Ranking your favorite German breweries.

I’m a part of the problem. I can’t tell you the last time I purchased a Duvel or Aventinus.

I’ll throw a St. Bernardus in there every now and then though.

Because of my post I looked at Duvel today at the store. But then I decided I didn’t want an 8.5% beer.

Yup, same here. It’s a beautiful thing.

Everyone should go at least once.

 

Hofbrauhaus Freising Dunkel vs Weltenburger Barock Dunkel.
Weltenburger wins it has a stronger deeper flavor. Hofbrauhaus Freising was good thou.

 

I really do like that Hofbrau Freising Dunkel, but I agree here and wouldn't put it on an elite level.

The thing is, with such slim pickins for the style, it's a very welcome addition for me lately.

 

One more ‘vote’ for Hofbrauhaus Freising Dunkel being a quality Dunkel beer!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-729.605232/#post-6376442



Cheers!

 

That's a rather narrow brush you're using on Weizen drinkers. Every time I visited Schneider in Munich it was pretty full -- and not just with the "groups" you mention above (Of course, younger to older people covers just about everyone, doesn't it? Are there middling people? ).

But yes, it seems that Weizen drinkers are their own cultural subset in Southern Germany, just not quite as exclusive as you suggest.

@herrburgess -- thoughts?

 

I was a "Middler" during my 3rd year in college. My school was a 5-year program and the student classes were Freshman, Sophomore, Middler, Junior, and Senior. I was so happy when I finished my Middler year and could tell people I was a Junior and didn't have to explain myself anymore to someone from another school when they asked, “What year are you in?”

 

I see more sporadic consumption of Weizen in Franconia. Kellerbiers are most popular in that region. Weizen seems a staple among all types of drinkers south of the Danube, tho. Just my observations....

 

That's funny to note because 2 friends from Stuttgart used to count Weizen as their favorite style. They also introduced me to Rothaus Märzen many years ago -- another of their favorites.

 

I did as well for 30 months 76 to 79. Since I lived in Giessen, Licher was and still is my favorite.
Maybe you remember or had a Licher.

 

I tried that one and couldn't stand it. It was like drinking a stale/soured Malta Goya. In fact, I haven't really loved most of their experimental items. I feel like they just aren't capturing what makes their normal line-up good or what the better Belgians and Americans have done. They did have a pretty solid wheatwine (Marie's Rendezvous), but that's the only one I recall really enjoying.
On the other hand, I think the world of Aventinus. It's incredibly common, but just plain amazing every time I have it.

 

What? I hit Germany when I was 17 in the service of the US Army no less. And by far the best times were near the Border at a random guesthouse. Local Bier and Local entertainment. Never paid for a bier or a wurst at the Border. Being a Liberator and all. It was the 70's and WW2 was not a distant memory like it is today.
My point being that the bier that is flowing is the Best German Bier!

 

We're on the same page. I could have written your post, except that I missed an opportunity to try Marie's Rendezvous. I wanted to try that one.

 

Not sure why you replied to my post, but thanks for your service.

Also not sure if we really "liberated" or "conquered" Germany in '45 -- I imagine you'd get different answers from different people.

"Invaders, I like the sound of that."
Denver "Bull" Randleman, 101st AB, 506th PIR, 1945

 

Weihenstephaner is the best.

The others have just taken notes.

 

1) Weihenstephaner
2) Warsteiner

I would have sworn I've had a Paulaner beer recently, but I have no review for it. Another one for my list.

 

One thing that I've always appreciated is how rare straight-up bad beers are there. Even those Aldi super-cheap pilsners and value brand like Oettinger are no worse than Jupiler or Peroni. If you look to the beer-centric areas like Bavaria and N.R. Westphalia, even their lesser big brands are still putting out pretty decent beers. I can't think of any other place I've been like that, Belgium included.

 

These are the ones that I'm able to get in the states. I'm sure my list would be different if I lived in Germany and had more access to their regional beers. When I was there on a trip, and before untappd existed to document all the beers I tried, there were so many amazing beers that never see distribution outside of their village where the brewery is located. For imported beers:

1. Augustiner
2. Weihenstephaner
3. Hofbrau
4. Paulaner
5. Steigl (it's close enough to Germany).

 

It's pretty close, so I'll give it a pass Definitely closer than Heineken, which is what most people seem to think their favorite German beer is.