Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Hell

https://www.hacker-pschorr.com/

Brewed by Hacker-Pschorr Bräu GmbH (Paulaner)
Style: Munich Helles Lager 
Munich, Germany

Hacker-Pschorr is a brewery in Munich, formed in 1972 out of the merger of two breweries, Hacker and Pschorr.

Hacker was founded way, way back in 1417, and the Pschorr bit comes from when Joseph Pschorr, in the late 18th century, bought the Hacker brewery from his father-in-law, Peter-Paul Hacker. He subsequently founded a separate brewery called Pschorr, who would have guessed, eh? His two sons, Georg Pschorr and Matthias Pschorr Sr., divided his estate by each taking control of one of the two separate breweries. 

As mentioned, it wasnt until 1972 that the breweries Hacker and Pschorr merged to form Hacker-Pschorr Bräu AG, and in 1993, the brewing plants were merged with those of the Paulaner brewery. Since 1998, the beer is only produced in the plants of the Paulaner brewery. Now that’s what you call a complete takeover! 

In Munich in 1810, the Crown Prince Ludwig I of Bavaria, decided he wanted the whole of Bavaria to join him in celebrating his wedding. He commissioned a collection of the top Munich brewers, including Josef Pschorr, then the brewmaster of the Hacker-Pschorr brewery, to develop special brews to commemorate this special occasion. Overtime this occasion has evolved into the world city of Munich’s Oktoberfest, which is attended by over six million people each year. By Munich law, only the six breweries within the city limits of Munich are invited to serve their beer at Oktoberfest. Hacker-Pschorr is one of the six and today’s event is held on land donated by Josef Pschorr, further highlighting the special relationship this brewery has with the city. 

Hacker-Pschorr produce up to 16 different beers, some of them are only seasonally available. Hacker-Pschorr Weisse is the most popular of the company’s beers.

Review: 0,33L Flip top Bottle of Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Hell: ABV: 5% vol 

The appearance is one of an amazingly clear beer, Jesus, I have to say it really was an impressive sight! A light crystal clear colour of golden yellow. Got a frothy white head that settled perfectly. 

Looks pretty inciting overall and nice to look at, even if the head dies a little death.

For the aroma I got a fairly faint and light beery yeasty smell, very faint and with some malts on the nose.

On taste, got some really lovely mouthfuls, a very good start, very refreshing. Beery and lagery but in a nice way, sweet with some fruits and not too off putting.

Very smooth, very drinkable. Very malty.

A little bite to it too, but not strong, small bit of a taste from the hops.

A light lager in flavour and taste. A bit creamy, light tough and easy to drink.

Not awash with flavours. But refreshing and nice to relax with.
Not bad, could have a bit more of a kick to it (lost it in the second bottle)
A bit plain. But good for a session. Not a bad beer. The initial taste, with its great big mouthful, is the highlight for me.

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Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

http://www.ayinger.de/cms/index.php/celebrator.htm

Brewed by Brauerei Aying
Style: Doppelbock
Aying, Germany

The Ayinger brewery, founded in 1877, is located in Aying, Bavaria, Germany, and not too far from the city of Munich. The independently owned brewery has a number of beers that it produces but it is mainly its well known Celebrator Doppelbock that is their big seller. 

Peter Liebhard had taken over from his father the family farm and estate. He, and his son Johann, figured that their servants, maids, and guests were bound to get thirsty now and again so they decided to establish their own brewery to cater for them.  So, in 1876, Johann Liebhard took over the farm from his father and put into action their plan to open a brewery. The brewery was built the next year in 1877, and with technical developments in brewing and also the addition of a railway, the brewery expanded tenfold. 

As Liebhard had no male heirs, he handed over the reigns to his eldest daughter, Maria and, her husband and his son-in-law, August Zehentmair, who continued the operation of the brewery and of the estate. Coming out of the First World War, was difficult for the brewery, but they managed it, with August having to take out heavy loans to keep up with the day to day running of the estate, the farms and, of course, the brewery. 

After all the many setbacks, they progressed again in no small part to the technical developments of the brewery in the 1920’s. Bottle washing and a filling plant were purchased, a cooling vessel was added to their fermentation cellar, a beer truck would make transportation easier and with the popularity of beer in Munich, and with all the breweries in and around the city, yes it was a good time to be in the beer industry. 

But of course then came Hitler and the Nazi’s. But it wasn’t only that. In 1936, August Zehentmair died quite unexpectedly at the age of 56, also without any male heirs. The eldest daughter, Maria Kreszenz, and her husband, Franz Inselkammer were next on the Ayinger throne. However, just like the first World War, the brewery under Franz Inselkammer, rebounded stronger, and with the post war boom, once again prospered. 

Franz and Maria Kreszenz managed to have three sons Franz, August and Peter. In 1963, the oldest, Franz, took control, but he was also helped by his two brothers, a period which saw further expansion and modernization within the company.

