Hofbräu - Original

Hofbräu - Original

Purchased From: Beers of the World

Serving Type: 11.2 oz. green glass bottle, poured into a flute glass

This classic Munich Helles lager pours a crystal-clear golden straw hue with a thin foam head and mild amounts of active carbonation. The head leaves good lacing all the way down the glass.

The beer’s flavor contains bold and bright malts balanced by noble hops. The hoppy nose is reminiscent of a Pilsner, so I’m suspecting Saaz hops hold a prominent place in the brewing process. It finishes crisp and dry. This is a clean and refreshing beer that invites another sip.

On the bottle of this beer, like many Bavarian brewers, you’ll see that it was “Brewed according to the German Purity Law.” On the reverse, you’ll also read that the famous ‘Reinheitsgebot’ (the purity law) of 1516 restricts the brewing of beer in Bavaria to the simple list of ingredients: water, malted barley, and hops.

Doesn’t it just make you feel great? A classic list of ingredients and what seems like a guarantee of quality. It should, but note, these days, this is just a marketing angle. While it’s probably true that Hofbräu Classic uses only this strict listing of ingredients, the law has since been repealed and replaced. So, making claims about following this law doesn’t necessarily carry any consequences if they’re fictitious. 

No knock against this beer. It’s excellent, but just keep in mind the marketing speak. You’ll see my point in action with tomorrow’s posting. Stay tuned.