Bayernbiere Bought and Drunk

Discussion in 'Germany' started by boddhitree, Dec 15, 2012.

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  1. Gutes_Bier

    Gutes_Bier Maven (1,363) Jul 31, 2011 Germany

    If it's brewed in Munich then I consider it a Munich beer. Spaten is also owned by the same group and is considered one of the "Sechs Echtige" Oktoberfest beers. Löwenbräu, too, actually.
     
    #821 Gutes_Bier, Oct 16, 2013
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  2. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,077) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    You know, I'm thinking they might even use some Sinamar to achieve that color. I don't seem to be tasting any crystal or Carafa malts in there. Can anyone provide some more insight here?
     
    #822 herrburgess, Oct 16, 2013
  3. danfue

    danfue Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2012 Germany

    I know. What are you up to? That's why I wrote "Munich big ones", implying that all of them (except Augustiner) belong to one or other of the global companies.
    I agree with MJ. Of course it's a brewery owned by one of the conglomerates, but still it's brewed in Munich and therefore a Munich beer. "Munich big ones" simply referred to the breweries located in Munich, but distributed nationwide, no matter who they belong to.
     
    #823 danfue, Oct 16, 2013
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  4. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,077) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Alright, I take it back about the crystal malt. Could easily be some Caramunich in here.
     
    #824 herrburgess, Oct 16, 2013
  5. Stahlsturm

    Stahlsturm Initiate (0) Mar 21, 2005 Germany
    In Memoriam

    "Hofbräu" is independent too. All the others are merely names kept in order to have a tent at Disneyland München.
     
    #825 Stahlsturm, Oct 17, 2013
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  6. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Based on older recipes I've seen (for Märzen, not necessarily Spaten) I'm guessing they're using higher kilned Munich Malt for color and the nice toasted bread character. I get a similar character from NG Two Women and the color of that beer is very similar to Spaten's Okto.

    In Paulaner/HP I taste similar characters, though vaguely different, which I mark up to different malt supplier or possibly different yeast strain.

    Be a shame if either were using Sinamar.
     
    #826 steveh, Oct 17, 2013
  7. danfue

    danfue Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2012 Germany

    Fresh Festbier from St. Georgen Bräu: Buttenheimer Hopfenzupfer. A really nice one! The broad malty aromas, somewhat bready, that are typical for the style. But accompanied by a perfect noble hops note (not even a bitterness) of hops they grow in their own garden and only use for this beer when brewed in September.
    [​IMG]

    And now for something completely different. I've been to Frankfurt today, a city totally non-related with anything beer. Stepping out of the train station, the first thing I saw was a Schlappeseppel truck. That was a nice welcome.
    [​IMG]
     
    #827 danfue, Oct 18, 2013
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  8. boddhitree

    boddhitree Pooh-Bah (1,839) Apr 13, 2008 Germany
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm getting back to the Private Landbrauerei Schönram beers. This one is the Hell. The reason I was interested in this beer won the Gold in 2011 for European Beer Star in the category German-style Helles/Lager.

    [​IMG]

    Appearance: Light gold, looks almost the color of an American AAL, under a snow white head.

    Aroma: Lots and lots of Pils malts waft up with some grassy notes typical of Noble hops.

    Flavor: in the front, nice bitterness, actually a hefty amount of bitterness, yum. IN the middle, grassy, hay-like flavors with more bitterness. In the back, lots of sweet Pils malts, and some more bitterness. Though I keep mentioning bitter hop flavors, my girlfriend described the beer as "mild," which I take is the lots of Pils sweetness in the back if swig the beer to the back without letting it hit other parts of the tongue. Nevertheless, the both bitter and sweet Pils. When I say sweet, I'm not talking cloying oversweet, but a genuine malt sweetness.

    Mouthfeel: Here's the only part I don't like. It's quite thin, not AAL thin, but tending in the direction, thinner than many Helles and Pils and makes me feel it's a little weak.

    Overall, a very nice combination of Noble bitterness with Pils malt sweetness, neither extreme nor too weak. It's really good, but I don't see it as the best Helles I've had. I really like the bitterness, up and down the tongue, that part is great, but still the thinness turned me off slightly, and I really wasn't wowed by this beer. Score: 4.5
     
    #828 boddhitree, Oct 18, 2013
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  9. danfue

    danfue Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2012 Germany

    Schönramer is an impressive brewery. Also had the Helles once and all of what I tried by them was top. Their Pils is a magnificent example of a Bavarian Pilsner. They also produce an excellent IPA, proving that this is not an ordinary brewery. Thumbs up for them!
     
