These beers include a variety of traditional styles. Most are lagers, although several traditional German styles are top-fermented (i.e. ales). Many remain popular today. As with many traditional styles, American craft brewers have created unique versions of these classics and are worth seeking out.
Wheat Ales
Malted wheat, constitutes 40-60% of the grain used to make wheat beers. Malted wheat adds a smooth, slight citrusy tang, and a dryness and creamy texture. Hefeweizens are a classic type of wheat beer. Traditionally produced in Southern Germany, these hazy, golden beers are brewed with a unique yeast strain to add fruity bubblegum, banana, or clove aromas and flavors to this creamy-textured beer. Weizenbocks are a stronger and sweeter version of the hefeweizen style and boast inviting banana bread and toasted caramel flavors and aromas as well as above-average alcoholic strength. Berliner weisse is Northern Germany’s version of the Bavarian hefeweizen. This beer is extremely light in color and alcohol and is well-suited as a session beer for drinking over extended periods. It’s crisp and tart, with some creaminess from the wheat and often some sourness. American style wheat beer is fermented with standard ale yeast and is crisp and refreshing with a soft creamy texture.
Beer COLOR
The range is shown by graduated color in glasses.
HOPS
The size of the green dot indicates the intensity of hop bitterness and/or aroma.
BODY
The size of the gray dot indicates fullness and/or sweetness.
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Rhine Valley Styles
This pair of crisp, everyday session beers attest to the diversity and ancient brewing traditions of Northern Germany. They are fermented warm, then cold-conditioned, instilling qualities of both ales and lagers. Kölsch is the traditional golden ale from Cologne, Germany (Köln). It’s a well-balanced beer with delicate, fruity aromas, clean, soft maltiness and subtle hoppinness. Düsseldorfer Altbier translates to, “the old beer from Düsseldorf,” and is the oldest beer style still brewed in Germany. Alt is a copper–colored beer with an assertive hop nose and just enough malt to provide balance. It’s fermented with ale yeast which contributes a subtle fruitiness.
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North American Hybrid
Hybrid ales share lager and ale characteristics and include several beer style that were popular a century ago as well as some new creations. Cream ales were originally a blend of pale ale and lager and are popular in the eastern US. This light-colored, light-bodied golden ale has a touch of sweetness and a kiss of hops. California Common was known as “steam beer” until the term was trademarked by Anchor Brewing Company, the last surviving maker of this once popular Old West style. It’s fermented with lager yeast at warm temperatures and has a rich, light caramel maltiness balanced by hop bitterness with a hint of fruity aromas.
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BEER COLOR
The range is shown by graduated color in glasses.
HOPS
The size of the green dot indicates the intensity of hop bitterness and/or aroma.
BODY
The size of the gray dot indicates fullness and/or sweetness.
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Last Updated: August 23, 2012