Tag Archives: German Beers

June Beer Club: Iowa

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Freigeist-Bierkultur-Ottekolong-Kolsch-Bottle ImageFreigeist Bierkultur
Ottekolong
Unfiltered Kölsch
Cologne, Germany

Ottekelong which in local parlance means, “water from Cologne,” is the basic beer from Freigeist. Based on the local Cologne specialty, Kölsch, Ottekolong is an unfiltered Kölsch-style beer, but with more IBUs than is typical for German Kölsch. Also, because it is unfiltered it isn’t technically legal to call in Kölsch in Germany.

ABV: 4.8% alcohol / volume
IBU: 20
Style: Unfiltered Kölsch
Beer Style at WineStyles: Crisp & Clean 

Freigeist_Dortmunder_Can_ImageFreigeist Bierkultur
Dortmunder
Lager
Cologne, Germany

This style of beer generally offers a malt forward flavor and aroma balanced by hop bitterness. Maltier than a pilsner and hoppier than Helles, modern-day Dortmund Exports expand on traditions with more complex malt variety and extra bitterness.  Beers brewed to this style traditionally use Noble hops for bittering, which tend to give earthy, floral, spicy notes.

ABV: 5.5% alcohol / volume
Style: Lager – Dortmunder/Export
Beer Style at WineStyles: Malty

Rhubarb_Gose_Bottle_ImageFreigeist Bierkultur
Geisterzug
Rhubarb Gose
Cologne, Germany

Based on Freigeist’s ancient spruced Gose recipe, Geisterzug Quince & Geisterzug Rhubarb feature all the complexity, funkiness, and body of the of the original but go one step further by adding tart and flavorful real fruit and vegetables during fermentation. The resulting brews are incredibly lively, characterful, and thirst-quenching.

ABV: 5% alcohol / volume
IBU: 12
Style: Rhubarb Gose
Beer Style at WineStyles: Sour, Tart & Funky

Das_Fette_RadlerFreigeist Bierkultur
Das Fette
Shandy / Radler
Cologne, Germany

50% Das Fette Wiess, 50% Zitronenlimonade. Made for Die Fette Kuh, Köln. 

ABV: 2.5% alcohol / volume
Style: Shandy / Radler
Beer Style at WineStyles: Fruity & Spicy 

ABOUT FREIGEIST BIERKULTUR BREWERY:
Freigeist was founded in 2009 with a mission to revive Germany’s lost regional, artisanal ales. They now offer bold, American-influence, American-brewed twists on their homelands’s most popular beer styles. The special label of Braustelle, Freigeist Bierkultur is a tiny decade-old brewery in Cologne, Germany run by Peter Esser and Sebastian Sauer. The dual use this label to riff on traditional beer styles, creating interesting, unique, and unusual beers. The beers were brewed and canned in collaboration by Urban Chestnut Brewing in St. Louis for Ffreigeist Bierkultur. Learn more about the brewery here, and follow them on Untappd.

Photos and information © Freigeist Bierkultur, Beer Advocate and The Wine & Cheese Place – All Rights Reserved.

Urban Chestnut Brewing Company_Zwickel_Can ImageUrban Chestnut Brewing Company
Zwickel
Bavarian-Style Lager
Saint Louis, MO

Pronounced ‘zv-ick-el’, the flagship lager of their Reverence Series (classically crafted, timeless, European-style biers) is an unfiltered, unpasteurized, German classic that finishes as a smooth-drinking, naturally cloudy beer. It is bready, lightly-hopped and smooth.

ABV: 5.1% alcohol / volume
IBU: 19
Hops: Hallertau Perle, Hallertau Mittelfrueh
Malt: Pilsner, Caramel
Yeast: UCBC Lager
Style: Bavarian Lager
Beer Style at WineStyles: Crisp & Clean
Awards:

  • Gold Medal: 2019 Great International Beer & Cider Competition
  • Gold Medal: 2017 LA International Beer Competition

Dorfbier_Can_ImageUrban Chestnut Brewing Company
Dorfbier
Bavarian-Style Dunkle Lager
Saint Louis, MO

Some refer to the Dunkel style as the original beer of Munich and its surrounding villages (Dörfer). This everyday beer ranges in color and sweetness depending on the amount of Munich and roasted malts used. The sweetness of the malt is then balanced by the use of another Bavarian friend… the Hallertau hop… in this specific case, Hersbrucker, grown near Wolnzach, Hallertau. This beer is from Urban Chestnut Brewing Company’s Reverence series; it is deep amber in color and rich, smooth and tasty.