Even today, the new brewery in Aying is still one of the most technically advanced breweries in Europe. Where we are at the present is that Franz Inselkammer III, a son, is in control of the company, the sixth generation.  

Ayinger’s Celebrator, using purely local ingredients from Aying and the surrounding area, is considered to be one of the better doppelbocks on the market, having won a gold medal at the World Beer Awards in 2017 in “the Strong Lager” category, and also a gold medal at the World Beer Awards in 2015 in the category- “Germany’s Best Doppelbock”
For the internet geeks it was rated as the “Best beer from Germany,” on the beer rating site Ratebeer.com in 2014 and 2015 and the “World’s Top Strong Lager,” on the same site in 2015.
And if that wasn’t enough, the beer hunter and all round expert on all things related to beer, the one and only Michael Jackson called it a “World classic.”. With all those accolades, I just know that this beer is going to be a disappointment!!! 

Just to refresh: a doppelbock (“a double bock”) is a strong lager originating from Germany, primarily consumed during the spring months to celebrate the end of winter. Bock means “billy-goat” in German, hence the goats that you will always see on the bottles. Doppelbocks are usually very malty, dark in colour, and and have a stronger ABV than an average lager. 

Review: 0,33l. Bottle of Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock: ABV: 6.7% vol 

Ayinger Celebrator is little changed from the doppelbock first brewed at Ayinger way back in 1878, using the same old recipe in today’s brews. 

Nice brown bottle with a lovely old fashioned design and striking label, very nice. Also have a cheapish looking ornament, in the form of a plastic white goat, with it tied around the neck, which is a bit silly, but there you go. A goat of course representing the fact that it is a doppelbock. 

On pour got a darkish brown coloured beer, almost black in fact with purple/reddish looking highlights, with a nice decent sized tan head, some good carbonation going on too, and overall the appearance looks pretty damn good. It all looks very appetizing, nice n frothy. 

The smell is equally as good. Got a wide variety of smells, was very malty, got some fruity smells of raisins and prunes, and with strong hints of alcohol.

Loved the smell which was strong and pleasant on the nose.

Taste, got some nice creamy tastes and very filling mouthfuls. Nice hoppy aftertaste which can be felt at the back end, nice and manageable. 

Can taste the fruits, and, of course, the sweet malts and caramel.

Nice enough, a slow burner and definitely one to relax with and sup.

If there was one negative is that I did get a little bit of dryness in the mouth.
The alcohol is also well hidden, very well hidden.

It’s alright, is very tasty for sure and I got a fulsome feeling.  A nicely balanced beer with a lot of flavours to be had.

On the second pint the alcohol was finally hitting me, got the beery taste. It is 6.7% after all, but it is manageable and not overpowering.

Over all yeah its a good beer, not bad and a nice and tasty brew, very drinkable and not very sour or bitter. 
Was a bit tipsy after the second pint, but it was easy enough to drink overall.

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Schwarzwald Michel 

http://shop.alpirsbacher.de/bier/schwarzwald-michel.html

Brewed by Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu
Style: Helles/Pale Lager
Alpirsbach, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany

Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu is a brewing company in a small town called Alpirsbach in the Black Forest region of Germany.

The company was founded in 1877 by Johann Gottfried Glauner who reactivated the former monastery brewery. In 1880 the company was passed onto his son, Carl Albert Glauner and in 1906 the company was renamed to Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu. The company was, and is,  continuously held by the Glauner family that is now in its fourth generation of ownership.

I have tried their products before, their big seller and award winning beer, the “spezial” lager, which was fine, and their Märzenbier which I liked. 

Other beers they produce have also won prestigious awards. Its Pils getting a silver in the World Beer Cup in 2014, and its Wheat crystal, Monastery Starkbier and Monastic Substance all picking up awards in the World Beer Awards

Review: 0,5l Bottle of Schwarzwald Michel: ABV: 4.8% vol 

Schwarzwald Michel translates as Black Forest Michel in English!

This beer is exclusively brewed for Edeka, a German supermarket giant, as a special thanks for all their years of cooperation with the company. 

Has an interesting label of what looks like a blond, blue eyed (“Aryan” cough!) German woodcutter.

On appearance got a very light golden colour, and a nice soft white head.

A good bit of carbonation, beer buzzing along, a lively beer.

Looks lovely as it has a nice colour and a decent sized head, good start.

Has a very nice aroma, it smells of malts and hops all light but fresh and fine on the nose.

The taste is nice and soft, and very easy to drink, really smooth and refreshing with its subtle flavours and light tastes. Can detect citrus, wheat, malt notes, and it is also a little creamy.

Nice and malty. The barley malts hitting the spot. 

Got lovely mouthfuls. Very nice to drink. Tastes like a decent lager. Nice, I like it. 

Citrus notes are quite apparent in this beer. 

Was tasty and very easy to drink. Excellent, loved it. Recommended

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