Zwickl
Hofbräuhaus Traunstein Josef Sailer KG
- From:
- Hofbräuhaus Traunstein Josef Sailer KG
- Germany
- Style:
- Kellerbier / Zwickelbier
Ranked #70 - ABV:
- 5.3%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #20,054 - Avg:
- 3.94 | pDev: 7.36%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 7
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 26, 2026
- Added:
- Apr 18, 2023
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
Naturally cloudy pale lager, straight from the cool depths of our storage cellar. A perfect combination of fresh, zesty malt and a hop bouquet. Beer lovers with refined taste buds will particularly enjoy Hofbräuhaus Traunstein’s legendary 1612 Zwickl beer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts
4.16/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 500 ml brown bottle. Dated 04/09/25 into the test glass.
A - Lovely golden color, a kiss of haze, beautiful carbonation parade never ends. Slow and determined. A thin white cap pops in for a visit. Lacing is in abstract form.
S - Biscuity malts, lemongrass, cut floral element from the hops. With some time a pithy citrus thread runs through
T - Fresh bread, lemon verbena, a bit of citrus again.
M - Medium in body, smooth in texture, not crisp, not slick. Gentle carbonation keeps it more full feeling.
Finish is quick, linger leans into the malt elements
O - A treat to have, nothing offputting, slightly round on the palate. excellent aromatics and flavor
I will be looking for more.
Feb 15, 2026A - Lovely golden color, a kiss of haze, beautiful carbonation parade never ends. Slow and determined. A thin white cap pops in for a visit. Lacing is in abstract form.
S - Biscuity malts, lemongrass, cut floral element from the hops. With some time a pithy citrus thread runs through
T - Fresh bread, lemon verbena, a bit of citrus again.
M - Medium in body, smooth in texture, not crisp, not slick. Gentle carbonation keeps it more full feeling.
Finish is quick, linger leans into the malt elements
O - A treat to have, nothing offputting, slightly round on the palate. excellent aromatics and flavor
I will be looking for more.
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
3.92/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
500ml brown bottle. Label has a stamp for 'Best before: 04.09.25 L130429'.
Cloudy, straw colored body. Thick one finger of white colored head, and this becomes a full cap. Leaves behind thin webs of lacing.
Aroma of toasted malts and citrus/floral hops.
Taste is sweet fruit with a base of toasted malts. Fruit flavor is citrus, apple, and berry. Certainly has a wheat tanginess. Aftertaste tails off rather quickly.
Medium mouthfeel. Low bitterness. Some fruit sourness. Very good carbonation.
Fits for style, with good yeast and hops expression.
Oct 10, 2025Cloudy, straw colored body. Thick one finger of white colored head, and this becomes a full cap. Leaves behind thin webs of lacing.
Aroma of toasted malts and citrus/floral hops.
Taste is sweet fruit with a base of toasted malts. Fruit flavor is citrus, apple, and berry. Certainly has a wheat tanginess. Aftertaste tails off rather quickly.
Medium mouthfeel. Low bitterness. Some fruit sourness. Very good carbonation.
Fits for style, with good yeast and hops expression.
Reviewed by IrishPole from Ireland
3.32/5 rDev -15.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.32/5 rDev -15.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Hofbräuhaus Traunstein Zwickl
Draft at my local beer house (oktoberfest 2025)
Appearance: Pours a pale golden body with a modest finger of white foam. Head dissipates quickly, leaving only a thin layer. Slight natural haze in the glass.
Aroma: Subtle and restrained. Light notes of soft wheat, mostly light allowing sweetish malt to shine, with a faint suggestion of banana ester. Very mild overall.
Taste: Light and smooth. Hints of wheat, good malt backbone and a touch of citrusy hop character. Finishes with a gentle, lingering bitterness that keeps it from feeling too thin. Slightly thin overall especially nearing end, might just be me though.
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation. Refreshing and easy drinking. Could have this after a long run on a summer's evening.
Overall: A straightforward, clean Zwickl. Balanced and refreshing, though somewhat subdued and not especially memorable. Does what the style is meant to do provide a fresh, smooth, drinkable pint but not one I’d go out of my way to revisit. I was going to rate this lower but it really does what this style of beer is meant to do and style should be respected. Not every beer is meant to be a flavour bomb. Overall, OK beer.
