Grodziskie

That's interesting in that the article links that 'Lichtenhainer style' to being smoked or sour, but typically not both, although beers with both have been brewed.

 

Live Oaks Grodzidski is fantastic! Unfortunately, as much as I hate to say and can’t change, my taste buds don’t allow me to enjoy smoked beers nearly as much as I used to.

 

Lichtenhainer is a nearly extinct beer from Northern Germany. It is sour, has wheat and barley, moderate light smoke. Brewery Becker in Brighton MI makes one time to time. To my taste it is like a hose without the salt, add smoke.


http://www.bjcp.org/style/2015/27/27A/historical-beer-lichtenhainer/

Edit An article breaking it down.



https://www.google.com/amp/s/beerandbrewing.com/amp/make-your-best-lichtenhainer

 

Read it again. Lactobacillus is mentioned more than once, it makes lactic acid. Sour is mentioned.

 

Yeah, I misread that sixth paragraph. This Samsquanch Block Party must be the beer that I'm trying to identify. The single review on this beer's BA page provides a great description of the taste, and it confirms the Lichtenhainer style description. Perhaps when it was on tap at the brewery the menu description may have used the Grodziskie or Gratzer wording that started all of this discussion, or there still could be another beer from this brewery that I'm trying to recall. Hopefully I'll talk with the brewer today or tomorrow to clarify everything.

 

so it just falls into the smoke beer category with everything else?

 

God damned autocorrect.

 

This is a real good one that I enjoy, once in an odd while I see it from time to time.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/45369/227941/

 

A big "Thank You" to all who have contributed to this discussion. You have made it impossible for me to rest until I get my hands on some of this stuff.

 

This photo on Untappd calls it a Grätzer, and the description calls it a Lichtenhainer.

 

You solved the mystery with some direct evidence. That photo on Untappd in your link is the current tap list card that sits on the restaurant tables. So somewhere along the way the brewery switched to calling that beer a Lichtenhainer which is what created the confusion. Thanks for solving the mystery.

 

Glad I could help! While the evidence is a little confusing, a re-branding as a Lichtenhainer makes sense now.

 

I'm at the brewery now and they confirm the beer is the Samsquanch Block Party, and they also say Lichtenhainer is more correctly the style name.

FWIW, the brewer says it is on the list to brew again, and he estimates early spring is when it should be ready. Come and get it.

 

FWIW Victory Brewing used to produce a beer they branded as Alla Spina Arso Lichtenhainer and it would be available on a rotating basis at their brewpub in Downingtown. This beer is now listed as being “retired” on BA and under the new ownership of the ABV (Artisanal Beverage Ventures) umbrella I very much doubt that I will ever see this beer again.

Cheers!

 

Come to Battle Creek in the spring, Jack. I'll let you know when it's ready.

 

While I wouldn't be surprised to learn that there was pressure placed on Polish language use after 1939, clearly the term Grätzer as used for the beer pre-dated the 30s, going by references from both 1915 and 1901. Many Slavic place names had German synonyms, and the German synonym would have been used by the German speaking population (similar to how many Finnish towns and cities have Swedish synonyms which are used only by Swedish speakers). So just as Pilsener bier followed the naming convention of German beer (Münchener, Kulmbacher, Berliner), so did Grätzer.

What is more interesting to me however is the apparent spread of the style into other parts of Northern Germany by the early 1900s, though the information I have found as of yet has been meagre.

 

Patrik, I have confidence in you that you will find additional information on this topic. You have 'mad skills' here!

Cheers!