A Visit With Carl

      

Carls Brauhaus , located in Stuttgarts Schlossplatz  (Palace Square), is named after the founder of  the DInkelacher brewery, Carl Dinkelacher. Founded in 1888 Dinkelacker brewing is an infant by German standards, selling their first bottled beer in 1897. In 1900 Carl Dinkelacher was the first brewer in Stuttgart to brew a beer with the Pilsner brewing method. Fast forward to 1996 when Dinkelacher merges with Stuttgart’s Schwaben Brau making Dinkelacher-Schwaben Brau Stuttgart’s largest beer producer. In 2004 Dinkelacker-Schwaben Brau makes a deal with the devil, becoming part of InBev. Fortunately in 2007 they are able to successfully purchase their independence from the InBev devil, no small feat by any standard.

 

I learned the history Dinkelacher while reading the menu at Carls Brauhaus (Thank You Google Translate) and enjoying a half liter of their Kellerbier (Cellar Beer), which dates back to their original recipe in 1888. According to their menu Carls Brauhaus serves “Fresh Beer Straight from the Barrel” and this beer doesn’t disappoint. Cloudy, as a Kellerbier should be, it tips the scales at a modest 5.6% ABV. Perfectly balanced this beer goes down with ease, leaving me wanting more. Unlike breweries in the states a “Sample” at Carls is a half liter, so I eagerly ordered a half liter of their Privat, a 5.3% ABV Dortmunder Lager. Again I am not disappointed. The beer lineup at Carls Brauhaus consists of 10 traditional German beers. Fearing I may not be capable of returning to my point of origin I cease my “Sampling” but will continue to visit Carls in an effort to sample the remainder of their lineup!

Beer quality aside, Carls location is nothing short of spectacular. Located near the “New Palace” (Original Heavily Damaged in WWII) the area is adorned with sculptures and water fountains, surrounded by shops and eateries. The original Palace was once home to the Kings of Wurttemburg and is currently the home to the ministries of Baden Wurttemburg state government. I can think of no better place to experience historic beer, than in such a historic palatial setting.

"New Palace"

Until next time,
Prost!

Wilkommen in Deutschland

Three weeks since my return to the land of beer and one thing is painfully obvious. Not much has changed in the German beer universe since last I lived here some 25 years ago.. The tried and true brews are still prevalent. Pilsner, Weizen, and Bock abound.  Who would have thought that Germany would ever lag behind the American beer scene. All hope is not lost though as German millennial’s strive to bring Germany, kicking and screaming into the 21^st beer century.

My first introduction to the German craft beer scene came via an unexpected find. While eating dinner at a local bier garden I noticed a chalk board labeled “Craft Beer”. There were only three beers listed and as I would soon discover they are all from the same German Brewery. It Is probably also worth noting that most “Craft Beer “in this part of Germany is in bottle form, not available on tap.

Enter Lucky Hop. Lucky Hop is a German spin, on an American interpretation of a British IPA. Produce by Distelhauser Brewing it tips the scales at a whopping 7.7% ABV and 77 IBU. Maybe they should have called it “Lucky Sevens”. While not as Hoppy as most American IPA’s it still managed to scratch my hop itch. Distelhauser also produces “Black Pearl Classic Porter” and “Loch Ness Classic Stout”, along with several other traditional award winning German beers. While I have only sampled one of their beers you can expect a future post detailing a planned visit to their brewery.

 

Hohenzollern Castle

On the German Pilsner front one beer stands head and shoulders above the others . After a long arduous hike to a local castle on an uncharacteristically hot day (Low 90’s) I was rewarded

with a bier garden. While they only served Pilsner and Weizen there was a diamond in the rough. Furstenberg Pilsner is absolutely delicious on a hot day. The beer is refreshing yet strong

enough to remind one that they are actually drinking alcohol.

In conclusion it is worth mentioning that I have only sampled a small portion of available beer and visited a limited number of beer venues since I have arrived. This post is in no way intended to “poo poo” German beer, or portray myself as the “ignorant American”, but merely a reflection of my observations so far. There are undoubtedly some great German beers and I look forward to sampling as many as I can.

Until next time,

Stay Crafty