One of the columns in my enormous spreadsheet of beer details is country. For place that have switched nationality over the last century or so, my choice is always likely to be arbitrary. More based on my convenience rather than being a political statement. So breweries in Prague and Pilsen I class as Czech, ones in Vienna and Graz as Austrian. It can't possibly be perfect. Where's the right country to assign to Königsberg? Russia? I don't think so.
But I'm wandering off again. As you can see, these are odds and sods or anonymous. Not the best sets ever. You'll probably be delighted to hear that his will be the Lagerbiers done. I've only just started extracting the Exports so there may be a small pause in this series. You know me, I'll get to it eventually.
As I'll eventually get to discussing these beers. Beginning with those from Königsberg, formerly capital of East Prussia, now part of Russia. I wonder if there's a brewery there today? All five beers from Königsberg are towards the top end of the scale. Interesting to see an Autumn beer - Herbstbier - for the first time. It looks like a Bock to me. With that crap degree of attenuation it resembles a Munich Bock of the period
Random Northeast German Lagerbiers 1880 - 1897 | |||||||||||
Year | Brewer | Town | Beer | Style | OG | FG | OG Plato | ABV | App. Atten-uation | lactic acid % | CO2 % |
1880 | Wickholder | Königsberg | März-Bräu | Märzen | 1054.6 | 1019.0 | 13.51 | 4.60 | 65.20% | 0.230 | |
1880 | Ponarther | Königsberg | Sommerbier | Sommerbier | 1056.3 | 1025.0 | 13.91 | 4.03 | 55.60% | 0.250 | |
1880 | Woriener | Königsberg | Sommerbier | Sommerbier | 1056.5 | 1017.2 | 13.96 | 5.10 | 69.56% | 0.180 | |
1880 | Schönbuchser | Königsberg | Sommerbier | Sommerbier | 1062.0 | 1018.8 | 15.23 | 5.60 | 69.65% | 0.190 | |
1880 | Schönbuchser | Königsberg | Herbstbier | Herbstbier | 1065.4 | 1026.5 | 16.01 | 5.01 | 59.45% | 0.240 | |
Average | 1058.9 | 1021.3 | 14.52 | 4.87 | 63.89% | 0.218 | |||||
1887 | Brauerei-Aktien-Gesellschaft | Berlin Königstadt | Lagerbier Hell | Helles | 1056.0 | 1015.7 | 13.84 | 5.24 | 71.96% | 0.141 | 0.346 |
1887 | Brauerei-Aktien-Gesellschaft | Berlin Königstadt | Lagerbier Dunkel | Dunkles | 1061.9 | 1023.8 | 15.22 | 4.93 | 61.55% | 0.148 | 0.323 |
1887 | Brauerei-Aktien-Gesellschaft | Berlin Friedrichshain | Lagerbier | Lagerbier | 1065.8 | 1024.6 | 16.12 | 5.33 | 62.61% | 0.295 | |
Average | 1061.2 | 1021.4 | 15.06 | 5.16 | 65.38% | 0.145 | 0.321 | ||||
1894 | Unknown | Breslau | Lagerbier? | Lagerbier | 1045.7 | 1010.0 | 11.40 | 4.64 | 78.12% | 0.247 | |
1897 | Unknown | Breslau | Lagerbier? | Lagerbier | 1048.7 | 1014.6 | 12.10 | 4.41 | 69.99% | 0.161 | 0.322 |
Average | 1047.2 | 1012.3 | 11.75 | 4.53 | 74.05% | 0.161 | 0.285 | ||||
Source: | |||||||||||
Chemie der menschlichen Nahrungs- und Genussmittel by Joseph König, 1903, pages 1102 - 1156 |
Talking of Munich Bockbier, there are a whole load of Salvator analyses coming up. Lots from Zacherl, but also other breweries.
Where was I? Königsberg beers. Pretty poor attenuation overall. They must have had a lot of body, these beers. No lactic acid number, so I've no idea how acidic they were. The Märzen actually looks much like a modern version, apart from the crappy attenuation.
Next three random beers from Berlin. Note the big difference between the attenuation of the Helles and the Dunkles. You quite often see that today, too, that Dunkles has a lower degree of attenuation. I suppose because drinkers expect more body. The acidity is, as with just about every other set, quite high. You'll see something very odd when we get to Berliner Weisse. But I won't spoil that now. The CO2 level is the highest we've seen. Does that mean they liked their beer fizzier in Berlin? Too small a sample to really say. Though Berliner Weisse, a very highly-carbonated style, was popular in the city.
Now for the Erfurt beers. Did I mention that I spent my wedding night in Erfurt? The next day we lost Eddie when he was distracted by a group of Russian soldiers. The Erfurt beer was really good. Angerbräu Pils was one of my favourite DDR beers. Lovely stuff, especially on draught, Really nice and hoppy.