    #829 danfue, Oct 18, 2013
  10. boddhitree

    boddhitree Pooh-Bah (1,839) Apr 13, 2008 Germany
    Pooh-Bah

    First, thanks for the likes and all, keep 'em coming and I'll keep reviewing. My girlfriend says I should make my own private blog, á la neubierig; however, that seems like too much effort (Mendok'sai in Japanese) and would require I spend even more time than I already do on beer. This would be her worst nightmare, meaning more travel concerning beer, more buying beer and writing about it, and she says I already waste way too much time here on BA. Besides, like brewing only for myself, friends and others, I don't want to go an extra step that would require a regular effort and more pressure to keep a production quota for both brewing beer and blog posts, and that would take a lot of the fun out of it. Anyway, just needed to get that off my chest.

    I got another prize winner from Private Landbrauerei Schönram, this time their Pils. At first, after seeing over 52(!) reviews already posted on BA, I thought maybe mine wasn't needed, for all those seem to cover the gamut of review possibilities. Yet I noted almost everyone one of them was reviewed in the USA, and I got a relatively fresh (best by date= 25.12.13, so filled either 3 or 6 months before this,… thus a 1 or 4 month old beer?) beer and it would be nice to see the comparisons between the Pils, the Hell, and the forthcoming Gold.
    [​IMG]
    Again, this one has won some EBS awards:
    European Beer Star in der Kategorie German-Style Pilsner:​
    2011 Bronze-Medaille, 2010 Silber-Medaille, 2009 Gold-Medaille.​
    [​IMG]
    (not my pic - borrowed from Untappd.)
    As I said in a previous post, this is what got me interested in trying their beers in the first place.
    I enjoyed reading the marketing blurb about this beer on their website:

    And my translation. Notice their use of Fernsehbiere, Prussian as apposed to German,

    Below is the pic of my personal beer in a 0.33L bottle:
    [​IMG]

    Appearance: Bright, crystal clear golden straw under a snow white head.

    Aroma: Quite typical German Pils aromas coming strongly out of the glass, even after sitting a few minutes waiting for me to type and make the above pic. I get toasty, bread Pils malts and grassiness in spades. This is what you expect a world class Pils to smell like.

    Flavor: Lots of bitter notes up front with some grass from the Noble hops. The back of the label says "a special taste experience thanks to a quartet of finest Hallertauer and Spalter aroma hop varieties." Hallertauer and Spalter refer more to the hop growing region rather than any specific hop, so I'm guessing Mittelfrüh, Perle and/or Hersbrücke for Hallertauer hops, and Spalter Select or Spalter Spalt (for a treatise on this subject, read here.) Also up front I get a little malt Pils malt flavor, but only when I let it sit awhile on the front of the tongue. In the middle, a tad citrus-like tartness and more bitterness with a lot of sweet Pils malts around the edges of the tongue. In the back is where all the flavors come together and you get see how these muscular bitter notes mix with the sweet Pils malt flavors. I don't any "rose essence or resin" in the aftertaste, but there is something there reminding me of a fruit tea aftertaste mixed with hop bitterness and lots of Pils malt sweetness. If you skip the beer over the front and middle of the tongue you can bypass most of the hop bitterness and feel the malts really demand attention in the back of the mouth, yet then you miss all the hoppy wonderfulness.

    Mouthfeel: Decent, goldilocks zone, neither thick nor thin like an AAL; just enough to give it heft and seriousness, but not thick enough to make it unenjoyable on a hot summer day.

    Overall, a really great Pils. Like their Hell, Schömram really lay on the German Noble hop experience thick yet it's neither overpowering nor slaps you in the face. Their Noble hop bitterness is like an eternal flavor, there from a long gone time, lasting a long time on your tongue in an understated yet still muscular, you-won't-budge-me presence. Its Pils malts are mixed in with Lorelei, siren-like bitterness exquisitely and balanced almost perfectly. I agree this beer should win awards. It's now my 2nd or 3rd favorite Pils after Kneitinger''s and Faust. I like the hoppy version of Schömram's Pils.
     
