Löwe Vom Rhein

Review Date 2/19/2024  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Hefeweizen   Brewery: Eichbaum   Country: Germany   State: N/A   $ Per OZ: $.18   ABV: 5.2%

A European Beer Collection! Costco was selling the European Beer Collection! Every September, at least every September since 2015, I have picked up a Kalea Beer Advent Calendar at Costco. This calendar features 24 unique German beers that are hard to find anywhere else, at least here in the USA. These calendars have a cult following (yes, I am part of that cult) and even a dedicated Facebook group.

Anyway, in early January of 2024, someone in the aforementioned group posted about The European Beer Collection, a 10-pack of 16.9 ounce cans from various European countries. I knew I wanted one, and in mid-February while shopping at Costco with my wife she pointed out a lone carton of said beers atop a display of some other beer I can’t remember. It went immediately into my cart, of course (they did have a pallet full of these we saw later).

The second beer I popped from the box was Löwe vom Rhein (Lion of the Rhine) from Germany. I love German beer more than beer from any other country in the world, so it was a sure thing one of the two German brews in the box would be amongst the first I would drink. This beer is brewed by the Eichbaum (oak tree) brewery of Mannheim, but you won't find this one on their website. All of the beers in the European Beer Collection are exclusive to this 10-pack.

From the Box - European Beer Collection website:

ABOUT THIS BEER

A surprisingly rich, tangy, creamy take on this quintessentially German style. Notes of banana bread and nutmeg on the palate lead to subtle nuances of honey and white fruits on the midpalate. Löwe Vom Rhein finishes slightly tart, with an echoing yeasty note.

Löwe vom Rhein has an alcohol content of 5.2% by volume. I paid $29.99 for the 10-pack, or $3 per 16.9-ounce beer. That seemed a fair price to me. My can is stamped with a best by date of 02/01/2025 on the bottom, which depending on US or European formatting could be January 2nd or February 1st. I think the beer would be fine either way and maybe longer if properly handled.

Löwe vom Rhein pours to a murky yellow color with a moderate cap of rocky white foam and a nose of crackers and bananas. Taking a sip. The beer delivers the tart crackery wheat the nose promised along with the fruity banana. There’s more fruit: ripe Mcintosh apples, then spicy cloves and a hint of vanilla. The tart wheat returns in the finish and dries and refreshes. Very tasty indeed.

Beers of the European Beer Collection:

Germany

Löwe vom Rhein Hefeweizen

Poland

Rotmistrz India Pale Ale/Lager