Erfurt Lagerbiers 1879 | |||||||||
Year | Brewer | Style | OG | FG | OG Plato | ABV | App. Atten-uation | lactic acid % | CO2 % |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1045.9 | 1010.6 | 11.45 | 4.59 | 76.91% | 0.16 | 0.25 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1047.0 | 1016.5 | 11.71 | 3.94 | 64.89% | 0.15 | 0.15 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1047.5 | 1014.1 | 11.83 | 4.33 | 70.32% | 0.15 | 0.20 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1048.7 | 1013.9 | 12.12 | 4.51 | 71.46% | 0.09 | 0.15 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1048.7 | 1015.0 | 12.12 | 4.36 | 69.20% | 0.15 | 0.21 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1049.1 | 1011.5 | 12.21 | 4.89 | 76.58% | 0.12 | 0.27 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1050.6 | 1016.4 | 12.57 | 4.43 | 67.59% | 0.06 | 0.20 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1050.8 | 1017.6 | 12.61 | 4.30 | 65.35% | 0.10 | 0.18 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1051.0 | 1019.0 | 12.66 | 4.14 | 62.75% | 0.11 | |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1051.3 | 1015.3 | 12.73 | 4.66 | 70.18% | 0.11 | 0.25 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1051.7 | 1021.2 | 12.83 | 3.94 | 58.99% | 0.09 | 0.10 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1052.0 | 1013.7 | 12.90 | 4.98 | 73.65% | 0.13 | 0.20 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1054.1 | 1015.6 | 13.39 | 5.00 | 71.16% | 0.06 | 0.15 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1054.2 | 1013.3 | 13.40 | 5.31 | 75.44% | 0.15 | |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1055.2 | 1016.7 | 13.65 | 4.99 | 69.75% | 0.15 | |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1055.4 | 1016.3 | 13.70 | 5.08 | 70.58% | 0.11 | 0.10 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1055.5 | 1016.3 | 13.72 | 5.09 | 70.63% | 0.10 | 0.20 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1057.5 | 1018.7 | 14.19 | 5.03 | 67.48% | 0.09 | 0.20 |
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1063.7 | 1015.1 | 15.63 | 6.34 | 76.30% | ||
1879 | Unknown | Lagerbier | 1067.6 | 1022.8 | 16.53 | 5.80 | 66.27% | 0.09 | 0.08 |
Average | 1052.9 | 1016.0 | 13.10 | 4.78 | 69.77% | 0.11 | 0.18 | ||
Source: | |||||||||
Chemie der menschlichen Nahrungs- und Genussmittel by Joseph König, 1903, pages 1102 - 1156 |
Right, Erfurt Lagerbiers. There's a fair spread of gravities but, once again, the average comes out to about 1053. Attenuation, at just under 70%, is a bit worse than most other sets. Though for once, at 0.11%, the lactic acid content is almost reasonable. Interesting how much lower the CO2 content is compared to the Berlin samples.
As a special treat, here are some modern beers from Erfurt - including Angerbräu Pils:
Walhaus-Bräu, Erfurt beers in 2014 | ||||||
Beer | Style | OG | FG | OG Plato | ABV | App. Atten-uation |
Waldhaus-Bräu | Helles? | 1048.6 | 1010.2 | 12.1 | 5.00 | 79.03% |
Stock-Dunkel | Dunkles | 1049.1 | 1009.9 | 12.2 | 5.10 | 79.82% |
Märzenbier | Märzen | 1056.7 | 1015.9 | 14 | 5.30 | 71.95% |
Weizen | Weizen | 1050.3 | 1011.9 | 12.5 | 5.00 | 76.35% |
Maibock | Maibock | 1069.2 | 1020.7 | 16.9 | 6.30 | 70.09% |
Rotbier | Rotbier | 1049.1 | 1013.6 | 12.2 | 4.60 | 72.28% |
Rauchbier | Rauchbier | 1050.3 | 1011.9 | 12.5 | 5.00 | 76.35% |
EM-Festbier | Helles | 1048.2 | 1009.8 | 12 | 5.00 | 79.67% |
Oktoberbock | Bock | 1067.5 | 1017.6 | 16.5 | 6.50 | 73.98% |
Doppelbock | Doppelbock | 1076.2 | 1018.8 | 18.5 | 7.50 | 75.33% |
Weihnachtsbier | Festbier | 1058.8 | 1016.5 | 14.5 | 5.50 | 72.04% |
Rauchbierbock | Bock Rauch | 1067.9 | 1019.5 | 16.6 | 6.30 | 71.35% |
Rauchweizendoppelbock | Doppelbock Rauchweizen | 1079.3 | 1025.5 | 19.2 | 7.00 | 67.91% |
Waldhaus WM-Bier | Festbier | 1055.4 | 1015.4 | 13.7 | 5.20 | 72.30% |
Average | 74.17% | |||||
Source: | ||||||
Waldhaus website | ||||||
http://www.waldhaus-erfurt.de/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=50 |
Braugold, Erfurt beers in 2014 | ||||||
Beer | Style | OG | FG | OG Plato | ABV | App. Atten-uation |
Braugold Festbier | Festbier | 1052.01 | 1007.6 | 12.9 | 5.80 | 85.39% |
Braugold Spezial | Spezial | 1046.95 | 1009.3 | 11.7 | 4.90 | 80.19% |
Braugold 1888 | Helles | 1050.32 | 1011.1 | 12.5 | 5.10 | 77.94% |
Braugold Hell | Helles | 1046.11 | 1009.2 | 11.5 | 4.80 | 80.05% |
Braugold Bock | Bock | 1068.33 | 1018.4 | 16.7 | 6.50 | 73.07% |
Erfurter Angerbräu Premium Pils | Pilsener | 1050.32 | 1010.4 | 12.5 | 5.20 | 79.33% |
Riebeck Premium Pilsener | Pilsener | 1046.53 | 1008.9 | 11.6 | 4.90 | 80.87% |
Braugold Porter | Porter | 1048.21 | 1017.3 | 12 | 4.00 | 64.22% |
Average | 77.63% | |||||
Source: | ||||||
Braugold website | ||||||
http://www.braugold.de/produkte.html |
The degree of attenuation is far higher, with the exception of the Waldhaus Märzen and the Braugold Porter.
As I said, there will probably be a gap before the next set. I'll maybe fill in with stuff from an 1960 article of Danish and German brewing.
1 comment:
"I wonder if there's a brewery there today?"
Yes there is, and its a division of Heineken. The beers have been imported to the U.S., and they are the typical mass produced Russian pilsners. Nothing to get excited about.
http://www.getbrand.com/blog/konigsberg-posle-rekonstrukcii-2/
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