Now that we are on our way with the 2017 Brewer’s Advent Calendar from Costco, let’s see if that ultimate German beer is in the box.
For December 4-8 I pulled out pale ale, (Doppelbock) Dunkel, Märzen and Bavarian lager.
December 4: Bergbräu Pale Ale
Bergbräu came in a nice can, and it took me a while to pour it into the pint glass, due to the decent amount of foam on top. I found out that this brewery wanted to come up with a pale ale reminiscent of the version that US craft breweries make. Therefore they used Cascade hops, which is indeed used frequently by smaller breweries in the States. On that note, I was not blown away by this German ode to the American version of a British classic. I liked that it was not overly bitter, and it would probably be a safe beer to have on hand when you do not know what beer your guests like. Just OK for me this one.
December 5: Altbayrisch Dunkel
For Saint Nick’s Eve there was another Bavarian beer on the menu. The description on the can promised a combination of earthy and spicy flavors. Maybe if I would have paid attention to that disclaimer, I would be more prepared for what I was about to taste. As I don’t like my coffee earthy, I do not like my beer earthy either apparently. Other flavors that I should have perceived, according to fellow tasters, were chocolate and toffee. I don’t have a problem with either of those, but unfortunately all I got was a strange aftertaste. When I paired the remainder of the Dunkel with that night’s green curry, it did taste better. Then again, what beer does not taste good with curry?
December 6: Kartäuser Doppelbock Dunkel
Since there is a list of beers on the side of the calendar, you can anticipate what you might find behind the door that day. At least you won’t end up paying $60 for cans of Beck’s, Warsteiner or Löwenbräu. Chances are that most people have never tried the beers in the Brewer’s Advent Calendar. Unless, you are the kind of person that can describe the 18 flavor notes in a Budweiser.
Kartäuser Doppelbock Dunkel is the heaviest beer by ABV/ABW (7.5/6.0%) that is in the calendar. I do tend to like heavier (Belgian) beers, such as Duvel and Leffe, so I had high hopes for this German Doppelbock. It poured smoothly into the glass, with barely a foam head to speak of. The copper-colored beer had low carbonation. The flavors were rich and fairly sweet in a good way. I found this beer easy to drink, and tasty enough that I would seek it out again.
December 7: Alpenkönig Gold Märzen
A bright, but slightly foggy Märzen. The beer takes it name from the month it was typically brewed in (March), before refrigeration became common. By virtue of the brewing style it is related to the Herrnbräu Tradition I discussed in the previous post. While the Herrnbräu is one of my favorites so far, I am not at all impressed with Alpenkönig Gold.
December 8: Grandl Helles Lagerbier
The yellow can that Grandl comes in, really jumps out, and the beer is labeled as a Bavarian lager. As the saying goes: “I don’t drink beer often, but when I do, I want it to taste classy.” That is where the patiently aged Grandl comes in, you would think. Its golden color and crisp, slightly fizzy mouth-feel make you want to wait patiently for a sunny summer day. The big problem with this otherwise easy-going beer, is the metallic aftertaste that I can’t get over. The Knights of the Mashing Fork, a home-brewing club from Connecticut, list “metallic” as a possible flavor. This undesirable taste may be due to lower quality grain, or the usage of water that is high in iron content. I prefer to keep small change and beer separated, so it’s a no on Grandl.
Verdict on Beers
Maybe I turned into a real critic for this round, but most of the beers were OK or not even that. There is however one clear winner, and that is the heaviest beer of the bunch: Kartäuser Doppelbock Dunkel.
Join me next time to find out what is behind the doors of the Brewer’s Advent Calendar , as we are getting closer to Christmas!
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