Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr Helles in Chicago Area

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by THANAT0PSIS, Aug 28, 2018.

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  1. THANAT0PSIS

    THANAT0PSIS Pooh-Bah (2,275) Aug 3, 2010 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    So, I've been on a massive Muich Helles lager kick lately, and I've found that there are a serious lack of great options available on the shelves, either imported or domestic. I want to focus on the imported most of all as you'd think that they'd be relatively available like most other German imports, but I noticed that this is not the case both in my experience and by searching Binny's website. The only four imported Helles I can even think of are Spaten, Augustiner, Weihenstephan, and Andechs (I'm not counting Schlenkerla because it's a bit different due to the smoke flavor). Conspicuously absent are the Paulaner and the Hacker-Pschorr, which is really what this thread is about.

    Does anyone know why these are seemingly only available in fairly distant suburbs, why they don't seem to be on any shelves in Chicago-proper? Is it a distribution issue? What's the deal?

    Please don't recommend replacements for them as I'm well aware of the alternatives both foreign and domestic. I just want to know why these specific beers aren't available when they obviously should be considering the high profile these two breweries have.

    Thanks for any and all information.
     
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  2. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Paulaner's helles is the Munich Gold right? I've only ever found that up in Wisconsin or downstate ... and honestly, I can't remember the last time I saw it period. It wasn't fresh, thats for sure. That being said, I'd ask your local spot if they can get some in - or heck, check with your local Binnys. If they can't get it, then its probably gonna be really hard to find around here.

    As for the Hacker-Pschorr, same thing - Ive only ever seen it in Wisconsin or downstate and in places where beer tends to go to die ... Id do the same thing with that one ... see if they can order a fresh case?
     
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  3. THANAT0PSIS

    THANAT0PSIS Pooh-Bah (2,275) Aug 3, 2010 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    You've got it backwards in that Hacker-Pschorr is the Munich Gold. Paulaner's is called "Original Munich Lager."

    Anyway, exactly as you're saying, the reason it really registered with me that I never see it around is because I'm on a business trip right now in Ohio, saw both reasonably fresh and thought, "How have I never noticed that these aren't on the shelf in Chicago? I spend enough time in the German import aisle to know basically everything Binny's has...so where are they?"

    Both are great, revisiting them now (I prefer the lighter ABV but somehow deeper flavor that Paulaner has going for it, but HP is no slouch). I noticed places like Naperville, Algonquin, etc. get them, but Marcey, Clark, Lincolnwood, South Loop, Irving Park, etc. don't get them. I guess I will ask the next time I'm at a Binny's if they can get them in. Having a case of them wouldn't be the worst thing if I need to buy the whole thing to make it happen, but I really do assume it's some weird distribution thing because it's very odd that none of the city locations of Binny's (nor the close suburbs) have them.

    On a sidenote, they get Sixpoint Alpenflo here, too, and while I probably prefer Andechs, Weihenstephan, Augustiner, and Paulaner to it (not to mention Dovetail, Great Central, and Metropolitan), it's a really great beer and easily worth the hype. If only Sixpoint could distro it to at least WI, since it probably doesn't make logistical sense for them to come back to IL with how insane the market is right now.
     
  4. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yep, you're right - in my mind they're both gold labels and I can't remember which is which.
    Yea, I can't remember ever seeing them - the only (import) helles I know that my usual Binnys carries are the Weihenstephaner, Andescher (my personal fav), Spaten, and Stiegl Goldbrau. I actually haven't seen the Augustiner at the Binnys I frequent.
    I'd love to revisit both of them, as I have only had bottles that were clearly not fresh. If you ask, let me know what they tell you. Ill check next time Im at Binnys too - to see if the answers match up.
    A while back (when they first released it) I did a blind tasting of the Alpenflo against only German imports. I had it right in the middle, and while there were some noticeable differences, it did hold its own. Id love to grab it again, but I've never seen it in the wild since.
     
  5. THANAT0PSIS

    THANAT0PSIS Pooh-Bah (2,275) Aug 3, 2010 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    The labels do look a ton alike, agreed.
    Andechs is my personal favorite, too. I wish it came in sixers. I usually buy Augustiner at Marcey Street or Clark Street.

    I didn't mention Stiegl because literally every can I ever buy of them has a very strong metallic taste. It's the only beer I've ever gotten that from, and I have no idea why that is since I know the cans are lined like any other can. I love Goldbrau on tap, but I won't buy it packaged (the bottles are never fresh, it seems).
    Will do. I won't be back in the area for a while, so it'll take me a while to get an answer, but I'll be sure to do so!
    Yeah, I had to really search for it in the Toledo area, but I tracked it down and bought a bunch. In the 12-pack format, it's a little cheaper than the German ones, and a whole lot fresher, so that's why I chose it to keep around instead of stocking up on German examples.
     
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  6. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Glad I'm not the only one with that experience. On tap I love it - periodically I try the cans (because they're cheap and I hope it'll be different) but am consistently disappointed. I don't get it because their radlers are fantastic and never have any off flavors.
     
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  7. emerge077

    emerge077 Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,962) Apr 16, 2005 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Talk to Scott at Laschet's Inn, if anyone could provide insight, he could. That said, i've never seen them in Chicago either.
     
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  8. THANAT0PSIS

    THANAT0PSIS Pooh-Bah (2,275) Aug 3, 2010 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Yeah I don't get it either. I never see anyone mention this either: in reviews, in person, even at the company thar imports all the Stiegl for the US where I used to work, no one mentioned it. It is just Pils and Goldbrau, too, which are both really great beers on draft. The radlers are somehow immune.
     
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  9. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I mentioned it in my review, I know that. But yea, its weird.

    Oh, btw, I emailed Paulaner USA to get information about these beers - since they're the importer I figured they could at least point us to the right person if not answer the question.
     
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  10. beardown2489

    beardown2489 Pooh-Bah (1,966) Oct 5, 2012 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    Just saw Munich Gold is at beer cellar. So distributor has it.
     
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  11. THANAT0PSIS

    THANAT0PSIS Pooh-Bah (2,275) Aug 3, 2010 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Good to know, but that's quite a bit out of Chicago proper, which is what I am talking about. I acknowledged that many of the 'burbs have it, but I have never seen it in the city itself.

    Likely there is a different distributor out there. The lines for distribution are very, very weird and arbitrary in Chicagoland.
     
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  12. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    So Paulaner got back to me - both beers are available in Chicago, it just seems like they aren't being carried by any stores here. They suggested that if we want it, we ask for the location to put in an order through the distributor.
     
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  13. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    In related news, Binnys lists HP Munich Gold and Paulaner Munich Lager as on sale for $7,99 right now.
     
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  14. thewimperoo

    thewimperoo Maven (1,358) Oct 1, 2006 Illinois
    Trader

    Hacker Pschorr Munich Gold is currently on tap at Laschet's
    https://www.beermenus.com/places/1714-laschet-s-inn
     
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  15. THANAT0PSIS

    THANAT0PSIS Pooh-Bah (2,275) Aug 3, 2010 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

  16. emerge077

    emerge077 Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,962) Apr 16, 2005 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

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  17. Vav

    Vav Savant (1,049) Jul 27, 2008 Illinois

    On a related note, Paulaner's Wiesn (Meadow) is around again on draft this year. It's the proper pale Oktoberfest beer that is served under the tents in Munich. If you dig Helles you should seek this out...it's not like the Märzen most think of Oktoberfest beers being.
     
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  18. THANAT0PSIS

    THANAT0PSIS Pooh-Bah (2,275) Aug 3, 2010 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Yeah, I dig the Wiesn for sure. It's a very good beer.
     
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