The Augustiner-Bräu Wagner KG brewery may have only been standing in the same place since 1885, but over the period of many years preceding, through political changes and takeovers, this brewery can legitimately claim to have been in operation since 1328. See my post here on a beer from another brewery that’s been around a little while.
So the point is, these guys know what they’re dong when it comes to brewing their signature brews- they’ve had almost 800 years of practice.
Their website is full of great information especially on the history of the brewery and about their beers, as well as some great info on one of my favourite topics- the Reinheitsgebot- the Purity Law of 1516.
This beer, the Lagerbier Hell is, as the name suggests, a lager, and the Hell, or sometimes Helles indicates that it is “light, bright or clear” according to the German- English dictionary.
In their words:
A particularly mild, sparkling, long stored beer, refreshing and easily digestible at the same time. Uniquely in its taste, a benefit for each beer connoisseur.
Which could probably benefit from an update on the old Google Translate button.
My thoughts:
It’s a bright golden yellow, and very pale. There is almost no head retention at all. It has a lovely effervescence and I would agree with their description of “sparkling”.
It has a light, crisp, slightly nutty flavour, and it tastes fresh, which is intriguing given that lagers are always stored for longer periods than ales, and this particular lager is described as “long stored”, by which I assume they mean “longer than your average lager”.
All in all I would say that 800 years of practice have paid off, and these guys are producing a lager which is worlds away from your Millers, Buds and Coors. It’s a brew to be savoured and enjoyed.
It paired very nicely with the fish and chips I had for dinner, too.
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