Introduction to German Beer

@Bitterbill - Filling in the blanks just in case... Pretty Things brewed a bunch of recreations of historical recipes with Ron's input. It wasn't a cask from the 19th century.

 

For anyone interested, I started a separate thread for bottle and can date codes. I posted it in the Beer Talk forum but I'll update everyone here if the mods decide to move it to the Europe forum.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/german-beer-date-codes.658248/

 

...and ends after 100 beers in one week...

 

You gotta love some of these beer shop workers...saw Weihenstepher Dark hefe show up at a place know for old beer on their shelves.....Dude said it just came in...looking at the dates it looked 5 years old based on my memory on how to decipher their code...I did not have my secret German Beer decoder ring on me....talked to the dude who helped me buy a rum the other day and seemed to know his shit on high end rums (My first dabble)...anyhow he went on to tell me that German beers hold up better because they are darker and higher alcohol....I said "Maybe in some cases but this is not one of them"...I told him I don't care....I'll plunk the $4 down for the bottle and if it is bad no worries but he might want to talk to his distributor....I get the impression that is not going to happen...Later I figured out the code and it was only a year old....drinkable...tough to find it fresh of course but I was a bit worried with my initial read of five years old...I won't buy any more but it was ok..

 

Unlike others, I would not suggest a Hefeweizen. The cloves and bananas could be off putting to the untrained palate. Shrugs.

 

Where do you start? I would with a Helles or a Munich Lager. These beers are around from Weihenstephen, Tucher, Hacker-Pschorr and Paulander. I would then try the Unfiltered Lagers/Zwickl beers. Then go to the Hefeweizens and Pilsners. There's so much to choose from. You can't go wrong with any good German beer!

 

Oh, wait...

 

Coincidence that this thread was rejuvenated, I'm having a Dovetail Lager (Helles?) right now at a small pub near me.

Maybe served a little cold, but quite the nice light lager.

Somewhat grainy and nutty, but has a nice herbal hop balance and very clean and refreshing.

 

Start with doppelbocks, they're the best.

 

Wow! A Schneider that's not a Weissbier! I love Schneider weiss! My favorite weissbier. It's crazy how many german breweries have a large portfolio in Europe, but only export some of it to the US. I've been to some large breweries in Germany, and some smaller ones. I just heard from the importer/distributor in my area that Tucher is pulling out of the US. Which really sucks! They make a good weizen and helles.

 

It may have already been mentioned, but I would highly recommend the Weihenstephaner Helles, now available in 4 packs of cans. To me, this is a perfectly made beer, pours crystal clear, is sessionable at just under 5%, and most importantly tastes so fresh and clean.

 

Be aware that there are 2 Helles beers from Weihenstephaner these days -- I don't believe the "Original" is available in cans.

There's been discussion over whether the new Helles doesn't stand up to the Original, and I haven't tried the new one yet, but I can't imagine it isn't a good drinker being from Weihenstephaner.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/weihenstephan-cans.653646/

 

That’s true, and I had briefly checked out that thread. I’ll just say that these cans are tasting so nice and fresh that it probably wouldn’t sway me either way. I have drank a fair amount of the Original over the years, and while I feel like they taste quite similar, I wouldn’t be surprised either way if they were different brews, or otherwise the same thing. I may do a side by side at some point for fun though! Cheers!

 

I think @AlcahueteJ did that within that thread, but multiple perspectives are always welcome.

I just wish I could find that new Helles somewhere.

 

Yup, definitely different beers. And by “definitely” I mean they are, not my opinion.

One is 5.1% the other is 4.8%, but beyond that, they tweaked the recipe.

https://www.brewbound.com/news/weihenstephan-to-release-cans-in-2021/

“Weihenstephaner Helles was first introduced in May 2020 to Germany after a full year of preparation to fine tune the recipe for release. Winning Gold at the European Beer Star awards in Fall 2020, Weihenstephaner Helles is a 4.8% ABV Session Helles Lager that is an easy drinker with full flavor. Brewed with Bavarian malting barley and aroma hops from the Hallertau. A crowd pleaser with a light body and clean crisp finish, that will make you want to crush another.”

Yup that I did! @zid did an even more thorough blind tasting than me as well.

Both our side by sides are in this thread.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/whats-the-difference-share-your-side-by-side.653775/

 

Any chance you can narrow that down? Maybe a post number to help navigate 9 pages?