Nürnberger Rotbier
Hausbrauerei Altstadthof

Another top tier beer by which others of the style are evaluated against. Slightly sweet, slightly carbonated, rich in taste more akin to the true Irish reds in contrast to the common USA reds/ambers. Pours a good head. When visiting altstadthaus the choice between maibock and rotbier is very difficult.

 

On tap at the brewery. Pours dark red with off white head. Body is medium and crisp. Taste is of herbal hops and caramel malt. Very astringent. I did not enjoy the brew.

Easy to snag a 1 liter bottle for a good price late on a weekend evening to drink it with tons of people in the platz along the Altstadt walls and live music all around in the summertime. What a vibe. This is richer and maltier than other Rotbiers I’ve had today. It’s sweet and a bit chocolatey, so much so that I’m getting light tootsie roll. Very unique, very Nürnberg.

 

 

First time in Nuremberg and this was my favorite Bier during my stay.
I love Altbiers. I like Vienna Lagers. American red ales can be very good, but often are too caramelly or citrusy, or high enough in alcohol that more than a couple brings a morning headache. For me, this beer catches all the things I love about these styles without the pieces I don't like.
Served at the bar in a basic glass mug which initially seems like an odd choice considering Germans' love of glass styles.
It really is red, not like many American red ales.
Smell is malty and mild. A little earthiness from the hops.
The taste is so balanced. Not too malty or sweet, just enough bitterness. Easy to drink a lot of these. Your German improves the more you have.
I didn't get a chance to try the city's other rotbiers; they seem to take a little extra effort to find. If you're staying in the altstadt the Hausbrauerei only serves their beers there and they're all good. Take some with you in a 1 liter flip-top growler.

 

Draft served in a slim 0.4l mug.

Dark copper, a little haze, fluffy tan head.

Dark caramel sweetness, candied and dried fruit, slight metallic whiff, and some leafy hops.

Deep maltiness balanced beautifully by metallic bitterness. Rich brown sugar and dried fruit tied intimately with gritty, earthy grain.

To me it’s soft and creamy with little carbonation, especially for a German beer.

Surprisingly good! Is this an Alt or red lager or what? Kind of like Zoigl, this beer seems to straddle styles. Either way it’s good.

 

Hausbrauerei Altstadthof "Nürnberger Rotbier"
,2l vom fass / 2,20€ at the brewery on 25.09.2017

Look: Clear deep copper colored body with a reddish sheen and orange highlights beneath a rocky head of white - I can see where the name came from. Average head retention and OK lacing.

Smell: Grainy, sweetish, and caramelish malt with just a touch of fruitiness and mild, dried grassiness.

Taste: As the aroma suggests, the grainy, sweetish, and caramelish malt continues with a light touch of toastiness, a light hint of fruitiness, and some additional lightly herbal hops. A median bitterness balances it nicely, and the grainy caramelish malt and lightly herbal hops linger shortly in the mainly dry finish.

Feel: Medium bodied and smooth with a limited carbonation that explains the head retention a bit. It's a fair trade-off though as the soft, creamy, seemingly natural carbonation adds to its malty character.

Overall: Very nicely done. Quite charming, and massively drinkable.

 

I only wish I could buy it in the U.S.

 

so this is what a true Vienna lager tastes like....

Fruity and a hint of sourness Feels airy to the pallet

Review based on the BJCP2008 guidelines (style 3A). Draft @ Hausbrauerei Altstadthof. AROMA: sweet malt aroma with some fruity notes. no hop aromas. some straw notes present. APPEARANCE: reddish amber color and clear. creamy white head with good retention. TASTE: sweet malt flavour with some faint notes of caramel and roasted cereal. some straw flavour. medium bitterness that lingers into a semi-sweet finish. PALATE: medium-low body with some creaminess. medium-low carbonation. OVERALL: altough not very much complex on the aromas and flavours, still a decente RotBier.