Several substyles exist, including maibock (helles bock, heller bock), a paler, more hopped version generally made for consumption at spring festivals; doppelbock (double bock), a stronger and maltier version; and eisbock, a much stronger version made by partially freezing the beer and removing the ice that forms.
Scientists describe seven basic tastes: bitter, salty, sour, astringent, sweet, pungent (eg chili), and umami. There are however five basic tastes that the tongue is sensitive to: salt, sweet, bitter, sour, and umami, the taste of MSG.
The five tastes usually given are: Bitterness, Sourness, Sweetness, Saltiness, and Umami. In the west, the umami taste has only recently been included, and a number of other possible tastes, notably one for fattiness and one for metallic or calcium tastes, have also been proposed.