Dry Hopped - Clausthaler Review
When we sit around thinking about beer it is just a matter of time before we find ourselves at a biergarten in Germany, throwing back heavy mugs as men in lederhosen hold steins high and women in dirndls serve bratwurst and smiles to the droves of people sitting at long tables. It’s only natural that eventually our minds wander there.
We have never been to Germany, but we get to experience similar events in our German-influenced Hill Country region in towns like New Braunfels and Fredericksburg, TX. And it is fun!
But when we think these thoughts, we don’t think about non-alcoholic beers in those steins. Well, in the 1970s Clausthaler decided to try something different. They made those great beers and they took the alcohol out of them. As you can imagine, this was a hard sell to a beer-loving country like Germany and its neighbors, but Clausthaler has persevered, and according to their website they now serve beer in 51 countries.
This is no small feat for any beer producer, let alone a NA beer producer, and here we are giving Clausthaler’s Dry Hopped malt beverage a go.
It is dry-hopped with Cascade hops, is unfiltered, has less than 0.5% ABV, is 89 calories, 20 carbs, and, we hope, is full of flavor. So let’s find out how this NA staple stands up in our firsts.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes–It pours a dark golden to amber color. It forms a little head that diminishes quickly. And it is pretty clear for an unfiltered beer.
On the Nose–Malty and sweet right out of the gate. And right after the gate swings open the bright citrus aroma of Cascade comes through. It is delicate and inviting, promising malt sweetness with a touch of Cascade citrus. I think it is also worth noting that I get some gentle tea-like flavors, and this, in my opinion, is what makes this beer inviting.
On the Palate–The maltiness rushes right through with a deep caramel (almost molasses) flavor. But don’t worry, while the maltiness is the most prominent flavor, the citrus still pushes its way through in a spicy lemon zest flavor. I know Cascade is known for its grapefruit flavor, but I think the maltiness blends with the citrus flavor to come through with more of a subdued lemon flavor compared to the zesty grapefruit. It is medium-bodied and bubbly, and it brings a lot of tingling flavor with the dry-hopped Cascade meshing nicely with the malt. It reminds me a lot of an English golden ale, similar to Iron Maiden’s Trooper for comparison. But Clausthaler’s beer has no alcohol, don’t forget.
Clausthaler is certainly a pioneer in the NA industry. We can always rely on the Germans to make great beer, even if it is non-alcoholic. Check out Clausthaler. They distribute all over the U.S. and they have a few varieties including grapefruit and lemon beverages. I suggest starting with the Clausthaler Dry Hopped.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew