German craft beer

I see what you mean and totally agree with you. I just wanted to pointed out the artificial obstacle of the RHG they are trying to deal with. If you can get those aromas from hops, that's perfect. Brewers elsewhere, say Belgium, would maybe just add a bag of peeled lychees for a while, then take it out again.

 

Yea, didn't mean to implicate you at all...more U.S. "craft" brewers and those who are convinced that "more is better." That attitude is pretty rampant hereabouts these days.

 

Let's call it..
.. good beer?

Not that the "quality" (of used raw materials for example) of Fernsehbier is bad, and most breweries use every opportunity to rub that into someone's face, but to be honest, I think to everyone who cares about beer a good beer is a beer that has a good and distinctive taste. Many people I know who drink Einheitsbiere just drink them because they are available and cheap, but not because they are impressed by the taste of it. That's a starting point for breweries not producing Einheitsbier, isn't it?

 

I don't think they're cheap. A crate of Warsteiner, Bitburger, Krombacher is usually €11-13, Beck's or Erdinger rather around €14-16. You can get high quality German beer for the same price, if not less.

And another point they drink them is of course that they are not aware that there is actually so much to select from. Simply because ordinary stores don't offer such a selection.

 

Next one today. CREW Ale Werkstatt - Pale Ale from Munich. I had this one this afternoon. It was a perfect bitter refreshment with current temperatures of about 28C/82F in our apartment. The heat is killing me, I'm not made for this. Expecting close to 40C/104F this weekend!
Anyway, a nice pale ale, more hops-oriented than the one from Riedenburger yesterday, although this one has less IBUs. Distinct hoppy and somewhat floral smell from the glass already. They also give details about the hops they use for this beer: Herkules, Nelson Sauvin, Chinook, Citra, Cascade.

 

The second one from CREW Ale Werkstatt today, their IPA. Quite dark in color, amber-orange-brown. Extensive smell from the glass. Citrus-like taste, but also reminiscent of peaches and apricots, I even feel reminded of some woodruff. The fruity sweetness is well balanced to the huge and aromatic bitterness. Also, the higher ABV is much more apparent than with their Pale Ale.

 

I'm just having a regular Helles from Schlossbrauerei Au/Hallertau in the heart of the Bavarian hops-growing region. The only thing I've ever noticed that brewery before was finding out that they are brewing the Thai Singha beer for Germany/Europe.
I checked their website and found out they are currently advertising an IPA now too. See here. So, it's obvious, more and more smaller breweries are trying this style and going public with it. It's mostly still hard to find, smaller, local breweries. But I'd say, in (at most) 2-3 years every good Getränkemarkt will have a few German (India) Pale Ales on stock.

 

I, personally, am waiting for Schwindtbrau's IPA to hit the market before I make it a point to search out such wares.... Prost!

 

That would be the Riedenburger Brauhaus who are notorious for asking 25 EUR for a case of beer. I prefer Riemhofer (also in Riedenburg) who make one of the best Märzen available on this Earth.

 

Just to let you know faust(miltenberger usa named) products coming to usa in September 2013, dopplebock, hefe Weiss, dunkel Weiss.

 

Riemhofer Märzen... maybe that could be in my next package of goodies?

I really like Faust Brauerei's beers, but most here know that already. Their Weizens are ok, but I really love their Jahrgangsbier and Schwarzviertler. If those get to the USA, start jumping for joy. Otherwise, it's great to see that smaller, independent brewers 1) are taking the initiative to broaden their name in the USA market, and 2) are willing to risk expanding. Faust's main marketing thrust is to emphasis that their beers are made with local products and made for locals. I think they're capitalizing on the free marketing they got from the article on the Schwarzviertler in Brew Your Own.

 

They replied to my email-inquiry today:
Für den Dolden Sud verwenden wir helles und dunkles Gerstenmalz und Emmermalz. Diese Malze werden speziell für uns hergestellt. Wir verwenden für dieses Bier folgende Hopfensorten Spalter Select, Saphir, Mittelfrüh, Cascade, Cenntenial, Amarillo, Chinook, Pilgrim. Diese wurden auch bei einem Review auf Craftbeer.tv vorgestellt und sind deswegen keine Betriebsgeheimnisse.

