Not Your Typical Pilsner

This past weekend, I was at Heaving Brewing in Gretna, Nebraska. They had their Pils Popper pilsner recently put on tap, and I was thrown back a bit with the first taste. This pilsner had a breadiness to it that lasted from front to back. I am unsure if the malts or a combination with a perfect water profile makes this one unique. The hop finish is very subtle.

The body is light and very smooth in this 5.5% beer. I happened to be with a friend whose German mom commented that this was the best beer she had had in a very long time! There were lots of people enjoying a pint.

I hope Heavy Brewing keeps making this beer this summer. It is a perfect sessionable beer to have in the rotation of the many different styles they provide.

I will also need to do some more research as to which pizzas go best with this beer.

Cheers!

An Award Winning Dortmunder

A new mug to enjoy a great German Lager

For those who enjoy German-style lagers, you will find a Dortmunder quite enjoyable! This lager originated out of the western Germain city of Dortmund. The style is a bit more malty when compared to other German lagers like a Helles but still as crisp.

Lupulin Brewing Company. created its version, which won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival. That is a tremendous honor! I am a big fan of those bready notes in a lager, which are present until the finish. A light touch of Hallertau hops at the end perfectly balances this magnificent lager!

On the technical notes, this Dortmunder is 5.5% ABV and 25 IBUs. This is just one of many incredible brews from Lupulin Brewing Company.

Cheers!

Papa Bier is Just Right!

In today’s story, Joe will be playing the role of Goldilocks, and instead of the Three Bears, it will be the Three Biers.

Joe clears his throat. “This Baby Bier is too little; honestly, I think it is just golden water.”

“This Mama Bier is good but, like most mothers, just too sweet!”

“Oh, this Papa Bier is just right!”

This Lager from Pint Nine Brewing Company was somewhat puzzling to me after the first glass, so I got a crowler to take home for due diligence. Upfront, I enjoyed the immense bready notes in this smooth 5.0% ABV Lager. This subtle note worked its way in, and after a bit, I realized it had to be caramel. All I know is this is one fine bier!

I hope you enjoyed this modern-day version of a classic story. I highly recommend giving this one a try.

Cheers!

Ruby - You Truly Are My Favorite Gem

I am a lucky guy that my sister and brother-in-law moved to North Carolina. This Christmas, my brother-in-law brought back some beer, and I was immediately intrigued with the Olde Hickory Ruby Lager!

This is the first beer I have had from a North Carolina brewery and my first amber lager. I have had many amber ales, so I was excited to see the difference in a lager.

Right away, the body grabs you with how smooth this beer is. It is light yet packs a lot of malt flavor without being sweet. It is rich and finishes just with a hint of bitterness from the German hops used. The insane thing about this beer is that it is only 4.0% ABV!

I can’t wait to visit Hickory, North Carolina, to try some of the other beers from Olde Hickory and explore other breweries. Oh, and of course, visit my sister and her husband.

Cheers!

Just Call Me Dort (for short)

You probably already guessed that this post isn’t about a lady named Dorothy - Dort for short. This Dortmunder Export Lager from Marto Brewing Company in Sioux City, Iowa, is one fine German Lager!

This Lager greets you with nice bready notes with a slight sweetness that fades into a mild bitterness that balances out this 6.4% beer. The body is crisp and dances across your tastebuds, allowing all of the flavors to be explored thoroughly. This is truly a fantastic lager!

This is my first beer from Marto Brewing Company, and I can’t wait to try others!

Let me know what some of your favorite brews are from Marto.

Cheers!

Fiesta De Sol

Celebrate every day that you have a great Mexican Lager

Fall is upon us, and all I can think about are those warm summer days with an easy-drinking Lager.

Site-1 Brewing has created a fantastic Mexican Lager called Fiesta De Sol. My Spanish is poor, but I believe this translates to something like Celebration of the Sun, from what I can tell.

The color is bright yellow with a thin white head. The flavor is bready with this light spiciness in it. This exchange of mild saltiness and sweetness adds to the experience of this light-bodied lager!

