Bier ist gut!

The Kuchlbauers brewery in the Bavarian town of Abensberg has a tour that is totally unique.

Dr. Michael Shaughnessy says:

What makes this brewery tour special is that the owner, Leonhard Salleck, has taken it upon himself to make a visual experience out of the tour that combines beer with art, philosophy, literature, and agriculture. Two years ago, they renovated their tour operations and created Bierwelt (World of Beer) laden with animatronic beer gnomes, exhibitions on brewing history, a beer pharmacy, a tower dedicated to beer, and of course beer sampling.

Animatronic beer gnomes?!

This is a place I need to go.

Check out the rest of the story at Boing Boing:

Welcome to Bierwelt

Saranac Black Forest

Beer-a-Day #329 Saranac Black Forest

A Bavarian black beer with distinctive carmel [sic] malt sweetness and rich creamy trademark head. Flavorful, yet smooth; it is very drinkable!

Deep, dark brown with reddish-orange highlights. Caramel and malty. Fairly malty but not overly so, with more carbonation than I expected. Pretty good.

Saranac Black Forest

Hacker-Pschorr Munich Gold

Hacker-Pschorr Munich GoldBeer-a-Day #153

In Bavaria, where beer is an art form to some and a religion to the rest, Hacker-Pschorr Munich Gold is recognized as the benchmark of the lager style. The Hacker-Pschorr Brewery is known as Bavaria’s Heaven – “Himmel der Bayern.” Hacker-Pschorr’s Munich Gold represents the real thing from one of the oldest breweries in Munich.

Gold was the first Hacker-Pschorr beer exported to the U.S. starting in 1865 and was honored with an award at the International Exhibit in 1876 in Philadelphia.

Pale yellow, with an off-white head. Aroma is light. Taste is also light, with a little nuttiness. Good.

Hacker-Pschorr (German)

König Ludwig Weissbier

Konig Ludwig Weissbier

Beer-a-Day #138

Wheat beers aren’t my favorite, but who am I to say “no”?

Cloudy yellow with a white head. It’s got that big, fruity aroma one finds in wheat beers, with a touch of ginger. Smooth, but with a little bite. Man, I’m craving bratwurst now.

König Ludwig Schloßbrauerei Kaltenberg Weissbier (German)


Hacker-Pschorr Weisse

Hacker-Pschorr WeisseBeer-a-Day #125

Sticking with the European imports.

Golden and cloudy. (It’s unfiltered; duh!) A couple fingers of white head. Very aromatic, with a good bit of bubblegum and banana. “Crisp” is a word that comes to mind. Clean and refreshing. I don’t fall head-over-froth for wheat beers, but this is pretty good.

Hacker-Pschorr (German)


Beer News Sampler

Pittsburgh Brewing reintroduces I.C. Golden Lager
The maker of Iron City beer prepares to enter one of the only segments of the beer market that has shown any signs of growth: craft brews.

New malting system saves water
Dutch brewer Bavaria says it can use up to 30% less water with a new steeping system.

Greene King to lower ABV of Old Speckled Hen to boost sales
“Feedback from our drinkers is that they love the full flavour of Old Speckled Hen, but a significant number find it too strong,” says Managing director Justin Adams.

Crying in our beer
Edmonton Sun editorial on the failures of the privatized alcohol distribution system in Alberta, Canada.

U.S. Sailors seek beer, not girls
Sailors on leave in Perth, Australia have only one thing on their mind and, according to them, it’s not women.

Sleeman agrees to $300 million buyout form Sapporo
Molson Coors, Labatt’s, and Grolsch all said to have been interested. See also: Sapporo acquires Sleeman Breweries

Japanese beer faces woes despite revival
As the Japanese economy continues to recover, domestic beer shipments are rising for the first time in a decade. But changing tastes, healthier lifestyles and Japan’s shrinking population are all posing huge obstacles for an industry that has already undergone painful restructuring.

SABMiller purchases McKenzie River Corp. for $215 million cash
McKenzie is best known for their caffeinated malt beverage, Sparks, and Steel Reserve, a high gravity lager.

Major brewers expected to raise prices
After expensive price war, the big American brewers look to raise prices in spite of losing market share to wine, liquor, imports, and craft beers.

New York first state to create a “beer trail”
Inspired by wineries to promote the approximately 60 breweries and brewpubs in the state.

Sales of craft beer make biggest jump in a decade
U.S. sales up 11% in first six months of 2006 over same period last year.