Hofbräuhaus Traunstein Zwickl

Review Date 7/4/2025 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Kellerbier   Brewery: Traunstein   Country: Germany   State: N/A   $ Per OZ: $.35 (B)   ABV: 5.3%

Well friends! Here’s a beer that I thought I never had before that I really did have before: Hofbräuhaus Traunstein Zwickl. I recently bought a bottle from Half Time Beverage, and when I went to check it in saw that I had had it at Taco Mac’s Prado location back in April of 2014. I even found the photo I took then, though I did not take tasting notes.

I want you to do yourself a favor and check out the brewery’s webpage here. You’ll see why I recommend it when you do. Here’s what they say about Kellerbier there, translated from German:

Beer has only been filtered since the end of the 19th century. What then increased the shelf life of the beer is no longer necessary according to today's hygiene standards. In the 1950s, this type was offered as 'Kräusenbier' – and over time it became known and popular as Zwickl.

Back then, the brewmaster took a sample from the tank using the so-called Zwickl tap to taste the beer before filtration. The Zwickl thus comes directly from the lager cellar and is therefore also known as "cellar beer."

Hofbräuhaus Traunstein Zwickl has an alcohol content of 5.3% by volume according to the label on my bottle. I paid $5.99 for my bottle from Half Time, and I have no idea what I paid at Taco Mac all those years ago, though I can tell you it was credit 514 in my Brewniversity studies. I am now on credit 1718. My bottle is stamped 04.09.25 on the bottom, and I assume this is a best by date of September 4^th of this year, in the European format. It could be a bottling date, since I bought the beer on June 15^th. Either way, the beer was very fresh indeed.

Hofbräuhaus Traunstein Zwickl pours to a pale golden color with a thick spritzy head formation and a nose of earthy herbal, citrusy hops. Taking a sip, the beer is light to medium in body, about right for the style. As I sipped a bit and made more room in my glass, I swirled the remainder and roused the yeast and the beer became cloudier and meatier on top of the fresh biscuity malt. It finishes with a dry herbal, bitter citrusy-lemony hop finish and is very refreshing indeed.

A good Zwickl/Kellerbier is always a treat, and this is indeed a very good Zwickl/Kellerbier.

 Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??