zum Sternla (Bamberg) to release first beer...

Discussion in 'Germany' started by FrankenBier, Sep 4, 2019.

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  1. FrankenBier

    FrankenBier Zealot (645) Feb 4, 2003 California

    On September 14.

    Depending on how you count that brings Bamberg up to 13 breweries -- the eight remaining traditional breweries + Ambräusianum, Weyermann, Kron Prinz, Hopfengarten and now Sternla.

    I'm back in Bamberg Oct 16 and I can't wait to try it.
     
    #1 FrankenBier, Sep 4, 2019
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  2. spartan1979

    spartan1979 Pundit (970) Dec 29, 2005 Missouri

    How are the beers from Kron Prinz and Hopfengarten?
     
    #2 spartan1979, Sep 4, 2019
  3. FrankenBier

    FrankenBier Zealot (645) Feb 4, 2003 California

    A tough one. I haven't been to Kron Prinz is a few years -- my reaction was they were good beers for a German brewpub (a low bar) and fairly "American" in the styles, IPAs, Bourbon Barrel Dobblebock, etc. The one that stood out for me was a stout that had a real nice roasty-burnt note to it -- don't know if it had any smoke malt in it but it wouldn't have surprised me.

    Hopfengarten is --- different. They basically brew a basic Helles (they used to buy it from Keesmann) and then dry "hop" with various botanicals that they grow. One was with cucumber that my brother really liked as he likes cucumber water. It was definitely beer but with a pleasant note of cucumber. The same with the mint one. They were out of their tomato one (they claim to grow 200+ varieties of tomatoes there) that some of my Stockholm friends raved about (these are serious Franconia beer fans). The beers are really hard to describe -- I wouldn't call them "flavored" beers it was more subtle than that. For example, the raspberry one had a nice berry nose and flavor but was not pink in any way. The only one I had that I didn't like was the lemon one -- it was more lemon oil than lemon and it reminded me too much of Lemon Pledge. But somebody without that association might not have that reaction.

    The downside is they really don't have a tap room/gastätte -- you have to hope somebody is there to sell you some bottles. They have a space for a tap room but I guess they not have the resources to man with regular hours yet.
     
    #3 FrankenBier, Sep 4, 2019
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  4. spartan1979

    spartan1979 Pundit (970) Dec 29, 2005 Missouri

    Now I remember your visit to Hopfengarten from your blog. I was thinking that I was glad you went there so I wouldn't have to!
     
    #4 spartan1979, Sep 5, 2019
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  5. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,647) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    Hopfengarten is in the greenhouse/garten operation of a family that propagates seeds for heirloom tomatoes in Germany.

    The brewery is slightly bigger than my Homebrew set up, maybe 50-60 liters per batch. This is the son's doing. Some friends follow some signs there for a Craft Bier Festival (something like that) a few years back, and talked to the son-brewer. We liked our nose in there last year.

    They also grow some hops, but that looked like a small part of the operation. They mostly English and American varieties growing, one hill of each.
     
    #5 hopfenunmaltz, Sep 6, 2019
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  6. Domingo

    Domingo Grand Pooh-Bah (4,252) Apr 23, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    My wife and I visited the Kronprinz in 2017 and a few weeks ago. Thematically they haven't changed, but I feel like the beers improved. Previously we tried a coffee porter, a barrel aged stout, and an IPA. The coffee stout tasted like it was made with re-heated gas station coffee. The BA stout was boozy and had an odd vinous note. The IPA tasted like an oxidized Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

    A few weeks ago we got an IPA that was part of a collaboration with an Argentinian brewery called Chamame. It was quite good and would have been right at home in San Diego or Albuquerque. My wife got a SMaSH Amarillo pale ale that didn't taste like we expected, but was also good.

    The weird thing there is that it's designed just like an American brewpub but it isn't run like one. There's a huge bar with seats and stools all around it...yet none of it is being used. You can't sit at the bar, the bartender doesn't take your order, tables are all reserved, etc. Ambrausianum operates far closer to what you'd experience in the US, Belgium, UK, etc.
    The prices were also steep. Not just steep for the area, but steep for literally anywhere.
     
    #6 Domingo, Sep 9, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2019
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  7. Malt_Man

    Malt_Man Initiate (0) Jul 4, 2014 England

    What kind of bier is Zum Sternla producing?
     
    #7 Malt_Man, Sep 9, 2019
  8. FrankenBier

    FrankenBier Zealot (645) Feb 4, 2003 California

    It is rumored they will have a bockbier. Also rumored that they will do collaborations with area breweries. They website says:

    We have a clear idea of how Franconian beers should be brewed and tasted. Let yourself be surprised!
     
    #8 FrankenBier, Sep 10, 2019
  9. Domingo

    Domingo Grand Pooh-Bah (4,252) Apr 23, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    Anyone make any recent trips to Zum Sternla (or Hopfengarten for that matter) with impressions?
     
    #9 Domingo, Dec 16, 2019
  10. FrankenBier

    FrankenBier Zealot (645) Feb 4, 2003 California

    I had their Export in October and it was quite good.Didn't make it to Hopfengarten that trip.
     
    #10 FrankenBier, Dec 21, 2019
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  11. WhatANicePub

    WhatANicePub Zealot (712) Jul 1, 2009 Scotland

    I've had the Sternla beer. It is on a par with most German brewpubs, i.e. mediocre by Bamberg standards. It is a lovely pub though and judging how busy the breweries usually are, Bamberg needs more historic taverns beginning to brew again.
     
    #11 WhatANicePub, Feb 20, 2020
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