Bayernbiere Bought and Drunk

Coolest brewery tour I've ever been on (self guided). It's just so different.

I was disappointed Allagash's coolship was closed the day I went last summer. I would have liked to compare them.

 

Yeah, I have limited experience with coolships. The breweries that make similar types of beers around here (New Belgium, Crooked Stave, Casey B&B, AC Golden, Trinity) don't really go that route...at least I don't believe so. We have a couple small places experimenting with the concept, but it's nothing on the scale of the Belgians or larger US examples.

 

Importer recently released vintage bottles. Thoughts on an aged version? It's enjoyable but aroma borders on artificial and smoked malt flavor is subdued.

 

Onto this showdown now. Took a few months but finally able to compare Maerzen (left, on draft) and Fastenbier (right, from bottle). I was smitten with the Fastenbier earlier this year as it had been some time since having any form of Rauchbier. But there is really no argument, the Maerzen is superior in all regards. Body, aroma, flavor and finish. Didn't notice at the time but Fastenbier is far too hoppy (for me, in this style, as I drink more frequently). Maerzen is the beer I want to drink everyday (at least until I get fresh Urbock).

 

I made note of this beer in a different thread, a lager beer brewed at the Franconian brewery Gänstaller by Swedish craft brewery Oppigårds. I'm pretty sure now that the picture of the coolship is of the brewing of this beer, having read up some more on the beer itself. It's a pale lager at 5% abv which is hopped with both European hops (used to be Saazer previous years) as well as Cascade. From what I've gathered it's not dry-hopped. Tastewise it's a nice and clean lager beer with a medium to light dry malt body. The dryness is helped by the bitterness which is elevated but not a standout flavor. The hop flavors are there also, but it's not a bottom fermented APA by any means, and the flavors themselves seem alot more towards the continental side than the American side. If I were drinking this blind I would not guess that it used Cascade hops. It's really a nice and pleasant, well made pale lager beer. An interesting beer and a tasty one as well is my verdict.

 

Patrik,

When I was recently in San Diego (attending the NHC) I had the opportunity to drink a German style Pilsner that was solely hopped with Mandarina Bavaria hops. In other commercial beers (e.g., Pale Ales) that were solely hopped with Mandarina Bavaria I perceived very noticeable citrus aromas/flavors which very much reminded me of Cascade. In the Mandarina Bavaria Pilsner I could not perceive any citrus whatsoever; it just tasted like a tasty German Pilsner to me.

How a hop is utilized in the brewing process (i.e., how much, when added, etc.) will greatly influence how it is specifically perceived in the resulting beer.

Cheers!

Jack

 

Interesting observations. I have no idea how much Cascade hops were used for this beer, only that it was used as the finishing (coolship) hops, so the flavor profile of this beer could be down to a modest hopping rate, but with Oppigårds being a normally hop-driven brewery I have to imagine that they intended for the late additions to impart distinct hop flavors, which leads me to believe that the Cascade hops make up (part) of the continental-like hop flavor. In that respect it is a definite eye-opener.

 

“I have no idea how much Cascade hops were used for this beer,…” And that is critical to understanding how it can potentially influence the hop aroma/flavor profile of the beer.

“…only that it was used as the finishing (coolship) hops,” Yeah, it is logical to expect some aroma for end of boil additions. I just don’t know specifically about the ‘nuances’ of the coolship process.

“I have to imagine that they intended for the late additions to impart distinct hop flavors, which leads me to believe that the Cascade hops make up the continental-tasting hop flavor.” Yeah, you have some good logic there.

The best comment/observation I have is the amount of Cascade hops added during the coolship process: a lot of Cascade would suggest a noticeable aroma/flavor (Citrus for my palate). A small amount of Cascade would suggest little hop aroma/flavor from the Cascade.

Another consideration is how do Cascade and Continental (Noble?) hops ‘play’ together. I have zero experience in this regard.

Cheers!

 

SO NOT my favorite - meh...

 

I also prefer Schlenkerla, but I hope you don't cross Spezial off your list for good - having it on tap at the Spezial Keller is worth the trip.

 

Not a whiskey drinker but was intrigued so bought a small bottle. Assume this is more of a novelty than a quality spirit. Getting more peat than the smoked malt of the base beer (Google tells me Michael Couvreur barrels). Neat is aggressive, need to taste with some ice or splash of water. Any experiences?

 

By the power vested in me by St Gambrinus, you shall now incur the wrath of German BAs around the world!

 

It's our favorite, although vom Fass.

 

http://www.hofbrauhausshop.us/HB-Ceramic-Stein-Coffee-Mug_p_258.htmlhtml

http://m.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-STONE...EN-STEIN-MUG-GERMANY-/151766123559?nav=SEARCH

Wasn't sure where to post this. Think it's worth it to purchase either a HB or Salvator cermaic mug at a market for $7?

 

I got my ceramic mug at the Spezial Keller for €5,00 so $7.00 seems reasonable. I love drinking my German beers out of it!

 

Can I ask for insight regarding Schlenkerla Urbock? Picked up two mini kegs this week. Each has Julian sticker indicating 4/29/15. First, have never seen date on bottles/kegs; is this accurate? Second, Urbock is brewed late Summer, available Autumn through Winter, correct? That would contradict my first question. Came directly from Importer so was not initially concerned.

 

It's available every year from October 1st 'til about December 1st (I think) within Germany but they make it year round for export (I think). I can't help you with their dating system.

 

Wow! After reading all the different types of complexities involved in German beers, I'm starting to feel just a teeny bit embarrassed about my rants about Schweizerhofbrau, and how it was the best beer I've ever had, and all that. It was certainly MY favorite. And I tried pretty much all the beers that I could buy at the grocery stores in the 80's. Well over 200 different beers, at least.... Schweizerhofbrau was just so well balanced and that was drinking it COLD, like 40 F.
I think that next year when I go to Germany, I will come back with all sorts of memories of different beer styles.

 

This is correct.

 

So far I've seen SN's Okto (even though it was only at one spot I had to hunt down), Sam Adam's in six-packs -- and this beer is always late in arrival in my area... and Hacker-Pschorr Original Okto Amber Märzen! Having one now and I have to say that it's as good as it's ever been.

H-P has that great melanoidin character I only ever find in Bavarian-brewed Oktoberfest -- making it a favorite to my palate, but it (and Paulaner) have a certain dryness to their aftertaste that stands it out from Spaten or Ayinger -- or even some of the Wies'n Märzens. I don't know if it's a certain barley or yeast strain, but it's always been there over the years I've been drinking Okto.

Nonetheless, it's a great rendition of the style and even though it's early August -- I'm glad to be enjoying my favorite of all the beer style.

Prosit!