Hofbrau Winter Spezial / Delicator

As @steveh pointed out, for a good while there imports tended to market their products as simply light or dark. Growing up in the 70s I started out with the same approach: "German beers? I drink both kinds, light and dark." For a few years anyway.

But as the 90s wore on most stores and customers were getting more sophisticated in their approach. So seeing those signs was kind of a throwback for me.

 

FWIW -- I never saw Spaten advertising Optimator as "Double Dark," it was how the bartenders in that neighborhood referred to it -- whether they got that from the distros or import reps, I can't say.

Also: Barbarossa Double Dark Lager -- from my 2011 review:

 

Having that year-old Winter Spezial this afternoon.

Somewhat cloudy, dark brown color with a moussey, light tan head. Aromas of dark molasses, some bread, caramel, earthiness from age and peppery alcohol. Flavor follows the nose with the breadiness being a little more prominent and the alcohol less so. There's a mildly tart, dark fruit character back -- but nothing medicinal. Alcohol gets hot in the aftertaste, but the dark bread crust character balances nicely.

Just a little off from fresh samples, but not undrinkable in any way

 

Do you remember the old Martin Mull commercials about Michelob Dark?

 

Yup!
But for some reason Michelob Light was an actual Light Beer.

I guess the overall point is if you think that "Dark" beer is a style, then "Double Dark" kind of makes sense .

 

I suppose you can double anything!?!

 

Immediately after Repeal, that was the case with the domestic lager brewers, as well (notably, below, in the NYC metro area). Of course, most brewers dropped their "dark" beers over the next few decades, with a few keeping them as specialty draught-only products.

June 1933 ad - so before full Repeal in Dec. (I don't know, I guess they didn't have to pay per letter/digit in that ad? Man, talk about redundancy...)

As for imported German "Dark" Beer in the 1960s, this Lowenbrau ad is pretty surprising (Damn. "Double Dark" it sure ain't):

 

Pabst even tried out a less-filling "Lighter Dark Beer" (1979), using the same slogan as the Mull Michelob ad.

 

Include Guinness Extra Stout and you'd have Light Dark, Regular Dark and Super Dark .

 

Here's an advertising picture I came across that looks like it's from the same time period at least. This looks more like what one expects colorwise (without a backlight).

 

Interesting -- English tagline, but printed in Germany... and not West Germany.

 

Yeah, I think the backlighting was definitely on purpose to not scare away some drinkers - just surprising that the ad agency/importer thought that was the way to sell the beer.

Also, US labels - "Imported by Hans Holterbosch, Inc", which had the contract for the eastern US, before Miller took it over.

 

Got an estimated year?

 

That's one American beer that I regret not ever having the chance to try.

 

For what? Miller's deal for (initially) the importation rights was announced in 1974 but they didn't get the east coast region until 1975, after winning a lawsuit instituted by Holterbosch. There seems to have been at least two other US importers, one in Chicago (in the 50s, it was Premium Beer Sales, according to ads) and a west coast subsidiary of the German brewery, Lowenbrau International.

The ads I'd guess are from the '60s-mid-'70s, based on label design.

 

Just the year of that ad -- which you covered.

 

Mirabell? If still open post COVID, they switched over to Italian. Laschet's Inn is the only one I try to hit these days. Nice story

I rarely see any Michelob beyond Ultra these days, but their regular and a few of their offshoots have been good beers.

 

Around 1980 Prior Double Dark was what was served at McSorley's as "Dark". I got that information from a friend who was a waiter there. At that time and till today the stated story has been "we have our own ale, light and dark". By 85 or so the dark served there became much lighter in color and body. I would love to see a history of what exactly has been served there.
Back on topic, I'm drinking my last Delicator now. I doubt that there will be any left when I go on my next beer run. Just have to wait for next winter.

 

Hofbräu Delicator was among the first brands sold when strong beer (maximum 4.5% abw) was allowed for sale in Sweden through government liquor stores in October, 1955 (looks like it's the bottle furthest to the right in the German grouping in the picture above). Below is a price list published in a newspaper the day of the first selling day. "HB Delicator ditto ditto dark (35,5 cl)" The ditto refering to the Staatliche Hofbräuhaus. It was the third most expensive beer apart from Bass Pale Ale and Worthington's India Pale Ale.

Below is a tasting protocol from July 25th 1955 ahead of the launch in October. Of H.B Delicator it says "Fullbodied, strong, well balanced."

The question I guess it what the abv and original gravity was for the Swedish import visavi the German original, whether they were one and the same or different somehow. I haven't come across any numbers for German starkbier from the 1950s as of yet.

 

I just posted the below in the Holiday Beer online tasting thread:

How about a Spezial beer!

As in today’s beer: Hofbräu Winter Spezial.

Well, winter begins in a few days so why not have a Spezial beer now!?!

I went to the Hofbräu brewery website (https://www.hofbraeu-muenchen.de/en/beer) but for some reason there is no mention of the beer. Is it a ‘secret’ beer?

From BA:

“Notes: 2012 Version was a Helles Bock

2015+ Version is a Doppelbock”

Well, that is at least something I suppose.

Let’s see how well Hofbräu brews a Doppelbock.

Served in my Spiegelau Lager glass:

Appearance:

Pours a mahogany brown color with a BIG khaki colored head.

Aroma:

A variety of aromas: molasses, caramel, toffee,…

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with aspects as detailed above but in the background even a hint of dark dried fruits (raisin, figs). There is low bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Thin – medium bodied. There is a moderate carbonation level with a sweet-ish finish.

Overall:

This beer is quite good. It is on the hairy edge of being too sweet for my personal palate.

Cheers!