Bayernbiere Bought and Drunk

@DiUr I had to Google this, as I have also never heard of this. From the website

https://www.hofbraeu-muenchen.de/en/beer/hofbrau-sommerzwickl

Totally interesting that they made an amber Zwickel. I might even go so far as to say that it's most likely craft beer inspired (for what that's worth). I would be all over this, will search out. Thanks for posting!

 

The listed specs are very similar to the Original: 11.7% vs "ca 11.8%", 5.1% abv, 24 IBUs, pale and Munich malt, Herkules, Perle, Magnum, Select, infusion mashing. Of course they may have altered the ratio of pale to Munich malt somewhat and maybe use a slightly different hopping schedule or something to give the beer its own character, aside from the non-filtering.

 

I can remember drinking HB Sommerzwickl 10 years ago, its released every year in June/July.

 

At least in my neck of the woods, it's only been available on draft the past few years. I wish they'd send it over in bottles.

Edit: It used to be called Münchner Sommer Naturtrüb

 

The HB sanctioned Bierhalls usually have it as a seasonal too -- either imported or brewed in-house.

http://www.hofbrauhauschicago.com/

Though, it doesn't really appear "amber" in the Okto Märzen sense -- and didn't when I had that Naturtrüb a few years back.

 

Agreed. I think the lighting and serving vessel in @DiUr's picture makes it appear darker than what it really is. I've read several reviews of this year's version and the descriptions say the color is as you're implying--golden/hazy golden.

 

Definitely, i took the picture with the crap mobile and should have mentioned it. The beer is much paler and actually beautiful with hues ranging from pale orange to gold/yellow, with even hints of green. Look at the label colours to get an idea, curiously. I will try to take better pictures and actually comment on the beer when i have some time, because it is fantastic!

Also this is actual amber.

 

Just to clarify--I wasn't trying to cast aspersions about your picture at all. I really appreciate seeing your photos and glad that there are still people participating in this thread!

I was just agreeing with @steveh about his description of the beer's color and explaining why your photo may have made the beer appear darker than what it really was.

 

No problem at all. You were right in commenting and i thank you for it so i could clarify (which i was going to do sooner or later). A terrible sensor plus a non favourable lighting is going to affect the beer look dramatically, as in here. Sommerzwickl looks like Grevensteiner in that picture, which is definitely not!

I added brightness for 'realism', but still the lighting doesn´t help as the hues are even more yellow and diverse than the dominant orange/brown there. I promise to update with a decent camera, preferably under the sun...

 

Can confirm, I saw this beer in HD while I lived there, 2010 - 2014.

 

It also sounds like their Winterzwickl is pretty much their Dunkel only unfiltered. Personally I'd rather get an unpasteurized filtered beer than a pasteurized unfiltered one, from what I understand most of these unfiltered lager beers are still pasteurized, which to me makes it sort of pointless. I think the cloudiness is supposed to give the beer the impression of freshness, of being closer to the beer in storage, but to me a lack of pasteurization would seem like a more logical way of emphasising freshness. But I guess not filtering the beer is a more effective visual cue.

 

Thanks for feedback everyone, I had never seen the Sommerzwickl in stores, and haven't been back to Bayern in quite some time. Will ask some local stores if they can source it. Prost!

 

I'm not sure what the alcohol delivery laws are in California, but I see that you can now order HB beers direct (they will ship to USA): https://hofbraeu-muenchen.bierselec...49VGjc6WXkHKWZOTMvWHJ_-b3StX3Ddl0zv3VsGqCIyvo

Anyone who's been to Munich recently try this?

 

Giddily hoping to get some fresh beer shipped direct, I just tried that link @grantcty and for 8 bottles shipping to California it costs EURO 51.88 (beer is only EURO 17.36). I think I'll pass for now with online ordering :-)

 

Hints of green? Did you add woodruff?

 

Oddly enough, I ran across this beer just this weekend at a Getränkemarkt outside of Heidelberg (Leimen). They had it outside the entrance in a crate, which given our current temperatures, probably isn't the best way to store it...

 

I jumped on this when i saw it at the store.
Was a massive disappointment for me.
Overtly grainy.Less bitter and lighter than the "original"
I'm not even sure why they brewed this when they already have a Helles with the "HB Original"-
It's available throughout Germany


Looking at their promotional material this is apparently some "jubilee throwback".I dont think itll stick around long.


btw

The "Sommerzwickl" is a pretty good beer imo.

 

I'll keep my eyes peeled for that new Vollbier. I don't have high expectations, but you never know. I know some people don't think much of Lowenbrau's Urtyp and I absolutely love the stuff.

The Sommerzwickl is a little dry for my tastes. I end up getting it nearly every time I'm there and and my notes always say that I didn't like it as much as their other beers. At least in the past it has been sold at the Chinesischer Turm side-by-side with the Urbock throughout the summer. This time I'm going straight for the bock.

 

Here are a couple more to add to your list.





@drmeto Have you seen either of these? I'm especially curious about the Franziskaner helles and if its similar to Spaten helles or not.

 

Interesting that Franziskaner now has a helles. Were Spaten Hell and Lowenbrau Original not enough? I know that the Spaten brand has been rumored to be toast for a while and this can't be helping.

I've actually had the Franziskaner Kellerbier before. It was brand new (and being heavily promoted) when I was last in Munich a couple years ago. We grabbed some 1/2L liters of it at Hirschau and both of us enjoyed it. Unlike most of the others in town, it's brown, nutty, and on the sweeter side.