You can also celebrate that this beer is only 4.5% ABV allowing you to enjoy more than one!

Stop in at Site-1 Brewing in Omaha, Nebraska, at 25th and Farnam Street to enjoy a great selection of craft beer, cocktails, and food.

Cheers!

A Fashion Statement

I must have great fashion sense because yes, I do wear socks with sandals on occasion! German Lagers in my opinion have become extremely fashionable over the last couple of years. So, when you take the two incredibly talented lager breweries in a collaboration, you know it is going to be great!

Site-1 Brewing and Scriptown Brewing Company got together on a Father’s Day collaboration to create Dad Bod Dort. I must admit this is my first Dortmunder Lager, and it is so good! I will try to put into words what I am experiencing.

This lager is deeper golden than a Pilsner or Kolsch. Upfront, I can best explain this as a lightly buttered biscuit with a touch of honey. The body is soft and finishes with a little spiciness that is not bitter.

My pour might have been a little aggressive as you can see the bubbles. This is not an overly carbonated beer. It comes out of a can as perfect as it is on tap!

This beer comes in at 5.8% ABV and 28 IBUs. Just what dad needs all year around!

Cheers!

Bohemsky Amber Lager

I always remember the movie, “Happy Gilmore”, especially this one scene from the movie, where Happy is reminded in order to remove his stress to just picture his happy place. For me Scratchtown Brewing Company in Ord, Nebraska is my happy place!

Just this past Saturday, made the drive and enjoyed a gorgeous day on the patio. Great conversation and as we packed up, grab some beer to go. I was able to bring back an elevator. I know you are thinking what is an elevator? Well, it is a place that stores grain. Oh but at the brewery it is 3 silos (crowlers).

Bohemsky is a Bohemian amber lager with that beautiful copper color. A blend of six different malts provides lots of caramel and bready notes up front. The body is very soft, and you can thank that on the fact Ord has some of the best water in the state coming from the Ogalla Aquifer. The finish has a nice dryness and spiciness to round out this lager.

Bohemsky is a very sessionable beer coming in at 5.4% ABV. An incredibly good beer along with the rest of the selection from Scratchtown Brewing. Make Ord, Nebraska your destination this summer!

Cheers!

Combat Your Thirst With Hellcat Helles

Flyover Brewing Co, out of Scottsbluff, Nebraska knows how to combat thirst! Meet Hellcat Helles.

This bright golden German lager brings out those nice bready notes in a smooth-bodied beer. A malt-forward lager with a touch of sweetness greets and captivates your taste buds. At 4.8% ABV and 17 IBUs, it is sure to be a hit at any summer picnic or event!

Cheers!

Deb's Dunkel

Beautiful rich copper color in this Dunkel

It has been a great October to enjoy so many wonderful German beers. Today’s beer is Deb’s Dunkel from Scriptown Brewing in Omaha, Nebraska. Dunkel in German means “dark”. These lagers typically are a copper to brown in color. The notes can include bready, caramel, and sometimes even chocolate.

Deb’s Dunkel has great caramel and bready notes. One thing about a Dunkel is they tend to be less sweet than some of the other German lagers. The body is soft and the finish has a bit of hop bitterness to it.

A key to Dunkels is the Munich malt used in them. This Dunkel has the following malts:

• Munich 1 lighter in color and brings out notes of light caramel, honey, and bread.

• Munich 2 darker with just a little more roast to it but has similar notes to Munich 1.

• Melanoidin provides amber color with honey and biscuit notes.

• Carafa 2 is dark brown in color with espresso aroma. Has coffee and chocolate notes.

The hops used in Deb’s Dunkel are German noble hops and include:

• Tettnanger tends to be more floral, herbal, and grassy.

• Hersbrucker has floral, spice, and light fruit notes which is perfect for many different German Style beers.

Another great German style beer from Scriptown! Deb’s Dunkel is very sessionable at 5.1% ABV and such a great fall beer.

Cheers!