So, they are using 3 malts and 8 (!) hops varieties for this one. I don't know much about the different hops types, but I'd guess, this is a mixture of traditional and newer styles.
I don't know which website or video he is referring to. Craftbeer.tv does not exist.

 

Yes - that's quite the list of hops. The first 3 are German, the next 4 are pretty traditional American, and the last one is British...and one I'm completely unfamiliar with.
Sounds really interesting. Is this beer available in normal stores? If so, I'll be in Munich next week and will keep my eyes peeled.

 

Am I the only one seeing that this:

is in complete opposition to this:

If they expand, they aren't local for locals anymore, are they ? They are quite literally sawing off the branch they are sitting on and that will ultimately be their undoing. Sacrificing themselves for a quick buck and a fleeting pat on the back by american thrill seekers. Brilliant marketing there.

 

I think it's quite easy for a company to differentiate intra- & international business strategies & still be equally successful with both. I understand your seeing the irony of both statements, but I don't see how brewing extra capacity to sell abroad is either hurtful to the company or the US consumer. I also fail to see how they'll be sacrificing themselves. It they have the extra capacity, what does it matter if the beer is sold in Hanau, Uganda or the USA as long quality can be maintained. Stahly, that thinking seems quite shortsighted. If they sell an inferior product abroad or the quality in Germany dips due to expansion, then maybe you have a point. However, Faust seems to be a very well run, family owned company that has already shown a willingness to experiment & think outside the box & adapt successfully to the modern marketplace;thus, I have faith in their decisions will be well thought out, planned & hopefully executed. Stop the hatin'.

When I had their brewery tour, the guide mentioned the owners contacts beer-wise in Belgium & USA. If you look at pics of my brewery tour again, you'll notice the Jahrgangsbier is matured in reused Wild Turkey oak casks in their climate controlled 300 year old mountain cellar. You'll also notice the owners wide collection of beer in same cellar of beers from all of the major craft brews from around the world. Both are good signs that expanding export, not production, abroad will be successful and profitable.

 

Another Bavarian IPA today, this time from Schönramer close to the Austrian border near Salzburg.
Brownish red in color, nice smell. At 8.2 %, this is at Doppelbock-standards. You feel that you drink a somewhat stronger beer, but it's not comparable to a Doppelbock. It's moderately sweet, nice fruity-citrus aromas. Followed by extensive, aromatic hops. I like it.

 

And one more: Propeller Nachtflug, an Imperial Stout from Brauerei Bosch in Bad Laasphe, Northrhine-Westphalia (in the eastern hilly region bordering Hesse).
Everything is just pretty intensive (except for the hops, but that's alright for a Stout). Beginning with the smell, followed by a deep bitter-chocolate and coffee aroma, lots of roasted malts. In the end, the moderate bitterness of the Saphir hops.
Nice story on their website: just for fun, they entered this beer in a competition of German Doppelbocks in a German wine magazine. It won and scored three stars. They compare it to a weightlifter winning an Olympic medal in hurdles.

 

Given the scarcity of high end local products the dip in quality is the logical conclusion. I have experienced it with local breweries more than once. Germany isn't Indonesia or Brazil, we can't just burn down another forest and start farming around here.

 

Next up is the Propeller IPA called Aufwind. Nice, orange glowing color. It doesn't smell as intensive as other IPAs. Similar with the taste: it's got that typical (citrus-)fruity and floral aroma, yet a bit unintensive. Everything that's supposed to be there, is there, but just not intense enough - well, except for the hops, which is intense, but with a certain bitterness that reminds me of medicines. Still, a good beer.

 

The last two I tasted during the last days were by Martin Garay who runs a one-man show named Ale Project in Erding. He has a Craft Ale and an IPA which are both sold out on his website, but it was still available at Bierzwerg. He doesn't have an own brewery, but brews in other breweries using his own stuff.

The Pale Ale is a reddish brown, straight-forward beer. Moderate fruity, somewhat sour aroma. The sourness becomes stronger with a nice aroma of the yeast. Nice, dry hop finish. This one was alright.


The IPA was a bit disappointing though. Similar color, but a bit darker. Firm foam and lots of little stuff floating about in the glass. Lots of roasted malts. Strong bitter & sweet taste, reminiscent of a classic Doppelbock. I missed the strong hop finish with this one. With 8.0 % ABV this felt, tasted and went down just like a Doppelbock. And with 26 IBUs only he may have missed the point about an IPA.