micki found the Queen; Inks, Kirsten and Ian found three of the months.

The prize associated with the King was a night's stay at Fitger's hotel. The Queen was good for dinner at Bennett's (the restaurant at Fitger's). Inks won a $25.00 gift certificate to the Wine Cellar and Ian won a sweatshirt. Kirsten won a $25.00 gift certificate for the Lake Superior Brewery store.

That hunt is just so much fun! It's four hours in length: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. All the bocks are hidden in stores throughout the Fitger's complex. It's great being able to hunt indoors after a full week of digging around in the wet snow of St. Paul for the Winter Carnival medallion.

A fellow Crew member, "Bob e" joined us at about 12:30 p.m., and we ended up visiting more with him than hunting after that. Although we did continue to hunt and peck around the complex, we had already found most of the bocks and had nothing further to prove.

After a meal in the Fitger's complex and a nice drive up the North Shore, we planted ourselves in a Duluth coffee shop called Browser's. They serve coffee, tea, and Internet access, so we had some beverages and posted to the Pioneer Planet Water Cooler from there. Eventually, we all went back to the hotel, where "Emmy & Hannah's Mom" had brought her computer with her! She was connected in the hotel room, so we slogged a bit and some of us posted a few messages.

While "Emmy & Hannah's Dad" took a nap, we decided to head back to Fitger's. Dave entered the torte-eating contest. Dave, you see, has a full, Santa-esque beard. He didn't win the contest but was declared the best character. You should have seen that beard - what a mess!

We then stayed to watch the team beer-drinking contest. The "Bubba" team won that event (the name says it all). That festival is full of good times and great fun!

Later that evening at Canal Park, we heard the bridge. It was up all the way! There was a long, 1,000-foot ship leaving port! It was an unexpected surprise, as it's a bit early for shipping. But, somehow, it added the perfect touch to our perfect weekend.

Subscribe to Bock Hunting