Bayernbiere Bought and Drunk

Bayernbiere bought, sipped and spilled...

Got 3 tasty sips befored I spilled it.. all of it.. and I only had this one bottle.

SIGH

 

You know, this was never my favorite Dunkel. I am sorry you spilled it, though. My advice is to drown your sorrows in a Schwarzviertler Dunkel from Faust.

 

No photos of the spill? I bet if anyone could make a spill look beautiful, it would be you.

 

Continuing the Ayinger posts, here's the Maibock, which is keg-only around these parts. Much joy was had upon finding it.

Tons of sweet, almost cake-like malt in the nose, with fruity esters popping up too (I thought it more citrusy, or like lemon merengue; the wife said berries). On the palate, it's rich, filling, sweet, and maybe just a touch of booze/sourness on the finish. Really tasty stuff. This is the first paler sort of maibock I've had (though I, admittedly, haven't had many.) Not sure if I prefer it this way or the slightly bronzer version, which seems, when done right, to have a bit more of a toasty note. Either way, again, this was mighty fine.



The wife went with a Hofbrau Dunkel. Every time I have a good dunkel-anything -- weizen or lager -- I'm so impressed at the coffee/chocolate notes that are coaxed out. Light, easy to drink, but with a great satisfying coffee/cocoa finish. A good night indeed.

 

Great description, spot-on for how I felt. I had my second Ayinger Maibock on draft this past weekend. Love that beer. Try a Troegs Cultivator, another pale bock, if you get the chance. I had to glance up at the menu again to remind myself I had ordered the Ayinger, because it reminded me of the Cultivator (which had just kicked, and I had initially ordered). Also because this second draft tasted a bit hoppier than the one from the previous week.

 

This is the part I'm still learning to perceive in German beer in general. When you're weened on American IPAs, the palate gets acclimatized to a certain level/taste/perception of hopping. The noble hop aroma/flavor is just, frankly, harder for me to pick up, at least for now, such that, for example, the Ayinger Maibock didn't seem to have much hop contribution at all. Will have to see if I can sneak back over to the bar that has it to give it another go

 

Think spicer, herbal, and sometimes earthy. None of that fruity, citrus crap thrown in.
Truth told, Saaz can sometimes come off slightly citrusy. The trouble with learning about Noble Hops is that few brewers overload their beer with them. Some of the new IPLs are hopped higher with noble hops and their variants -- maybe you need to wean down from AIPAs to IPLs then to straightforward German-styles.
(just kidding -- you'll get it down soon enough, I'm sure)

 

You could always just get a hold of some Sam Adams. Jim Koch loves Noble hops. A fresh Boston Lager should do the trick (it's not overloaded, but a fresh Boston Lager is still quite hoppy).

 

Only reason I wouldn't suggest that is the BBC house yeast is so distinctive that it seems to get in the way. Good, fresh Pilsners are a good way to go too.

 

Ugh, if I have to start with IPLs, I may swear off the exercise completely -- that's a style I just have the hardest time getting into. Heavy handed hops + uber clean lager yeast = screechily harsh beer, more often that not, IMO.

Fresh pilsners (hell, even, er, Helles), though, count me in. TBH, thinking of a Helles I enjoyed recently, Ninkasi's Lux, I wouldn't be surprised if it was, for the style, a touch hoppy. This is the hop bill (GR Hallertau Herkules, GR Hallertauer Mittelfrueh, US Hallertau), which looks all noble, and I recall being able to perceive it there.

Regardless, your recommendation of the fresh stuff seems spot on.

 

I'm not sure exactly what hops they use, but I imagine a nice, fresh Weihenstephan Pils would work. Their beers tend to hold up with age better than most imports as well. If you can find some even a few months after bottling that would be great. Even better if you can find it on tap. One of the most crisp, bitter/spicy pilsners I've ever had was a Weihenstephan Pils on draft. Also one of the best, as the breadiness/sweetness of the pils malt was screaming from the nose and then the middle of the beer (the beginning and finish was quite bitter/spicy from the hops....the hops really lingered on the tongue too).

 

According to the Weihenstephan importer (Total Beverage Solutions) the hops used to make Weihenstephan Pilsner is Hallertauer Taurus, Hallertauer Perle, Hallertauer Tradition.

I would guess that Perle is used for bittering and the flavor/aroma hops are Hallertauer Taurus and Hallertauer Tradition

“Weihenstephan Pilsner

Slightly bitter, mild, with a fragrance of hops – our Pilsner is a cut above the ordinary. A beer with character.

Tasting Notes: Remarkable bitterness, hoppy, harmonic, so refreshing. Prost!

Appearance: Golden

Style: Pilsner

Malt: Light Barley

Hops: Hallertauer Taurus, Hallertauer Perle, Hallertauer Tradition

Yeast: Bottom-Fermenting

ABV: 5.1%

Pairings: Solid food, roast, poultry & game.

Availability: 4/6/11.2oz & 50 Liter kegs”

http://www.totalbeveragesolution.com/brands/label.php?lID=167&bID=4&type=Beer

Cheers!

 

I posted in New Beer Sunday a side-by-side tasting of Troegs Cultivator (Helles Bock) and Stoudt Maibock. The Stoudt Maibock was darker in color (amber colored) and it had what I described as a “bit fuller malt backbone.” I am guessing from the color and flavor that the Stoudt Maibock utilized more Munich Malt in the grain bill.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-528.277004/#post-3501187

Cheers!

 

Picked up two more Andechs Dopplebocks today, still date code #3004. Perhaps I am the only person in the tri-county area who enjoys this beer. Perhaps I am the only dummy in the tri-county area willing to pay $4.00 per 500 ml bottle (no dummies have gone for the $5.00+ Uerige Sticke 330 mls, sitting on the shelves for a long time now). Either way I may have difficulty waiting until Friday for Andechs #1. Last week I passed on the Andechs in favor of a local IPA, so it is kind of calling to me.

 

Twenty years ago today, 25,000 Germans took to the streets to protest for their right to keep the Biergartens open until 11 pm. Prost to these keepers of the flame! http://www.infranken.de/ueberregion...en-fuer-Recht-auf-spaetes-Bier;art179,1045910

 

These are my latest purchases, picked them up at a beer festival in the UK while working on the bar.

 

Where was the festival?

 

It was the CAMRA Reading Beer Festival.

 

And it's usually $2 a six cheaper than Paulaner or Franziskaner around here...

Anyone have a trip report on Maisel in Bayreuth?

 

Just got a case of these delivered fresh from bamberg, great stuff, a good solid helles with a nice amount of bitterness in the finish and that little hint of smoke, great price aswell to have it delivered here in the uk