In 1984, Kurt and Rob Widmer started Widmer Brothers Brewing in Portland, Oregon. But from a craft perspective, it wasn’t until the 1980s that brewers really began playing with the style. In the 19th century, the hefeweizen came to America on the coattails of a wave of German immigrants. Hefeweizens Hitchhike to America Photography courtesy of Widmer Brothers Through it all this sturdy style persevered, eventually making its way to American in the late 20th century. Brewed according to centuries-old traditions on the Weihenstephan hill, Hefeweissbier is an epitome of the German style, pouring golden-yellow with a fine head of white foam, smells of cloves, and refreshing, full-bodied yeasty banana flavor. Schneider & Sohn makes one of the most popular versions in the world along with German brewery Weihenstephaner, which calls itself the oldest brewery in the world. Schneider & Sohn started production of Schneider Weisse in September of 1872. Schneider he became the first commoner granted the right to brew wheat beer. By 1812 only two breweries in Bavaria still made weizenbier and in 1856 the Wittelbachs sold their declining brewing rights to Georg I. Popularity of weizenbiers grew, but by the late 18th century traditional dark lagers had eclipsed the style. The head honcho at the time, Duke Maximilian I believed weizenbiers had economic potential, so he expanded production to more and more breweries in Bavaria. All the family’s assets passed to the ruling Wittelbachs. The Degenbergs were the sole brewers of weizenbier and hefeweizens until 1602 when the final Duke of Degenberg died without an heir. In 1520 the rulers decreed that a single brewery in the village of Schwarzach run by the Dukes of Degenberg would be allowed to brew weizenbier. These beers actually stepped a bit outside of the bounds of the Reinheitsgebot, the Bavarian Purity Law which stated that beer could only be made with four ingredients: barley, hops, water, and yeast (apparently wheat did not count as barley!).įor that reason the rulers of Bavaria at the time (and lovers of weizenbier), the Dukes of Wittelsbach created a loophole called Weissbierregal or the “right to brew wheat beer”. Originating in the 1520s in Bavaria, Germany, hefeweizens are a type of weissbier (“white beer”) also known as weizenbier (“wheat beer”). This history of hefeweizens has roots dating back hundreds of years in Germany. A Brief History of Hefeweizens Photography courtesy of G.
Whether you’re drinking them on a hot day in the summer or around a fire pit in the fall, hefeweizens are an under-the-radar style that shouldn’t be skipped. Pouring a cloudy, golden color with a thick foamy head from the wheat, hefeweizens also feature iconic banana, clove, bubblegum, and even black pepper aromas and notes from the yeast.Īs a whole, hefeweizens are an easy-drinking, refreshing beer. In German, hefe means “yeast” and weizen translates to “wheat.” And it’s those two ingredients that typically define this style of ale. Styles like hefeweizen, a German-style wheat beer, are excellent beers to break up your palette fatigue from hoppy beers. Pilsners.With aggressive hazy IPAs and West Coast IPAs dominating craft beer, it’s sobering to remember that other, more approachable versions of ales exist. Light beer, of which hops is an important ingredient. Pilsner Urquell, Lowenbrau, and Kronenbourg 1664 have superior taste to that of say a Budweiser or Coors. The lager has existed far longer than the split between the Czech. ^actually Pilsner comes from the town Plzen(pronounced pilsen) in Czechoslovakia. Yeah, it's expensive, but better then Bud, the ***start of sarcastic voice*** "king" of beers ***end sarcastic voice***
Pilsner is just about the only Czech product imported into the United States. Since 1843 it has satisfied our taste for good beer.
Drinkin too many Pilsner gives me beer nuts. 1.I'm gonna get a Pilsner from the fridge.Ģ. Mostly drank by men with mustaches and mullets named Todd. It has rabbits on its green label and is made by Molson.