    #830 boddhitree, Oct 20, 2013
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  11. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Tony, thanks (again) for your great reviews. I was unfamiliar with Schonramer Pils and it sure sounds like a tasty, hoppy Pilsner. I will certainly keep my eyes open for this beer.

    I read some other reviews for this beer and I found the below; pretty interesting that the head brewer is from Wyoming. It just goes to show that globalization is everywhere, even in German Brewing.

    “The head brewer at Private Landbrauerei Schonram is Eric Toft, who hails from Wyoming. It's great to see an American succeed at such a venerable German brewery. Schonramer Pils is good beer. Just make sure you get a fresh sample in order to appreciate it in all its glory.”

    I also found the below review of Schonramer Pils in Draft Magazine:

    “With more than 200 years of brewing history, Schonram's brewery has mastered its craft, producing beers that are refreshing and memorable. Today, head brewer Eric Toft, who hails from Wyoming, continues the quality brewing tradition locals have come to expect. This pilsner is light gold in color with good clarity and a beautiful, frothy white head. The aroma is clean, with crisp floral hop notes built upon a bready malt foundation. This comes through clearly at the front of the flavor as well, with a slight caramelized malt accent. Hopping is clearly intended only to balance, not to overwhelm. The hops simply lend a moderate floral spiciness to the flavor that lasts well into the aftertaste. This pilsner is wonderfully refreshing, soft, gently carbonated and is a great representation of the German brewing tradition.”

    Prost!
     
    #831 JackHorzempa, Oct 20, 2013
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  12. Bierman9

    Bierman9 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,313) Dec 20, 2001 New Hampshire
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I don't have links and/or pics, but I tried two Camba biers recently... Their Imperial Stout and Imperial Black IPA... Stout was good, BIPA real good... Check my reviews on my profile.... Sorry for no linky...

    Prosit!
     
    #832 Bierman9, Oct 20, 2013
  13. Gutes_Bier

    Gutes_Bier Maven (1,363) Jul 31, 2011 Germany

    I realize I'm long overdue with this, but better late than never here is my review of:

    Schlenkerla Urbock
    6.5% ABV, one 500 ml bottle from a case of twenty, ordered via Schlenkerla's website in October and dated Best By 4/2014. Six month Best By? If so, this beer was just recently bottled. Easy to believe, as in Germany this is a seasonal-only beer, and that season had just started when I placed my order. Best By is a punch-out label, which is curious as their Märzen Best By I believe is now a digitally printed number. Aber egal, it's fresh. Beer with shipping ended up slightly over €1,70 per bottle, expensive by German standards but as I like to say, cheaper than a train ticket.
    [​IMG]

    Appearance: A very vigorous pour yields surprisingly little head, but it stays around for many minutes before dissipating to a small ring. Beautifully dark.
    Aroma: What can be said? Straight-up German smoked meat smell. If you know Schlenkerla, or a Metzgerei, you know this smell. Amazing.
    Taste: First smoke, then sweet, then a bitter punch at the very end to keep it from being overly sweet in the way some bock beers can be. Smoke all the way through. This beer is so unbelievably smooth and süffig.
    Mouthfeel: Not much carbonation leading to a thick mouthfeel. Velvety smooth.
    Overall: Home run, absolutely. Unbelievably drinkable. I don't know what else to say about this beer. It gets the Mary Poppins score - practically perfect in every way.

    5/5

    Cheers!
     
    #833 Gutes_Bier, Oct 21, 2013
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  14. boddhitree

    boddhitree Pooh-Bah (1,839) Apr 13, 2008 Germany
    Pooh-Bah

    Another award winning beer from Private Landbrauerei Schönram. First, thank you Jack for doing the research to find out the master brewer for this place is an American. I'm surprised but now understand why these beers are so good. Often, it requires an outsider to really focus on the best of what a place offers and then focus mainly on quality, and then also willing to make a new mix from American and German styles.

    This is their Gold, which ironically won GOLD in the World Beer Cup in 2010 in the category German/European Style Export. They say it's a "Wies‘n-Märzen."
    My pic below:
    [​IMG]

    Appearance: Light gold, almost yellow, a little lighter in color than most lagers or exports, all under a snow white head.

