Augustiner-Brau Lagerbier Hell
Munich, Germany

Founded in 1328, Augustiner is the oldest brewery in the beer mecca of Munich. The Augustiner “Helles,” or “Light” is a pale golden lager of 5.2% ABV. It has a super frothy head wafting up bready aromas. Somewhat floral from a combination of several German noble hop varieties. Cheerio-like flavors from earthy grains make it more rounded and a bit more malty than a typical traditional Pilsner style. A very delicate, smooth beer that is always refreshing on the palate.

Fritz Briem 1809 Berliner-Weisse
Gräfelfing, Germany

Fritz Briem is a professor at the Doemens Institute, an internationally operating education and consulting enterprise for the brewing, beverage and food industries. Briem worked hand-in-hand with Weihenstephan, the acclaimed Brewery and Brewing Institute, to re-create a recipe dated back to Napoleon’s invasion of Berlin in 1809. The 1809 Berliner-Weisse replicates a style originating in Berlin that was called the “Champagne of the North” by the invading force. The style is very low in alcohol, with a pronounced, fizzy head and lactic tartness. A lemon-like tang and aromas of bubble gum and apples fly over this tart, bubbly ale. 1809 is unfiltered, unpasteurized and fermented in traditional open fermenters and horizontal lager tanks. 50% of the mash is wheat malt. The wort is placed in the fermenters and pitched with yeast and lactic acid bacteria at 64° F.

Reissdorf Kölsch
Cologne, Germany

In Cologne, the land of Kölsch style, this beer is simply a head above the rest. Kölsch is warm fermented like an ale but then cold stored like a lager. This provides for Kölsch’s light color and taste, not as bitter as other German pale lagers. The Reissdorf Kölsch is straw yellow in color, crisp and clean on the palate, with a snappy hop bite and lemon-like zestiness. An aroma of almost spring-like floralness is omnipresent. Brauerei Heinrich Reissdorf has a tradition dating back to 1894 in making this 4.8% ABV sessionable brew.

Schlenkerla Urbock
Bamberg, Germany

Schlenkerla is a historic brewpub where on any given night you can come in and have a glass of “Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier,” or “Authentic Schlenkerla Smoked Beer.” One can observe the Dominikanerklause, a famous gothic ceiling in the tavern while tasting the famous smoked beer styles of Germany. Smoked German malts impart aromas of burnt wood, cured meats, campfires and toffee— reminiscent of walking into a local charcuterie shop of smoked meats. Dark-brown, almost cola-like lager style with a thin beige head, the Urbock is more subtle then most other smoked beers, finishing sweet and tangy. This beer would pair outstandingly well with most cuts of meats, barbecue, and aged cheeses, in addition to smoked fish and all sorts of smoked food products where the flavors are accentuated.