Halfway To Oktoberfest

Germany is definitely one of the great beer countries in the world. Its place in beer history is unquestioned, and beer’s place in the culture is of high importance. However, it’s been a while since I have mentioned Germany or its wonderful brews. Given that the country as a whole brews and drinks much more lager than ale, and not only do I tend to have a preference for the warm-brewed ales over the more recently discovered cold-fermented lagers, it should not be a surprise.
But with warmer days and rays of sun shining, it’s time to revisit Germany and see just what she has to offer. Several styles of underappreciated beer, and some that you likely appreciate without knowing the history or category, are great selections year round, much less during the wild weather of spring.
If you’re looking for a darker beer with rich flavors, you might like Schwarzbier. A German lager, name translates to black beer, is a roasted brew, although lagering softens the beer and keeps it from being as dry or roasted as stouts or porters. Colors will be almost black, but transparent and not opaque like the aforementioned ales. Aromas and smells are clean and lager-like, with touches of chocolate malt and moderate noble hops likely. The color can be deceiving, as these beers are typically medium to light in body. Mönchshof Schwarzbier is the German standard, but a great American version is Sprecher’s Black Bavarian.
Another great dark beer that does not get too heavy in body is Munich Dunkel lager. A bready beer if there ever was one, bread notes are present in smell and taste. Slightly fuller in body compared with Schwarzbiers, Munich Dunkels will be sweeter, less roasted, closer to brown in color, and would be more akin to brown ales of the lager family. Like Schwarzbiers, these can be rare, with the German brewed Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel being a classic example. The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery in Charlotte, NC brews a decent American version.
Maybe you would prefer a beer lighter in color, yet with enough flavor to keep you interested. Germany has got you covered still. A malty, clear amber colored beer, you have probably enjoyed many examples of Vienna Lager without knowing it. Sam Adams Boston Lager is a solid example of the style. Great Lakes Eliot Ness is a favorite. More surprisingly, this type of beer is alive and well in Mexico where Negra Modelo and Dos Equis Amber Lager are respectable attempts at the classic style. Creamy, carbonated, and medium to light in body, Vienna Lager is a great, easy-going spring beer.
However, if you want more flavor, more body, more color, and more malt, you want Bock. Bock also offers higher alcohol content than many of the other styles of Germany’s lagers. Malts dominate the flavor, with sweetness to varying degrees, but they offer little or no hop presence. Einbecker’s Ur-Bock is a standard German version of the beer, with quality American examples made by Anchor and Lagunitas. Best of luck with your lager search this year. Enjoy the brews … Cheers.
Gene’s Haufbrau has at more than 200 beers in bottles or on tap. While they don’t have every beer the Beer Snob writes about, they probably have most. Gene’s is located at 817 Savannah Hwy. 225-GENE. E-mail the Beer Snob at publisher@westof.net.