This week was spent using a DE filter on our beer and in the bottling plant packaging. Working on the filling side of the beer industry is not very interesting to blog about.On Thursday we got a chance to brew again. Our teacher Eder nabbed some American hops from HopUnion while in the States so that we could show these German students how IPAs are made. Eder's expression while we added large handfuls of Centennial every five minutes was priceless.
I also found my favorite beer: Augustiner Lagerbier Hell. Liters of this delicious lager cost only 5.20euro at the Braustube. Half of the Munchiners prefer this beer and the other half prefer the export version Edelstoff.
Export lager is another style worthy of consideration.
There are basically two types of export beer: type 1 is very pale(7-9 ebc) and dry. Final attenuations of up to 86%(Augustiner Edelstoff) and a bitterness of up to 30BUs. The increase of alcohol and bitterness balance the dryness. Type 2 is higher in color (12ebc) and lower in final attenuation (80%). Because this beer is slightly sweeter, the bitterness is also lower (18-26BUs). If Dortmunder were still being brewed, it would fit into this category. However, most Dortmunder beers being made are moving toward the Bavarian Pils style which is more acceptable to a large audience.
Another point I would like to make: Bavarian Pils is not really "Pilsner". Sure it's stronger, dryer and made with soft treated water, but the brewers in Bavaria have been lowering the bitterness for the south German palate and calling it Pils. BUs on this sub-category dip dangerously down to 18-20. The trend for more boring beer is here in Germany just like in the States. Northern German and Bohemian styles have anywhere from 35-50. Flensburger Pils I know from experience is 44BUs. That's quite hoppy for a dry lager!
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3 comments:
Hi Kevin! We are so excited that you are in Germany - living the dream! I found an article in WSJ today that reminded me of you. Highlights:
"Imports face rising competition from similarly priced domestic "craft" beers, such as Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, but also appear to be losing sales to mass-marketed U.S. brands like MillerCoors LLC's Coors Light.
Last year, imported-beer shipments fell about 3.4%, the first drop since 1991, when an increase in the federal excise tax on beer curbed demand, according to industry newsletter Beer Marketer's Insights."
So, they said much of the decline was due to problems with Heineken and Mexican beer companies, but still its good to know that people are choosing to save their splurges on local craft beer. BTW, every single weekend someone laments the loss you and your good beer. Barbeques are not the same.
I promise this summer will be full of my beer at le BBQ. Thanks for the article, too. Sales of domestic, craft and imports have been all over the charts if you look at a twenty year span. When is baby Mary due?
Baby Mary is 3 days overdue now. We have our (ultralight!) hospital bag at the door. Chris is working out his pent-up paternal energy by rehauling the garden. It looks great.
Your hops have been moved nearer the back fence. They seem to be liking it there. Lets us know if there's anything special we need to do for them. They were so pretty last year; we want more.
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