Alt Fränkisches Lagerbier
Adler Bräu Stettfeld

 

 

Two bottles purchased from Kaufmanns in Bamberg.

.5L bottle served in tall beer mug.

A- Deep Gold, two finger head, some retention, patches of lace.

S- Toasted malts, slightly herbal and some sweetness.

T- Toasted malts, honey and herbal tones. Mellows to a pleasant bitterness.

M- Medium bodied mild carbonation.

D- This beer is exactly what sets Bamberg beers apart. Delicious and with exceptional drinkability.

Label just says Adler Bräu, but it does have a black bird (schwarzer adler) and the town is the same so I think I've got the right brewery. I wasn't totally sure on the style either, but I did a little deductive reasoning, which is hopefully correct. Alt Fränkisches Lagerbier = Old Franconian Lagerbier, and since Keller Bier/Zwickel Bier seams to be the local specialty I went with it. The taste seams to fit as well.

Ok, on to the liquid. Short, active, off-white head fades briskly to a film leaving small islands of lace. Grainy malts and hope tea in the aroma. Golden amber colored beer holds a few streams of tiny bubbles. Solid hop tea flavor along with a nice bite, and some caramel malt. All together it provides for a tasty beer. Bitterness keeps the malty sweetness in check all though the malts do manage to pop ahead once or twice before being subdued by a combination of bitterness and a good dose of carbonation in the finish. Mouthfeel is lightly astringent and faintly slick at the same time until the strong fizzy carbonation clears everything out in the end. There is a lot going on for what at first appeared to be a simple brew. I think I'm falling for this one....