Vereinigte Historische Bierfanatiker Grätzer
Jopen Bier BV Haarlem

Vereinigte Historische Bierfanatiker GrätzerVereinigte Historische Bierfanatiker Grätzer
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From:
Jopen Bier BV Haarlem
 
Netherlands
Style:
Grodziskie
ABV:
4%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.52 | pDev: 14.77%
Reviews:
14
Ratings:
46
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 06, 2021
Added:
May 22, 2013
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  3
Collaboration with The Monarchy

Five beer enthusiasts with a common passion for historic brewing came together to create this distinct Polish beer style in the most authentic way we can think of after the brewery in Grodzisk Wielkopolski closed in 1993. It is brewed by Jopen and Monarchy of Musselland together with the beer writers Ron Pattinson and Evan Rail. We use 100% oak-smoked wheat malt, have the exact same gravity of 7.7 degrees Plato, employed classic Lublin hops and fermented with the original yeast. As the town once and again today belongs to Poland, but in the meantime was part of Prussia, there are two different names for the style: Grodziskie and Grätzer. Our research found that brewers also formerly used willow bark in brewing which we thought was an interesting variation. That is why we are offering two different takes on the style: a classic version bearing the name "Grätzer"and a willow bark version called "Grodziskie".
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by carteravebrew:
Photo of carteravebrew
Rated by carteravebrew from Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Aug 17, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.45 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Dec 06, 2021
Photo of Fordcoyote15
Rated by Fordcoyote15 from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Lightly smokey but there's a tangyness about it that I can't get past. It may well be intentional but its far from my favorite smoked beer.
Jun 12, 2021
Photo of Harrison8
Reviewed by Harrison8 from Missouri

4.1/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a lighty turbid, foggy orange with a finger of white foam that retains well. Aroma is smoky oak, with toasty, nutty malts behind. It has a very distinct campfire-like smell. Flavor profile is smoky, but less so than the aroma. Smoke is heavy at the start and then receeds and shows off wheat and toasty, nutty, earthy malts behind. Mouth feel is rather still, only forming a light crisp edge at the finish. It has a medium thickness. Overall, big smoky notes, particularly in the aroma, give this beer its identity. It drinks a little robust than the 4% ABV would suggest.

Served in a 12oz snifter from a 33cl bottle.
Nov 25, 2018
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

3.81/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dark, golden yellow body with a thick, creamy, white head; rings of lacing along the glass. Mild smokiness to the smell, intermingling with a rich, toasted cereal grain essence. Fine, smoked grain flavor with a mild fruity quality to balance things; low-key bitterness. Medium bodied; creamy; semi-dry finish.

This beer makes for a fine change of pace from most common, every day beer offerings we all drink. It delivers a fine wheat creaminess with a gentle smokey quality to add distinction and complexity.
Feb 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4.1 by jeschaefer from Texas

Oct 03, 2017
Photo of The_Kriek_Freak
Reviewed by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

4.02/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
It pours dark amber with a small head. The aroma is reminiscent of fatty smoked meat (pork in particular). The flavor is fairly mild but it's primarily characterized by the smokiness and sweetness of the wheat malt. Easy to drink despite the smoky character. Medium body with little carbonation.
Aug 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.7 by Duff27 from Illinois

Apr 14, 2017
Photo of puboflyons
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire

3.03/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
From the 11.2 fl. oz. bottle. Sampled on June 4, 2016.

Cloudy looking bronze colored pour with virtually no head to speak of. Little carbonation.

The aroma has a smoky and butterscotch ester to it. Low to no hop profile.

Light body. Actually more of a thin body.

The taste echoes the aroma with its butterscotch and smoked malt note. Finishes clean and somewhat crisp. Nothing extraordinary.
Jun 04, 2016
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
33cl brown glass bottle from Plan B in Rotterdam. 4% ABV. Served cold into a pilsner glass.

