Märican Biere Bought and Drunk...

That's how I remember the Fezziwig from the one and only time I tried it a few years ago. Just not for my palate.

As to Winter Warmers... always a favorite to me.

 

Never saw that (or fortuitously avoided it ) on my trips to the old country. Bad enough I had to put up with someone who loved Currywurst!

 

I had the Pizzaleberkäse at a little Metzgerei on Theuerstadt in Bamberg and enjoyed it.

 

Ahh -- makes sense. Wasn't a big thing to put ABV on bottles back then.

FWIW -- I saw that the BBC calls the current Winter lager a "wheat bock" on the neck label. Not exactly Weizenbock, but since it has wheat in the grain bill I guess they can take liberties.

 

Having a Lakefront Riverwest Stein beer tonight. One of the first Micros I ever had, from back in the day -- and it's still a terrific beer, though hoppier than I really remember.

As a "stein" beer, it really doesn't follow the German tradition of the title, but the brewery has always been loyal to its German roots and I don't think the Klisch brothers have ever made a bad beer -- they've been a go-to for me for 25 years... damn I'm old.

 

What did everyone drink on Thanksgiving? Any German-themed line-ups?

This year my intended line-up was Jack's Abby Jabby Brau with appetizers, but I was too busy preparing food and didn't have this one until my night cap.

I had an Alesmith Nut Brown for the first time, and I highly recommend this one for brown ale fans. I'll be picking more of this up. Paired perfectly with Thanksgiving dinner.

Spaten Optimator with dessert (I didn't eat dessert, but it was nice and filling on it's own) and this was my first time having this beer as well. Not my favorite Doppelbock ever, but something I'd definitely have again. The sweetness became a touch cloying, I would have preferred the finish be a bit drier. I did dig the silky viscious mouthfeel, and the caramel kept me wanting more (this could be a bad thing if you factor in the 7.6% abv ). I kind of wish I did have some dessert, this would have paired perfectly with that meal.

Jabby Brau as a night cap, this one was ok. I had a good run with this beer, but this one came off almost saison-like with a mild spiciness to it. I couldn't pin down the exact flavor, but I've noticed with Jack's Abby's lower abv beers that if there's a haze to them, I get this flavor and it mutes some of the sweetness of the pils malt. I've noticed this with both Jabby Brau and their German pils, Sunny Ridge. I have yet to see a bottle of Sunny Ridge that has been clear, but I've definitely had Jabby Brau on draft that has been crystal clear. Their house lager (a landbier) was crystal clear in the bottle and had pils malt flavor jumping out of the glass, exceedingly drinkable.

Today I was able to snag a bottle of 2015 Bourbon County Barleywine, and their Bourbon County Coffee Stout. Hopefully I'll have some other variants on draft. I snagged the last bottle of coffee, the Regal Rye was gone, people were in line when the store was opening. Bourbon County Black Friday has become an annual American tradition over here in the states.

 

I picked up a case of Bitburger (exp 7/7/2016) and enjoyed some SN Celebration and SN Nooner. We also had a bit of local wines, just showing I'm an equal-opportunity drinker.

 

Throughout the afternoon on Thanksgiving I had an SN Summerfest (yes, I found a stash just waiting for me -- and it was 60° F here on Thursday), HB Festbier, NG Two Women, Lakefront Riverwest Stein Beer, and SN Celebration with dinner.

As with Einhorn, yesterday (leftovers day) I split a California red blend bottle of wine with my wife for equal opportunity enjoyment.

Looked at a few spots around town for newer German style beers, but only saw Schlafley "White Lager." Appears to be their Zwickel that they're coat-tailing the "white" marketing trend. Haven't picked any up to sample, stay tuned.

