Altstadt Lager
Altstadt brewery is legendary for its famous German beers. It is nestled nicely in Texas’ German country where the brand is praised far and wide for the way they cling to tradition and brew some of the finest German beer in America.
The Lager, for me, is always a great way to judge a brewery. If they can make a crisp, clean Lager then they can do anything. And a great Lager is something that will always keep me coming back.
This Lager from Altstadt is a traditional Munich-style Helles Lager with 4.8% ABV and a light 18 IBU. It is brewed with German malted barley, Noble hops from the Hallertau region, and cold-fermenting yeast from Weihenstephan (Altstadtbeer.com).
Altstadt’s Lager is crisp, refreshing, and sessionable. I’ve had it a few times (often on a weekend trip to Fredericksburg, TX), and there is something about it that is distinctly Altstadt. It is aromatically sweet and malty but balanced when you drink it, and it is clean and refreshing with a bit of a dry finish. It looks like a Lager, smells like a Lager, and quenches the thirst like a Lager.
One thing I admire about Altstadt is that they stick to the tradition of the Reinheitsgebot German Beer purity Law of 1516, making their beer with only the finest barley, hops, and Texas Hill Country water. Now that’s commitment! And that commitment shows in their final products.
If you ever have the chance to visit Altstadt Brewer (or just drive by), do it. You can’t hardly miss it on US Highway 290 east of Fredericksburg, TX. Their Lager is a great place to start, but trust me when I say that none of their beers will disappoint. I was fortunate enough to try their seasonal Oktoberfest Marzen beer right from the tap at this year’s Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg. And what an awesome beer it is in such a fantastic environment rich with tradition and love for all things German.
Prost!
Mr. Brew