    Aroma: Lots of Pils malts, very aromatic with some Noble hops in the background. It's similar in aroma to the Pils, and very lovely to smell. The website says there's chestnut-honey in the aroma, all I get is a hint of honey.

    Flavor: MMMMMM. Delicious. First, my girlfriends said she loves this beer, so it's blessed. The front has some nice, smooth bitterness and Pils, bready malts. Again, their website says there's a flavor of "freshly baked whitebread," but I get bready, but maybe a tiny bit sour bread, or Pils malt flavors. In the middle, I get some more wonderful flavors, a tad sourness and some honey mixed together. In the back, there's some more slight honey and Pils malts and a nice bit of bitterness. The aftertaste is both Noble hops and Pils malts. Very flavorful!

    Mouthfeel: Unike the other Schönramer beers of the German style, this is a NOT tad on the thin side, at least in the front, but in the back works drier and thinner.

    Overall, this beer is more in the Pils direction than an Export or Märzen. It's much hoppier and has lots more bitterness as a Pils is, but it also has a ton of Pils malts in flavor. I don't get much Münchener malt but it's still very malty. In my opinion, an Export is often a maltier and less hoppier version of a Pils, but this beer lands right in the middle of both. Actually, it's the best of both styles, really. Delicious, and a beer everyone should try. It's reminiscent of Bischhofhof's and Kneitinger's beer. Damn, I wish I had all three to compare right now.
    It's a WOW beer, as are most of Schönramer's beers.
     
    #834 boddhitree, Oct 25, 2013
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  15. seanyfo

    seanyfo Pooh-Bah (1,718) Jan 2, 2006 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    Regensburger Premium from Bischofshof for me today.

    [​IMG]

    Appearance - Straw gold body with excellent clarity. Rocky 3 finger head produces a good lace with average retention.

    Aroma - mild pepperiness, touch of biscuity sweet malt.

    Taste - Lots of sweet malt up front which subtly fade and linger on with a nice low level hop bitterness coming through in the clean lager finish.

    Mouthfeel - A delicate carbonation with a medium body. Soft but not thin

    Overall a very pleasant easy drinking helles. Nice balance on the flavour profile with a welcome touch of hop bitterness in the finish which i find a lot of helles could do with a touch more of.

    Prost!
     
    #835 seanyfo, Oct 25, 2013
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  16. seanyfo

    seanyfo Pooh-Bah (1,718) Jan 2, 2006 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    My last bier from the Dampfbierbrauerei Zwiesel - The originial dampfbier

    [​IMG]

    Appearance - Copper brown body with excellent carbonation. Monstrous creamy head that has never ending retention and lacing. Looks superb.

    Aroma - Mild biscuity toffee malts with a hint of rum/madeira in there too.

    Taste - Malt biscuity sweetness that's subtle but solid all the way through fading to the clean finish. There is still a very faint rum/sweet sherry like noted detected again lingering in the fade. No hop character noted at all.

    Mouthfeel - Delicate carbonation with a medium mouthfeel. Goes down far too easy!

    A very easy drinking beer. Nothing to shout about aroma/flavour wise but that mouthfeel is superb and the appearance had me taking swig after swig. Probably the most enjoyable brew from this brewery from the ones i sampled.

    Prost!
     
    #836 seanyfo, Oct 26, 2013
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  17. einhorn

    einhorn Savant (1,175) Nov 3, 2005 California

    Apropos Dampfbier - I sure would like to see Maisel's bring theirs back, it was one of my favorites in my local Stammtischkneipe.
     
    #837 einhorn, Oct 26, 2013
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  18. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,077) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    I didn't realize it had been discontinued? Too busy making their new IPAs and chocolate stouts? If so, what a huge shame. One of my absolute favorites, too.
     
    #838 herrburgess, Oct 26, 2013
  19. seanyfo

    seanyfo Pooh-Bah (1,718) Jan 2, 2006 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah


    Barrel-aged of course
     
    #839 seanyfo, Oct 26, 2013
  20. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,077) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Of course. Can't have too much chocolate/hops/bourbon! I guess copying now counts as being innovative. And since the Germans are so good at copying trends, they'll end up being the most "innovative" of all!
     
    #840 herrburgess, Oct 27, 2013
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