 

I had a "Wizard of Aus" Australian Pale Ale from Grebhan's/Stachlinger here in Bremen in collaboration with Hops and Barley in Berlin, maybe? Pretty good. Also had a Black Ink and Blood from Mikkeller, which was okay but a bit much. Might benefit from some more age (though I think we've had it six months to a year now) or perhaps the barrel-aged version would be nicer. Good concept but the edges needed to be filed off, if that makes any sense. Also some Hel & Verdoemenis, which never disappoints.

Hel & Verdoemenis and pumpkin pie go together really well, btw....

 

Tonight I bought what I believe to be the last 12 pack of SN Okto available in my area. Bottled in July, but has a great clarity and thick, creamy head. Noticed a little oxidation and even some diacetyl in the nose; malts seem to have given way to the spicy hops -- which are also somewhat more sharp and adding some astringency to the mouthfeel.

But you know? It's still pretty tasty. The sweet, crackery malts balance well against the hops and even the diacetyl. I've saved a couple bottles from previous purchases to try in the future and may find them less-than optimal then, but right now I'm enjoying what SN has given us.

 

You don't hear this often, "..malts seem to have given way to the spicy hops..." when a beer ages!

I thought about pulling the trigger on a 12 of their Oktoberfest still kicking around my liquor store. It's kind of like when you see discounted 12 packs of Celebration Ale in May. The beer isn't in its prime, but Sierra Nevada beers tend to hold up, and even age somewhat gracefully.

The only other brewery I can think of that does this well consistently in varying styles is Weihenstephan.

 

Yeah, but it's not like the hops are exactly the same as early on either -- hard to describe. I'll be trying more thru the week.

 

Urban Chestnut Zwickel in 16 ounce cans has hit our area. Still no bottling or best-by dates to be found on the packaging, and the cans are .9 ounces less than the bottles... but still have the same price tag.

Trying one now and wish I hadn't had a 312 Pale Ale beforehand, palate is a little tainted, but there's some nice bready malt shining through.

 

My bottles have always said, "Bottled on date on neck", but I never see one.

 

Been trudging my way through an IPA binge -- thx to some beer mail and other stuff that's hit locally lately -- but tried to shift the dial a touch with my latest mix a six, grabbing a couple standby stouts (SN's and Firestone's), some winter warmer style ales (Odell's Isolation and Great Divide's Hibernation), and, relevant to this thread, some "German" stuff in SN's Kellerweiss and Shiner's Birthday Beer 107 - Hoppy Pilsner. Interested/looking forward to giving them a go!

 

I picked up some Trader Joe's Josephs Brau Winterfest last week -- been mentioned in this thread previously, but it's re-labeled Gordon Biersch Winterbock Doppelbock. It's a damn fine rendition of the style at a great price -- and it's interesting to see the BA score differential and reviews between the 2 beers.

If you have a TJ's nearby, I highly recommend this beer for German-style lovers.

 

I think I posted about Shiner Birthday Beer 107 - Hoppy Pilsner a while back. Lo and behold, it popped up at my local grocer (who offers a pretty killer mix-a-six section), so, naturally, I had to grab one.

Honestly, and take this with a grain of salt from someone who's never been to Germany/Pilsn/etc., but this is pretty darn nice stuff. The second picture below gives the background, and I think it's particularly instructive -- a hoppy Pilsner made with extra helpings of, wait for it, Saaz and Hallertau! Imagine that - actually using traditional hops in a hopped up pils. No American C hops. No new wave/tropical New Zealand hops. Just good ol Saaz and Hallertau, and I think they work like a charm, offering some floral/lemony/grassy goodness. The pils malt pops up in the finish nicely. Body felt right on. And it looked mighty pretty in my Goodwill Spiegelau Pils glass

Would be interested to hear what a more well trained palate would have to say, but, at least for me, this was a definite winner.

 

Shiner made a Dortmunder a few years back that was damned good. I'll keep my eyes open for #107.

 

Hmm, 5% abv and only 30 IBUs. I wonder if they dry hopped this one too? I couldn't find any information. Certainly looks good in the glass!