Märican Biere Bought and Drunk...

So my Kristallweizen in Wiesbaden had a lemon slice on the side - heh

 

I also enjoy a good Wit. Not my FAVORITE style, so I don't purchase them often, but they're quite refreshing.

I like Hoegaarden a lot, but luckily our local Allagash White is just about the best this style has to offer. Allagash and St. Bernardus. I was lucky enough to visit Allagash this summer, and purchased a four pack of their Wit in the middle of a blizzard of all times a few months ago. Who says you have to drink them in the summer?

 

Same here, but every now and again I like one. Oberon falls into that category too; I might buy another six-pack before the summer is over, but that first of the season is always the best. On the other hand, I'll probably put a lot of money into SN's cache with the Summerfest.

Allagash is terrific and I like to grab an Ommegang Witte now and again, but yeah -- I never really looked at them as seasonals.

 

Typical for Krystalweizen, not so for Hefeweizen. Don't ask me why -- I just know that my 2 friends from Stuttgart looked at me sideways when I asked if they ever put a lemon in Hefeweizen. "That's for Krystalweizen."

 

As an aside...

For those with extensive homebrewing experience, is a Witbier difficult to brew?

I ask because, given the success of Blue Moon, I've always found it odd more brewers didn't try their hand at Wit's. I imagine it would be a good way to sell more beer to the general public.

 

Oberon is at its best if it's drunk while sitting on the deck of the Gull Bar and Grill in Pentwater Michigan with a plate of fried lake perch while overlooking the harbor.

 

Or in my backyard on my patio while I'm grilling ribs or brats.

 

My sentiments exactly. I had always thought that a wit would be great for the German market - similar to hefeweizen and with an interesting flavour twist. We'll see which beer is the first to go "popular mainstream" like Blue Moon did some years ago. From what I've read, the Beck's offerings are not going to make it (at least according to the German beer geeks).

 

In talking with some folks that have been involved in making it, Blue Moon is using an almost totally neutral American ale yeast now. It's almost like a style all it's own at this point.

 

Wow -- that's really hard to believe, and they're still calling it a "Belgian-style." I haven't had one in a very long time (and at the time I could still see it being in the Wit "range") so I guess I'd be surprised to taste it.

Having a Metropolitan Dynamo Copper Lager* right now. It really is a pretty good rendition of a Vienna Lager, even though I can tell this six-pack has been on the shelf a while from its slightly oxidized character**. Nevertheless, the malty character and smooth, soft body is terrific. I really should focus on the Metro beers more often.

*Wow, 5.8%? Never would have thought.
**Result of a small brewery with little recognition.

 

Give it a try if you see it around - it's almost completely ester-free now. Not that it was ever Blanche or Hoegaarden, but it's even milder than you would expect. They do still brew the "old" one and it's on sale in a few places under the Sandlot banner. I believe it's called Blue Moon Original White or something like that.
We buy the Blue Moon seasonal pack here and there and their other beers are occasionally exceptional. I believe most of them start with the same base, although there are exceptions. I'm a huge fan of their Winter Abbey. It's not authentic at all, but it has a great malt flavor. I know their own brewers dig that one.

 

I saw that one and really wanted to grab a six-pack, but I was so beer-heavy over the winter that I couldn't justify it.

Back in the old days -- pre-Micro Boom® -- the Coors Winter was always a favorite; much more robust and flavorful than many of the beers available in the early to mid 80s. I had wondered if the Winter Abbey was in the same realm.

 

They still sell Coors Winterfest here. It's technically part of the AC Golden line-up. It's tasty, but I'd actually say the Winter Abbey is head and shoulders bolder. I guess it is exactly what you would expect from a larger brewery making a spin on a dubbel. There are no esters, but it's a strong malt bomb.

 

Now enjoying an SN Summerfest -- as good as it's ever been. Nicely malty -- even more crackery than I remember -- and spicy hoppy. Look forward to more of this over the milder months.

 

I heard that Metropolitan was getting lots of attention in the Chicagoland area. Saw all beers at Binny's. Maybe it's just the German styles that are not so in demand right now?

 

So, Ninkasi's Lux, per the label a "German-Style Helles Lager", made with Bohemian Pilsner, Pilsen, Carapils, and Acidulated malts, and GR Hallertau Herkules, GR Hallertauer Mittelfrueh, and US Hallertau hops.

Honestly, this was a really darn good helles lager and, IMO, held up fairly well to the Hofbrau Original I had just a week or two back. Maybe not quite the same bready notes, I can't recall clearly enough to say, much less trust my palate to discern the differences accurately, but the pilsner malt was certainly present and tasted very to style. Same story with the hops -- all those familiar noble hop aromas, providing good balancing bite to the restrained sweetness of the malt. All in all, a really well put together helles, checking off all the boxes dutifully and, at least to me, pretty darn accurately. It's nice to find a few domestic helles to grab when the German stuff can't be found fresh. Both this and Victory's Helles would definitely be repeat buys.

 

The Ninkasi sounds (and looks) good. What did you pay? IIRC, their stuff is pretty steep around here.

 

How long had they been on shelves?

That's my main point. No Metropolitan IPA so they always get passed over.

 

We just started getting Ninkasi in the last month or two. Will have to grab some.

 

Bought a single from Total Wine, which sadly upcharges a bit when you buy singles, so I think it was $1.79 or $1.99, can't recall. Sixers are $8.99, I believe. Surprised you guys get Ninkasi out there -- we just started getting them here (Arizona) within the last year. I always thought of them as hop head sort of guys, but apparently their Bohemian Pilsner won gold at GABF in '13. They've also got a Dortmunder-style beer called Venn that was available -- think I'll have to snag it next time I'm at the store.