A: Pours a ~1.5cm white cap with a nice consistency. Off-white in colour. ~3-4 minute retention. Leaves mild lacing as it recedes.

Body colour is a murky copper-brown of poor vibrance. No yeast can be seen within.

Average look for a gratzer. Seems unfiltered.

Sm: Lovely smokiness, oak, wheat, very mild/minimally present floral hops. Subtle nuanced smokiness is prominent, but this seems really balanced, and I find none of the harshness/acridity of smoke.

Suggests a really refreshing, balanced, tasty gratzer. Aromatic intensity is average for the style.

The oak and the smoke are wonderful.

T: Beautifully balanced, with subtle smokiness present throughout, rich oak bursting on the palate, and refreshing wheat evening everything out. Hop presence is minimal (to style), and I find no overt yeast character, booze, or off-notes. Great build for a gratzer, though I can imagine it far better...especially in terms of depth of flavour and intricacy. It's a simplistic brew, but a very enjoyable one. The one-two punch of oak and smoke is remarkable.

Mf: Refreshing (and how often is that said of a smoked beer?), smooth, wet, light to medium-bodied, near perfectly carbonated. A biteen twangy, actually.

Not oily, gushed, harsh, astringent, boozy, or scratchy.

Complements the taste nicely.

O: A really likable gratzer. The kind of beer I'd love to buy regularly in six packs - if only that were possible at a fair price. Okay, it's not the best brew in the style, but the oak presence is wonderful and its balance alone makes it well worth trying. Highly drinkable, especially for a smoked beer. A must-try in this near-dead style, especially when in The Netherlands.

High B- (3.5) / WORTHY
Apr 03, 2016
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.67/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle. Poured out a dark brown color with a small tan, bubbly head of foam. It smelled very smoky, like a campfire. It was smoky and roasty with come caramel and molasses.
Feb 05, 2016
Photo of buschbeer
Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio

3.42/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
11.2 FL OZ bottle
Served in a snifter

This beer pours amber with golden highlights. It is capped with an inch of off white head that leaves virtually no lacing.

It smells sweet and smoky.

The taste is almost too sweet. If it wasn't for the smoke coming to rescue my palate I would have a rough time drinking it.

Thin mouthfeel

I was thinking grätzers were supposed to be a little sour. This beer is very sweet. I like smoke beers, but will probably not be purchasing this beer again. I am glad I tried it though. It is a unique taste experience.
Aug 15, 2015
Photo of Greatheil
Reviewed by Greatheil from Rhode Island

4.19/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Subtlety smokey, too subtle for my taste. Spicy wheat, very bready. Would want to drink a few of these if they weren't so expensive. An interesting style that should get more recognition.
Aug 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.88 by Ian_B from Massachusetts

Jul 19, 2015
Photo of tigg924
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Taste is light toasted malt, white bread, grain, and smokiness. Nice light bodied beer that I could session. Both the smokiness and the toasted malt portion of the beer shine. Really like this one.
May 11, 2015
Photo of Ozzylizard
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania

3.62/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
$ 5.79/11.2 oz bottle at Vintage Estates, Boardman, OH
Bottle at 45 degrees into nonic
Aroma weak, slightly fruity, hint of smoke
Head average (4.5 cm, aggressive pour), off white, creamy, slowly diminishing to 4 – 8 mm creamy layer
Lacing OK – some large islands of tiny bubbles
Body – medium yellow, cloudy (sediment)
Flavor odd – slightly sour yet some fruit phenolics; no hops, no alcohol, no diacetyl
Palate light to medium, watery, soft carbonation

Appearance 3.75, Aroma 3.5, Flavor 3.5, Palate 4, Overall 3.75
Apr 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by tykechandler from Kentucky

Mar 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.54 by hooliganlife from Missouri

Feb 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by jzlyo from Iowa

Nov 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Nov 27, 2014
Vereinigte Historische Bierfanatiker Grätzer from Jopen Bier BV Haarlem
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 46 ratings