German Beer Appreciation 2025

I will head up there this week and check at the Brewery in Ettal. But my bottle says made in Ettal.

 

Cracked open another of the Germans I bought yesterday:

I love it. It's not in the same class of my favorite pils, but it's still very full of classic flavors, especially the slightly greenish/black pepper hop bite that never grows too bitter or earthy. This one was canned Nov. 22 last year, so I'm guessing those hops have tamed a bit. I'd love to find a fresher version, something closer to 3 months old or younger. Still, a good beer.

Cheers!

 

I love the confidence of the brewery: They put Feb. 22, 2026 as the best-by date. It's not being arrogant if it's true, right?

 

There are a few German breweries with 18 month "shelf lives."

 

Tucher is a good brewery. I've been happy with everything I've had from them. The Helles Lager is very good. Haven't seen the Pils yet, but if I ever do, it's an instagrab.

 

It's just anecdotal evidence and one beer drinker's opinion, but I've noticed Bitburger doesn't begin falling off until it's at least a year old. Anything under 12 months old has always been great.

With that said, when I'm on the hunt for my favorite pils, I look for the freshest available between Bitburger, Konig and my two favorite Texans: Real Ale Hans' Pils and Live Oak Pilz. Between the four, freshest wins, and I usually can find one of the four younger than six months. I'm not a freshness *****, but I also think the good green/black pepper hop flavors pop best when they're fresh.

 

I think I've already seen at least one comparison in these forums between the Hofbrau Original and the new Hofbrau Helles . Well, here's another.

The Original is 5.1% abv (Best-by 12/12/25), and the Helles is 4.9% abv (Best-by 01/17/26). And that's the biggest difference. Okay, the Original likely has a bit more malt in it to explain that tiny extra abv, and that malt produces a slight more flavor and aroma. But I think the same flavor and aroma is what I experienced in the Helles, just a little lighter. So all things equal, and I've always liked my beverages to have plenty of flavor, therefore I like the Original better. I also like 500 ml in one sitting compared to 330 ml, so at essentially the same price, I'll pick up whichever is the freshest on the shelf.

 

I said above that these two beers are essentially the same price in my store ($1 difference, however, I forget which way), but I should add that the Helles is in a 4-pack and the Original is a 6-pack. So what if I have to make a run to the store 33% more often if I buy the Helles.

 

$3 difference here -- Original over the new Helles, for just about the same quantity. Cans holding slightly more.

I still haven't tried the new Helles, hopefully on Memorial Day.

 

Jumping in on the thread @ATL6245.
Enjoyed a nice Rotbier from Tucher earlier. Recent beer gas station find and born in March 2024 (yikes); best by 6-1-25. The hopping brings a beautiful pear and apple flavor i totally dig along with a nice bready malt base. Would love to find some of this again and it was a nice price at $2.29.

And finishing up the last of my Radeberger Pilsner sixer. Very inexpensive and hits everything i am looking for in a German Pils.
Cheers!
Tom

 

I took my motorbike and drove up to the monistary and had a nice talk with the Brewmaster Father Johannes Bauer. Here is basiclly what he told me. Due to the high demand for its Benedictine wheat beer, the Ettal monastery brewery was no longer able to produce the required quantity. For this reason, a cooperation was entered into with the Licher private brewery in 2011 in order to increase production capacity. The Benediktiner wheat beer is now brewed in the Licher private brewery according to the original recipe of the Ettal monastery brewery, while some of the wheat beer continues to be produced in the monastery itself. Which is why my beer is from here and what you get is not.

 

And the other styles?

 

I only asked him about the Weissbier. Most of them have been listed already export vs German releases. We do need to add a German Weissbier to the Ettal brewery like was done for the other beers.

 

Guess you'll have to go back.

 

Maybe for the next trip take the cooler scooter!?!



Prost!