Ranking your favorite German breweries.

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by ZAP, Jul 16, 2019.

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  1. hopfenunmaltz

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

    1. The Special Keller gets their beer from Spezial.
    2. In general the Spezial beers are less smokey than Schlenkerla. Both smoke their own malt.
    3. On one of my visits to Bamberg, the Spezial had more smoke character.
    4. At Schlenkerla the smoke flavor can vary when they change kegs. The locals at the table said it was part of the experience.
     
    #81 hopfenunmaltz, Jul 18, 2019
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  2. RobH

    RobH Pundit (908) Sep 23, 2006 Maryland

    They are great beers from Germany, Jack, as you discovered.

    Total Wine's buyers visited the Furst Wallerstein brewery in Germany and noted they were fantastic beers, packaged nicely in flip top bottles, that were not available in the U.S. A container-full of various styles was purchased and brought to the U.S. and disseminated across TW stores: Zwickel, Weissbierpils, Landsknecht-Bier (Dunkel Lager), Hefe-Weizen, and Classic (Pils).

    This was at the peak of the craft beer craze, and unfortunately these classic German beers didn't sell at a good enough rate to warrant ordering more. Alas, they were discontinued from inventory.
     
    #82 RobH, Jul 18, 2019
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  3. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    What are the small stores you mention here?
     
    #83 ZAP, Jul 18, 2019
  4. grantcty

    grantcty Savant (1,016) Feb 17, 2008 Minnesota
    Trader

    In particular, The Ale Jail and Scott's Liquor (St. Paul). Both France 44 and Blue Max have German imports that Total Wine doesn't. I'm sure there are several others.
     
    #84 grantcty, Jul 18, 2019
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  5. Roadkizzle

    Roadkizzle Initiate (0) Nov 6, 2007 Texas

    Although I guess because the question is Favorite breweries and not which ones make the best beers I'll give a shout out to the places I spent time at in Dortmund. Wenkers am Markt and Hövel's.

    I watched many Eurocup games at Wenkers with friends and really enjoyed their Urtrüb and Schwarzbier. I first got to Germany in May so I surprisingly got the chance to enjoy their Maibock. It made me fall in love with the style. Pale malty sweet but finished surprisingly dry.

    Then Hövel's Original Bitterbier was very good but harder to get ahold of so I didn't drink as much of it.
     
    #85 Roadkizzle, Jul 18, 2019
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  6. aleigator

    aleigator Pooh-Bah (2,684) May 10, 2014 Germany
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Really love drinking Füchschen Pils during the summer, as well as the Brauerei Wagner Jubiläumsbier. One of my favourites in general is the Augsburger Herren Pils from Riegele which pairs incredibly well to almost every dish. The beer I like most, which is only served at the brewery is Brauerei Knoblachs Lager Ungespundet, which is simply perfection to me. In general I tend to avoid the bigger brands such as Paulaner and the likes and go for something local instead.
     
    #86 aleigator, Jul 18, 2019
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  7. Snowcrash000

    Snowcrash000 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,041) Oct 4, 2017 Germany
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I have no idea what people see in Sudden Death, to be honest. The few beers I've had from them so far have all been poor to below-average, they are in nowhere near the same league as FrauGruber, Fürst Wiacek or even Blech.Brut, in my opinion. But hey, to each their own.
     
    #87 Snowcrash000, Jul 18, 2019
  8. Snowcrash000

    Snowcrash000 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,041) Oct 4, 2017 Germany
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    As others have hinted at, what I think is interesting about this thread, just as the (currently defunct) top German beer list here on BA, is that it's not necessarily about the best German breweries/beers, but rather about the German breweries/beers most available to American people. It's also almost exclusively traditional beer, with very little mention of craft breweries.

    For what it's worth, here's my top 10, in no particular order:

    FrauGruber
    Fürst Wiacek
    Freigeist Bierkultur
    Buddelship
    Kehrwieder
    Blech.Brut
    Weihenstephaner
    Andechs
    Schlenkerla
    Grasser
     
    #88 Snowcrash000, Jul 18, 2019
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  9. herrburgess

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

    Good Lord...too hard. Here's a shot at making a list of 5 (or 6):

    Heller Trum/Schlenkerla
    Augustiner (Munich)
    Schmitt (Singen)
    Mahr's
    Hoenig (Tiefenellern) or Witzgall

    100s of others to mention...
     
    #89 herrburgess, Jul 19, 2019
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  10. Snowcrash000

    Snowcrash000 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,041) Oct 4, 2017 Germany
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Let me know when you're going to be in Cologne and I'll get you some Ritterguts Gose :stuck_out_tongue:. Not an easy find in West Germany...
     
    #90 Snowcrash000, Jul 19, 2019
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  11. jeebeel

    jeebeel Zealot (667) Jun 17, 2003 Texas

    We've been waiting for your post...
     
    #91 jeebeel, Jul 19, 2019
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  12. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,242) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Ha, I just like the picture.

    It is a good beer though, it makes it to the US, I've had it plenty of times. Haven't really looked for it lately since it's overpriced here, but it tasted pretty fresh to me.

    Why?

    He doesn't even live in Germany. :wink:
     
    #92 AlcahueteJ, Jul 19, 2019
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  13. Snowcrash000

    Snowcrash000 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,041) Oct 4, 2017 Germany
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It's a very nice Gose indeed, I'd buy it more often if I could find it consistently, especially in the summer! It's still a while until you're coming over, but if you need any tips concerning the Cologne beer scene or are interested in meeting up, just let me know :slight_smile:.
     
    #93 Snowcrash000, Jul 19, 2019
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  14. steveh

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

    Yeah, what does he know? :grin:
     
    #94 steveh, Jul 19, 2019
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  15. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,242) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Oh I'll absolutely be asking lots of questions in the Germany forum!

    I dunno, probably nothing. He has this brewery in the US. Probably just a bunch of New England IPAs and pastry stouts. He might have a great "sour program" though, shows his diversity.
     
    #95 AlcahueteJ, Jul 19, 2019
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  16. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,620) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Joking aside I went to the brewery and had @herrburgess ’s DDH Imperial Helles with Coffee and Snickers bars. Damn good. Very innovative.
     
    #96 rozzom, Jul 19, 2019
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  17. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    This is pretty tough. I'm just listing favorites as opposed to presenting a particular ranked order. It will clearly favor beer I can get in the States.

    Schlenkerla
    Mahr's
    Hofbräuhaus Traunstein
    Ganstaller Bräu
    Malzmühle
    Kulmbacher
    Hofbräuhaus München
    Riegele
    Schneider & Sohn
    König
    Weihenstephaner

    Schlenkerla is on the highest pedestal for me. I have a huge soft spot for a lot of the Köln brewers but limited myself to just Malzmühle. I decided to pick the full umbrella of Kulmbacher, but also went with just König rather than the Bitburger Group. Mahr's really impresses me across their range, but in some cases, I'm only a fan of a couple of beers within a brewer's range (such as Hofbräuhaus München, Schneider & Sohn, Weihenstephaner).
     
    #97 zid, Jul 19, 2019
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  18. steveh

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

    LOL! :joy:
     
    #98 steveh, Jul 19, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2019
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  19. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,242) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I heard he trained at Tree House.
     
    #99 AlcahueteJ, Jul 20, 2019
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  20. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    On my recent Florida trip I had the Ritterguts Bock Gose (never even saw it anyplace else). Yeah, there is such a thing :wink:. It was actually pretty nice, kind of like a lean bock with a Belgian twist to it, if that makes any sense.

    Their regular gose is outstanding, imo.
     
    #100 TongoRad, Jul 20, 2019
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