Schlafly's White Lager is Now a Year-Round Release

I just picked up a sixer of this. I've seen this beer called a Hefeweizen. I don't know if that was a mix-up, or if something changed with the beer, or if "White" had anything to do with it. Regardless, my sixer said "Zwickelbier" and this beer certainly resembled that more than a hefe. I've only had 1/2 of a beer from the pack so far (split the bottle), but my first impression is that this will be a very enjoyable sixpack to drink. Looking forward to having more to see how my impression might change.

@TongoRad
@JackHorzempa
@guinness77

 

Chris, perhaps they labeled this beer as a Hefeweizen in the past to 'highlight' the fact that it has wheat as part of its grain bill?

A lager that has wheat in its grain bill is atypical.

I will keep my eyes open for this beer.

Cheers!

 

"The style, also known as Zwickelbier, dates back to the Middle Ages with a noticeably hazy, golden hue, hint of orange zest, and silky finish."

I'm confused by this statement. Other than the fact that all beer would have been hazy during the Middle Ages (5th to 15th Century) it doesn't seem to make sense. Please enlighten me if I'm wrong.

• Would not all beer at that time have been fairly dark, and most likely a bit smoky?
• Were oranges, or any other tropical citrus fruits available in Germany during the Middle Ages - at least in quantity to use as a brewing ingredient?
• And is not "zwickel" a modern german word that refers to the sample port on a fermenter or bright tank - not a word that would have existed during the Middle Ages, and certainly not a word that would have referred to brewing vessels at that time.
• Additionally, the Reinheitsgebot of 1516 would have disallowed wheat. Perhaps, however, that led to the demise of the style?

Aren't we really talking about a kellerbier here, and one that's made with wheat and orange zest as additions? I'm all for new styles and experimentation, but I'm going to have to call bullshit on this unless someone's got some history to back it up.

 

Why are you insisting that facts should back up a marketing story?

Cheers!

P.S. This reminds me of an old joke:

How do you know when a marketing person is lying?

His lips are moving.

 

I had a chance to enjoy 3 of these at once rather than the little half bottle from before. With low expectations, I'm definitely pleasantly surprised by this beer. I love it. The whole "Middle Ages" copy is just marketing nonsense as @JackHorzempa mentioned. The name "White Lager" strikes me as a bad choice. It feels like there is a micro-micro resurgence in Kellerbier/Zwickelbier lately. I'll enjoy that ride while it lasts. It's not a tag that will sit well with people who have strict style expectations however. Don't go into this expecting a replication of other Kellerbiers or Zwickelbiers. This beer is a lovely light amber. There's no cloudiness at all. Malt is nicely light and round. There's a spicy hop note that doesn't jump out at you but is certainly there. If there is actual orange zest in this then I wouldn't have thought so if had blind. This beer is very balanced - everything is in the right place. I gave half a bottle without explanation to someone who doesn't know anything about beer styles and she said that this beer makes her want pretzels and sauerkraut. I've cut my beer intake this year, but this might be my favorite beer of 2017 so far. Unfortunately, I'm thinking that this is yet ANOTHER beer that is fresh in my market at the moment... and then I'll never see it fresh here again.

@TongoRad
@guinness77
@steveh

 

And Chris, the US beer scene is even getting better and better here: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/suenner-kellerbier-coming-to-the-u-s-in-april.500339/

Cheers to unfiltered beer!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Yeah, well -- the Zwickelbier on the label must have thrown me.

I tried this back in '15 and didn't mind it so much, but I like Urban Chestnut's take on the "style" much better.

"O -- A decent, well-made beer, but lacking in good big German maltiness. Neighboring brewery Urban Chestnut's Zwickel delivers that better, but that's not to say the Schlafly isn't worth a sample as a light refresher. A rather light beer for a Winter seasonal."

Funny, my notes call the clarity "hazy" and the color "pale straw." (Although, I used my short Becher glass to sample it, so the color wasn't as dense) Wonder if they're doing something different?

Maybe I'll give it another go... and use one of my Maß Krug this time.

 

"Hazy" is probably the only thing in your full review that doesn't feel like a match for what I had. (When I first had this beer, I had half a bottle, and I'd say that "pale straw" was fitting at that size... I also tend to use the term amber differently from others here.) I like Urban Chestnut's too. That beer strikes me as sweeter and maltier than this one. This one feels lighter, drier and spicier to me. Urban Chestnut bottles have now disappeared from my area... so the comparison is limited in its applicability for me.

 

I've been seeing a lot more UC cans (.5 liter) lately, double check that you haven't been overlooking it.

 

I am not a Zwickelbier expert (just a new fan) - I believe I only had a few mugs from a German brewery and then a growler of Urban Chestnut - and was very disappointed in the latter in comparison.

 

Sounds like it may have been less-than fresh. All of the UC Zwickel I've had has been about as good as any lager I ever had in Bavaria.

For further comparison, look for Grevensteiner from Veltins -- another very nice Zwickel.

 

Yes that's on my beermenus list - but we only get IPAs around here it seems these days.

 

The US importer for Veltins is Artisanal Imports. A few weeks ago I sent them an e-mail asking whether Grevensteiner was available in any retailers in my area. Within a day I got an answer that a beer store within walking distance of my house recently received a case of Grevensteiner. I went over the next day and bought a 4-pack. Maybe Artisanal Imports can help you track down this beer too.

I discussed Grevensteiner in a recent New Beer Sunday post: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-630.498330/#post-5342705

Cheers!

 

Emails sent - also asked for Sunner Kolssh - thank you for the idea, we'll see what happens.
I've been meaning to reach out to Yard's as well - they don't seem to make it across the Hudson River.

 

I hear you.

 

Yeah, right now Yards only distributes in PA, NJ, DE, MD and VA. The good news is that Yards is expanding and constructing a new, larger brewery which is scheduled to open in October. At the German Beer Festival in Philly I spoke to one of the Yards brewers and I asked if they intended to expand distribution with this larger brewery and he shrugged his shoulders and stated: I don't know. We have such a hard time meeting demand in the states we are already in. Maybe in the near future they might expand into NY?

Cheers!

 

I've never been there, but Bierocracy in LIC claims to have Grevensteiner "Zwickl" on draft. There are 6 different listings for Grevensteiner on beermenus... including Zwickl, Landbier, Kellerbier, Keller Bier, Original, etc. The brewer calls it a "Landbier." Here's one person's take on the different terms. If I was in the neighborhood, I'd pop in there because they also have Nova Paka Brou Czech Dark on draft.

 

That's where I had it! but it was a few months ago so not sure if it's the same Zwickl. I like their international draft list, one of the best in the area in my opinion. Just wish they were open lunchtime.

 

On the Veltins website they classify this beer as being a Kellerbier:

“Facts

Type: tradtional kellerbeer

Colour: dark orange/amber

Smell: caramel malt with fresh fruit

Taste: malt sweetness with light, roasted flavours

Foam: silky and smooth

Bitterness: full-bodied

Original gravity: 12,5°P

Alcohol content: 5,2 vol. %

Calorific value: 45 kcal/100 ml or 187 kj/100 ml”