Archive for the 'Kellerbier' category
Mahrs Bräu Ungespundet-hefetrüb
I met one of the brewers from Mahrs Bräu during a tasting session, held at a local good beer store, during the recently held Craft Beer Conference. Along with tasting some quality product, I learned some interesting things about the beer and brewery. Two things that stuck out in my mind are one, Mahrs Bräu still employs (and if my memory serves me correct is the last to do so) a horse drawn cart for making local beer deliveries. Can you imagine calling up the brewery, placing an order (that itself would be great. Unfortunately it is not to be, due to the out-dated three-tier system) and then having the beer delivered by horse drawn cart? Good beer delivered too, though I am getting ahead of myself, not the macro-stuff, which has a certain link to Clydesdale horses here in the U.S.
Second, though their pilsner is their biggest seller in Germany, Ungespundet-hefetrüb is their biggest seller in the U.S. Most likely because Ungespundet-hefetrüb sounds more exotic and does not have the negative connotations that pilsner has acquired through years of miss-use at the hands of the American macro brewers. Though the pilsner was good in the sampling, I went with the Ungespundet-hefetrüb for my first Mahr Bräu review.
The beer poured a nearly opaque light brown into my beer mug. Aromas of big grain radiated out from the beer’s tight white head. Cereal, bran flakes, and lightly roasted grain all made their presence well known to my nose. In the mouth this big grain continued. The medium-body, which was surprisingly rich, inundated my taste buds with flavors of fresh multi-grain bread, pumpernickel bread and even Fiber One cereal. The beer washes clean with a light-lingering after taste.
Though not an overly complex beer, it is very refreshing and enjoyable. The beer would definitely make a nice, if not slightly filling, session beer.
Harpoon Kellerbier
Apperently this is a brew from the 13th series making it a brew from 2002. I found it at the New Beer Distributors in NYC and for a VERY reasonable price ($4.00) so I bought it. I am skeptical of the Harpoon brews because I have had differing experiences but I didn’t hesitate to buy due to its age. The “2007 brew tour” was deemed a success because we found a lot of beers in the Northeast that we hadn’t had so I am delighted to give this one a try, especially since the Harpoon Ocktoberfest got great reviews from us.
The Kellerbier pours a hazy golden brown with little noticable sediment. It has a thick off-white head that clings to the glass but doesn’t interfere with the tasting process. The smell is of hallertaure hops and pepper. It isn’t terribly strong leading me to believe that this brew isn’t a “big” brew. Incidently it weighs in at 5.24%abv so it isn’t a huge beer but it is a little stronger than your typical domestic. The taste slides through the mouth with little outstanding flavors thus making a well balanced but uneventful brew. It is a typical lager with very little hop presence and a substantial maltiness. It isn’t bad but there is nothing that sets this beer apart from other lagers of its kind, but also nothing that makes it worse. So I guess I would say it is a decent beer but nothing to write home about, especially since it’s part of the 100 barrel series. I gaurantee the folks at Harpoon have made a much better beer and given its age it is not as exciting and delectable as it should be. If anyone has had an opportunity to try this beer past or present I would love to hear your thoughts.
Monchshof Kellerbier
Ok, I’m growing weary of looking for a good beer. This is the fourth and final of the evening and I am hoping this unfiltered lager from Germany will not make this pseudo-tasting a waste of time. Well my friends I wish I had the last 2 1/2 hours of my life back. The Kellerbrau pours cloudy and with little head. This beer tastes similar to what I EXPECTED out of the Kapuziner, sans the boldness, because it has no defining characteristics. It is malty and coffee-like and just appealing enough to prevent me from jumping off my balcony. This was by far my “favorite” of the evening, but that’s not saying much. The Germans were not represented well on this night, but I will say I have had and will have great beers from this country so in the end I am not discouraged.
