GERMANY and the UK
Traquair House Ale - Scotch Ale
Traquair house is a Scottish family castle that is not only the oldest still inhabited home in Scotland, it is also a functioning brewery that operated as early as 1566. Traquair House Ale is a rich Scotch ale, a style defined by its long boil which caramelizes the beers sugars and results in notes of butterscotch and a big caramel malt backbone.
Sammy Smith Oatmeal Stout - Oatmeal Stout
Some beers define a style. This beer is Oatmeal Stout. Period.
Originally a drink for lactating mothers, oatmeal stout was described as nutritional on early labels. Oats are in the same family as barley and a small addition yields great flavor and provides unreal smoothness. Popular in the late 1800’s, the last oatmeal stout was brewed before the first World War until Samuel Smith reintroduced this style in 1980.
Sammy Smith Winter Welcome Ale - Winter Warmer
With notes of butterscotch and toffee from the toasted malts paired perfetcly with just enough herbal hops to provide balance, Winter Welcome is a cool-weather favorite. A perfect example of the Winter Warmer style, this ale will keep you nice and toasty on chilly evenings.
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen - Oktoberfest
Full-bodied, flavorful March (Märzen) beer brewed and lagered to celebrate Bavaria's famous Oktoberfest. Served at German beer festivals in September and October with roasted chicken, pork, and sauerkraut. Ayinger Oktoberfest won a Gold Medal 2005 World Beer Championships thanks to its rich, golden color, slightly sweet, malty nose and medium to big body and alcohol. It also displays soft dryness from long maturation. Perfect for a brat in the backyard this fall.
Celebrator Doppelbock
A beer that has a dominant malty taste. This beer’s origins in a monk’s recipe are reflected in its heartiness. The Pope of Beers, Conrad Seidl, describes it as: “Almost black with a very slight red tone, a sensational, festive foam and truly extraordinary fragrance. The first taste is of mild fullness with an accompanying coffee tone, which becomes more dominant with the aftertaste. There is very little of the sweetness that is frequently to be tasted with doppelbock beer.” The Ayinger Celebrator has been ranked among the best beers of the world by the Chicago Testing Institute several times.
Mahr's Pilsner
When it comes to German beer, it’s Pilsner, Pilsner, everywhere. But which one do you drink?
The answer, mein freund, is simple: Mahr’s Pilsner is just the best there is. Mahr’s is the only true craft brewery in Germany that exports to the U.S. Their superlative Pilsner matches the glory of the freshest local Hallertau and Tettnanger hops with the blessed whole-grain goodness of the very best Bavarian malts. It is brewed slowly and naturally and you will love the results. No other German Pilsner has such body, such texture, and that pure, ringing flavor that awakens all your senses.
Mahr's Weisse
This is an incredibly round-flavored and fulldimensional Weisse, with a surprisingly low a.b.v. – only 4.9%. The very best ingredients, and the brewery’s refusal to pasteurize or filter the beer, make all the difference. Other breweries filter out the yeast from their hefe-weizens, and then “re-seed” them with inactive yeasts – usually a different yeast from the one that fermented the beer. (Some of the larger breweries are reportedly re-seeding with corn starch!) The integrity and dedication to authenticity of the Mahr’s brewers guarantees the highest quality and flavor in Germany.
Mahr's Bock
It’s a little sweet and strong, but unlike other bocks, it is only lightly filtered, and unpasteurized. That means a lot more flavor, with nuance and complexity that you have never experienced in a Bock before, as well as a warm, almost rough texture that is wholesome and gratifying. At the same time, it is shockingly pale and light on the pallet, with a lovely fresh malt flavor, refreshing enough to drink even in summer (if you’re in the mood for something a little more substantial).
Spaten Optimator
This is a fantastic dark beer and probably the best of the Spaten beers. It is a bottom fermented Doppelbock deep and dark with a very malty taste. It goes very well with any hearty food, such as steak or beef, but in my opinion this is just a wonderful beer to have a conversation around. It goes down smoothly and it tastes great! Watch out for the kick though, this beer is very strong. | |