"Trunk" in a German beer name

It must be some play on the verb Getrunken -- past present of trink, or drink (see my avatar). But I'm not sure of the usage in naming a beer. Some sort of slang/ colloquialism?

@herrburgess
@patto1ro

 

Also @b9d9

 

yeah, play on drink. urtrunk. nothelfertrunk

 

It is just an alternative word for a beverage, perhaps a rather old-fashioned one. No connection with any English meaning you might be thinking of, no implication of high strength.

 

It's an old word for drink. Also used for meaning 'being in a drunk state' or 'to drink'. You won't commonly see it used in German though.

 

Except on beer labels, I guess.

 

Well, it's common in franconian beers. Yes, as already mentioned, an old expression for Trank, drink.
Doesn't have to make sense, franconian brewers excell at weird beer names, part of the course.

 

Also possible - this word is used instead of "Bier" because the beverage might not be brewed according to the RHG, and Lebensmittelgesetz (food law) does not allow it to be classified/labeled as beer.

 

No, that’s definitely not the case for the overwhelming majority of beers called something-“Trunk”.

 

I don't see "Bier" printed anywhere on that label Zid posted. Also can't make out the ingredients list.

Very interesting.

 

The back of the 'hirschen trunk' label says: "Dunkles bier mit leicht rauchigem Geschmack"

 

Vierzehnheiligener Bier...
So, no, those things are officially called Bier.

 

Being in-country, what's your take on the term "Trunk?" Just an old-fashioned term?

 

That picture is of the Brauerei Trunk... has nothing to do with the question.

 

Andrew Trunk, brewmaster.

Appropriate name, eh?

 

Yes,cause this specific beer is called Nothelfer Trunk,most other beers of this brewery are not:

 

I've been to the brewery. A lovely spot.