2016 is the Year of German Beer. There, I said it, so it has to be true. Really though, this year marks the 500^th anniversary of the Reinheitsgebot, or German beer purity law. Today, some folks think that the Reinheitsgebot is too restrictive and limiting on the diversity of German beer. I’m not one of them, and wouldn’t have it any other way. Sure, it does prevent you from throwing cherries or raspberries in your beer, but hey, there’s always Belgian beer for that. It’s important to remember that the Reinheitsgebot is a consumer protection law, too, from a time when some of the ingredients going into beer were actually harmful.

Anyway, I’m happy to be celebrating the Reinheitsgebot birthday with perhaps the most fitting brew of all, Weihenstephaner 1516 Kellerbier. This beer is a limited time special brew sold only this year, so I suggest you try it before its gone. Brewed in the Kellerbier/Zwickelbier style, it is an unfiltered lager hailing back to the days of 1516. Then, lagers were not to be found, but most beers would in fact still contain yeast as Kellerbiers do. The yeast helps preserve the beer and adds flavor as well. Kellerbier means, literally, cellar beer.

From the brewery website:

At the first sip this naturally cloudy, amber-orange-colored Kellerbier reveals a touch of caramel. Its fresh and fruity aroma is owed to the chosen hops and accompanied by a pleasant bitterness. In combination with a well-balanced malt body this wonderfully mild and smooth beer was created to please both, your tongue and mind.

Weihenstephaner 1516 Kellerbier has an alcohol content of 5.6% by volume with 25 IBUs. It runs $11.99 for 6 11.2 ounce bottles in my area.  

Weihenstephaner 1516 Kellerbier pours to a hazy orange color with a thick, nay tremendous head of foam and a biscuity malt and very grassy herbal hop aroma. Taking a sip, the beer has delightful fresh bread and biscuity malt flavors and a long, dry herbal grassy bitter finish. The yeast adds a bit of flavor and adds to the fresh bread impression (there’s yeast in bread too, after all).  

Malt and hops, that’s what German beer is all about and this kellerbier is a fine way to celebrate 500 years of Reinheitsgebot, and from a brewery that will soon be celebrating its 1000^th birthday. Fresh malty and hoppy, this one gets the highest marks from me. Don’t miss it.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

 

 



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