ABV: 5.2% alcohol / volume
IBU: 20
Hops: Herbrucker, Perle
Malt: Munich, Caramel, Chocolate
Yeast: UCBC Lager
Style: Munich Dunkle
Beer Style at WineStyles: Malty
Awards:

  • Gold Medal: 2017 World Beer Championships
  • Gold Medal – European Style Dunkel: 2016 Los Angeles International Beer Competition

ABOUT URBAN CHESTNUT BREWING COMPANY:
Urban Chestnut Brewing Co, with three locations in St. Louis, is an unconventional-minded, yet traditional-oriented brewer of craft beer. They take a ‘new world meets old world’ brewing approach wherein UCBC contributes to their ‘revolution’ of craft beer with artisanal creations of modern American beers; and ‘reverence’ to the heritage of beer with classically-crafted offerings of timeless European beer styles. Learn more about the brewery here, and follow them on Untappd.

Photos and information © Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. – All Rights Reserved.

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December Beer Club: Iowa

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Ayinger Brewery

This month, our Beer Club members will enjoy two of Ayinger Brewery’s beers, plus an Ayinger branded glass! Learn more about our December Beer Club beers below.

Ayinger_Celebrator_330_bottle_website_2022Ayinger Brewery
Celebrator
Doppelbock Lager
Aying, Bavaria, Germany

A rich, dark elixir with cascading layers of malt complexity balanced by elegant hops. There are notes of toffee, caramel, graceful dark-malty roasts, and the essence of barley. Lager fermentation leads to clean flavors and pinpoint conditioning. Semi-dry finish.

ABV: 6.7% alcohol / volume
Style: Doppelbock Lager
OG: 1.074
IBU: 24
Beer Style at WineStyles: Malty
Rating: 100 points on Rate Beer
Serving Suggestion: Serve in a stemmed tumbler at 50ºF. Pair with pastries and desserts, cured ham, smoked duck, wild turkey, filet with Dijon sauce, chanterelles, Tournedos Rossini, Châteubriand.

HISTORY:
Doppelbocks (“double bocks”) were probably first brewed in the 17th century by monks in Bavaria – a stronger version of bock beers that originated in Einbeck, Germany. Doppelbocks are usually rich, malty lagers; usually dark-colored; the names often end with the suffix “-ator.” Ayinger Celebrator has probably changed little from the doppelbock first brewed at Ayinger in 1878; Ayinger’s doppelbock was once called “Fortunator” but this global classic is called “Celebrator” around the world now. – Ayinger Brewery

weizenbock-1Ayinger Brewery
Weizenbock
Aying, Bavaria, Germany

This beer has a classic Bavarian weissebeer aroma with notes of spice and cloves. It has a smooth body from the wheat that is extravagant, with pinpoint conditioning. The flavor offers the essence of the wheat harvest, and fresh-baked bread. The finish has hints of tropical fruit, cloves and banana.

ABV: 7.1% alcohol / volume
Style: Wheat Bock
OG: 1.067
IBU: 10
Beer Style at WineStyles: Fruity & Spicy
Rating: 97 points on Rate Beer
Serving Suggestion: Serve in the classic Ayinger 17-ounce “weizen swirl” glass, or an oversized wine glass. Pair with hearty German cuisine such as smoked pork chops, sauerkraut and sausages, and full-flavored game or duck. Additionally, this Weizenbock can pair beautifully with spicy Mexican or Indian cuisine, or something sweet such as an apple strudel for dessert.

HISTORY:
The weizen-bock style is relatively uncommon, even in Bavaria: they are wheat ales (weissebeer or weizen beer) that are brewed to be as strong as a bock – with corresponding fuller body, and enhanced flavors. They can be pale (“helles”) or dark (“dunkles”), but Ayinger Weizenbock is pale in color. – Ayinger Brewery

ABOUT AYINGER BREWERY:
The award-winning, family-owned brewery, Ayinger Brewery (or, Privatbrauerei Aying for German speakers) was founded in 1878 near the Alps in a 1200-year-old Bavarian village of Aying, Germany. The brewery combines their rich brewing heritage, with ingredients sourced from surrounding farms, with high-tech automation to ensure sustainable practices. They are famous for their full range of award-winning Bavarian specialty beers. Check them out on Untappd, or learn more about their company here.

Photos and information © Ayinger Brewery – All Rights Reserved.

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