Sep 30, 2025Draft at my local beer house (oktoberfest 2025)
Appearance: Pours a pale golden body with a modest finger of white foam. Head dissipates quickly, leaving only a thin layer. Slight natural haze in the glass.
Aroma: Subtle and restrained. Light notes of soft wheat, mostly light allowing sweetish malt to shine, with a faint suggestion of banana ester. Very mild overall.
Taste: Light and smooth. Hints of wheat, good malt backbone and a touch of citrusy hop character. Finishes with a gentle, lingering bitterness that keeps it from feeling too thin. Slightly thin overall especially nearing end, might just be me though.
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation. Refreshing and easy drinking. Could have this after a long run on a summer's evening.
Overall: A straightforward, clean Zwickl. Balanced and refreshing, though somewhat subdued and not especially memorable. Does what the style is meant to do provide a fresh, smooth, drinkable pint but not one I’d go out of my way to revisit. I was going to rate this lower but it really does what this style of beer is meant to do and style should be respected. Not every beer is meant to be a flavour bomb. Overall, OK beer.
Reviewed by Caoimhin from Pennsylvania
4.61/5 rDev +17%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
4.61/5 rDev +17%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Delicious beer with a nice balance of sourness and bitterness. The carbonation is relatively light, and there are lots of little bubbles making for a smooth and creamy mouthfeel.
So far, it is the best German beer I have ever had.
May 07, 2025So far, it is the best German beer I have ever had.
Reviewed by bobv from Vermont
3.92/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
"04 .09 .25 L130743" printed on back label.
Best by 4th of September, 2025, me thinks.
Moderate pour yields a nearly one inch white head over a ever so slightly cloudy, light golden body with some lacing.
Nose of yeast, hay, light toast, and slight pepper.
Taste mirrors nose very closely with a nearly dry, slightly black pepper finish.
Slightly less than medium mouthfeel and carbonation.
Overall, I wouldn't turn down another one and would recommend to anyone wishing to expand their horizons and get into a very unique lager!
Cheers!!
Feb 24, 2025Best by 4th of September, 2025, me thinks.
Moderate pour yields a nearly one inch white head over a ever so slightly cloudy, light golden body with some lacing.
Nose of yeast, hay, light toast, and slight pepper.
Taste mirrors nose very closely with a nearly dry, slightly black pepper finish.
Slightly less than medium mouthfeel and carbonation.
Overall, I wouldn't turn down another one and would recommend to anyone wishing to expand their horizons and get into a very unique lager!
Cheers!!
Reviewed by Tolianych_Pivomnabuhanych from Vermont
3.79/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.79/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tastes like a fresh-brewed European farmhouse beer. It's unfiltered so lots of secondary flavors.
Looks very pretty with its moderately hazy straw gold color. Nice foam and lacing.
Not bad.
Feb 04, 2025Looks very pretty with its moderately hazy straw gold color. Nice foam and lacing.
Not bad.
Reviewed by AzfromOz from Australia
3.77/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.77/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Drunk fresh at the source at Hofbräuhaus Trauenstein in Trauenstein, Bavaria, in September 2023.
L: Cloudy, pale, muddy yellow. Fluffy white head. A few, large, slow-moving bubbles can be seen in the glass.
S: Yeast. Smells like young beer...
T: Nice floral bitterness. Finishes a bit thin line most Zwickles, but not as thin as some.
M: The mouthfeel is a little thin, as expected, but carbonation is surprisingly high.
O: This was the best of the Zwickles I had on my tour of Germany in 2023.
Cheers!
#405
Dec 23, 2023L: Cloudy, pale, muddy yellow. Fluffy white head. A few, large, slow-moving bubbles can be seen in the glass.
S: Yeast. Smells like young beer...
T: Nice floral bitterness. Finishes a bit thin line most Zwickles, but not as thin as some.
M: The mouthfeel is a little thin, as expected, but carbonation is surprisingly high.
O: This was the best of the Zwickles I had on my tour of Germany in 2023.
Cheers!
#405
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