Weihenstephaner - Festbier Review
This is one of our more exciting finds during the Oktoberfest season. With a festival so steeped in age and tradition, it makes sense to seek out some of the oldest active breweries on the planet to try their beers dedicated to it. And it makes even more sense to seek out the OLDEST brewery on the planet.
Weihenstephaner is owned by the free state of Bavaria and has been continuously operating out of the same monastery site in Freising, Germany, since 1040! Yep, you read that correctly. It’s difficult to realize how far back that is, especially for an American when considering our Declaration of Independence wouldn’t even be signed for over 700 years from their genesis! Our country was just getting started and they had their beer recipe perfected to the ounce.
Anyway, back to the Festbier. It comes in at a hearty 5.8% ABV and 26 IBU. Weihenstephaner describes this beer as “Deep gold in color, this beer is luminous in the glass. From the very first sip, the full-bodied flavor is immediately perceptible - a balanced harmony of malt and hop aromas.”
Considering the history of Weihenstephaner and the history of the festival this beer is made to celebrate, we are expecting a lot from this beer.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Golden, clear, and topped with a thick and persistent cream-colored head.
On the Nose--Crisp as a fall morning in the mountains. Very fresh with some noble hop character coming through the sweet and inviting maltiness. Well-balanced on the aroma, and very inviting.
On the Palate--Very clean malt sweetness followed by a gentle noble and floral hop character and a mild bitterness at the end. It is full-bodied and smooth with an elegant effervescence. The hop character is not only floral, but mildly spicy and sweet, and we detect just a hint of green apple flavor.
Food Pairings: Weihenstephaner suggests pairing their festbier with simple dishes, roasted chicken, and flavorful Alpine cheeses (gruyere, swiss, emmental).
Final Thoughts:
Weihenstephaner’s Festbier is well-balanced, which many struggle to truly achieve in such malt-forward Oktoberfest beers. The malt and hop flavors mesh beautifully with the crisp malt blending with the mild spicy and floral hop character. Festbier doesn’t linger after a big chug, but leaves the palate fresh to receive another quaff or to take on some rich foods. The ABV is perfect for a beer like this, and the light effervescence after the full mouthfeel prepares the way for more.
I can tell Weihenstephaner has been brewing for hundreds of years, because this festbier is well-thought out and really fun to drink. I would say it’s one of my favorite festbiers to date, especially for those looking for something lighter and hoppier compared to denser and breadier as might be found in a Marzen-style lager. For a six-pack it was a little pricey (about $14), but if you want to taste something crafted with a lot of experience, skill, and history, splurge on this one.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew