Edelstoff is a German lager beer produced by Augustiner Brewery, which is the oldest brewery in Munich, Germany, dating back to 1328. Edelstoff is considered a fine German lager and is the go-to beer at the annual Munich Oktoberfest, where it is served from wooden barrels. It is a bright gold, crisp, and bitter beer with notes of cut grass, herbs, and sweet malts. It is made with only water, barley, and hops, in accordance with German purity laws. Edelstoff is available for purchase online from websites such as Beer Merchants, Beer Town, and Beers of Europe, which deliver to the UK and Europe.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name | Augustiner Edelstoff |
Brewery | Augustiner-Bräu |
Brewery Location | Munich, Germany |
Brewery Year Founded | 1328 |
ABV | 5.7% |
Style | Helles, Dortmunder Lager, Dortmunder Export Lager |
Colour | Bright gold, golden, rich yellow |
Flavour Notes | Cut grass, herbs, sweet malts, light malt, honey, vanilla, grassy hops, wildflower honey, lemon, bread, biscuit |
Mouthfeel | Smooth, creamy, crisp, light-bodied, delicate carbonation, medium-soft carbonation |
Food Pairings | Southern German cuisine, soft pretzels, German sausages, salads, roast pork, slow-cooked pork |
Availability | Beers of Europe, Beer Merchants, Beer Town, BeerAdvocate, Craft Beers Delivered |
What You'll Learn
Online beer retailers
Edelstoff is a helles beer, a type of lager, brewed by Augustiner Bräu, which is considered to be Munich's oldest independent brewery. It is a world-class beer, made with only water, barley, and hops, in accordance with German purity laws.
There are several online beer retailers that sell Edelstoff beer:
Beers of Europe
Beers of Europe is an online beer retailer that offers a wide range of beers from around the world, including Edelstoff. They offer free delivery for orders over £100 and also have a physical store located on the outskirts of King's Lynn, Norfolk.
Beer Sniffers
Beer Sniffers is an online beer shop that offers a variety of craft beers, real ales, lagers, and beer gifts. They offer free delivery for orders over £75.
Beer Merchants
Beer Merchants is an online store that offers a great selection of beers, including Edelstoff. They have a wide range of options, from classic lagers to unique craft beers.
BeerAdvocate
BeerAdvocate is a website that allows users to review and rate beers. While it is not an online store, it does provide information on where to purchase Edelstoff, such as the Greenville Beer Exchange in South Carolina, USA.
Chicago Beer Taxes: Understanding the Extra Cost
You may want to see also
In-person beer retailers
Augustiner Edelstoff is available at several in-person retailers. Beers of Europe, for example, has a shop located on the outskirts of King's Lynn, Norfolk. The Beer Town, another in-person retailer, is located at 32 Glasgow Road Blantyre, G72 0JY.
In addition, Augustiner Edelstoff is distributed in nearly every state in the US. You can find the list of distributors at www.gviimports.com/distributors.html.
Personalized Beer Chips: Where to Buy Your Custom Treats
You may want to see also
German beer purity laws
Augustiner Edelstoff is a helles beer made with only water, barley, and hops, in accordance with German purity laws. The German Beer Purity Law, or the Reinheitsgebot, is a series of regulations that limit the ingredients used in beer production in Germany. It is the oldest food safety law related to food and drink in the world, and it has influenced brewing not only in Germany but around the world.
The original Bavarian law, enacted in 1516, stated that the only ingredients allowed in beer were water, barley, and hops. Yeast was later added to this list after its role in fermentation was discovered in the 19th century. The law was enacted to prevent the use of unsavoury and dangerous ingredients in beer production, as well as to ensure the availability of affordable bread by reserving wheat and rye for bakers. It also played a role in suppressing the use of plants allegedly used in pagan rituals.
The Reinheitsgebot remains influential today, with modern versions of the law declaring that only malted barley, wheat, rye, hops, water, and yeast are permitted ingredients in beer. While some have argued that the law has slowed Germany's adoption of popular beer trends from other parts of the world, it is still considered a sign of purity and a valuable marketing tool. German brewers have even attempted to have the law added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritages.
Buying Beer in Illinois: Grocery Store Rules Explained
You may want to see also
German breweries
Edelstoff is a helles beer brewed by Augustiner-Bräu, which is considered Munich's oldest independent brewery, founded in 1328 by Augustinian monks. Augustiner-Bräu is one of six breweries that serve the Munich Oktoberfest.
German beer is renowned worldwide, and the country has a rich history of brewing. Beer plays a significant cultural role in Germany, and German beer was historically brewed in strict adherence to the Reinheitsgebot, a regulation that permitted only water, hops, yeast, and malt as beer ingredients.
Today, the Provisional German Beer Law regulates the brewing process, allowing a broader range of ingredients and additives in top-fermenting beers. However, these additives must be removed from the final product.
- Benediktiner Weissbrau
- Flensburger Brauerei
- Hacker-Pschorr Brewery
- Klosterbrauerei Andechs
- König Ludwig Schlossbrauerei
- Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
- Stuttgarter Hofbräu
Nirvana Beer: Where to Buy and Taste Nirvana
You may want to see also
German beer gardens
Edelstoff beer is a type of Helles beer, which gets its name from the German word "Hell", meaning light or pale. It is a crisp, refreshing, bright gold-coloured beer with a smooth mouthfeel. This Munich-style lager is made with only water, barley and hops, in accordance with German purity laws.
Now, onto German beer gardens!
The History of German Beer Gardens
Beer gardens (or "Biergartens" in German) have been a constant in Germany since the 19th century, but they originated in Bavaria (of which Munich is the capital) in the 1800s. They are typically attached to a brewery, beer hall, pub, or restaurant, and can be found in almost every German village and city.
The first beer gardens were created to brew and store beer during the warmer months. Large breweries dug cellars into the banks of the River Isar to keep their beer cool, and "beer cellars" for consuming beer soon followed. To further reduce the temperature of the cellars, brewers planted horse-chestnut trees above ground for shade, and soon after, simple tables and benches were set up, creating the "beer gardens" known today.
The popularity of these informal drinking spots threatened traditional taverns, so Bavaria's first king, Maximilian I, signed a decree allowing brewers to sell beer but not food. However, a compromise was reached, and patrons were allowed to bring their own food, starting the tradition of the "Biergarten".
German Beer Garden Culture
Beer gardens are communal spaces with shared tables, and it is common to ask other groups if a seat is free ("Ist dieser Platz frei?"). While Germans are experts at preserving their personal space in crowded settings, it is also common to socialise and share tables with strangers, creating a feeling of "Gemütlichkeit" (warmth, friendliness, and belonging).
Most beer gardens have a central beer-pouring station where you order and pay, and an area to order food. It is also customary in some beer gardens to bring your own food, a tradition stemming from the original decree by Maximilian I.
Food and Drink at German Beer Gardens
As well as beer, German beer gardens offer traditional German food, including:
- Brotzeit: "Bread time", the basic snack of the biergarten, e.g. black bread, Obatzter (soft white cheese with onions and chives), sausage, pickle and radish
- Brezeln: soft pretzels
- Wurst: sausage, e.g. Weisswurst (before noon in Bavaria) or Thuringian Bratwurst
- German salads: Kartoffelsalat and Sauerkraut (but be aware that bacon can find its way into any German dish!)
- Spätzle: egg noodles with fried onions and cheese
- Hendl: half a chicken with a garlic sauce
- Flammkuchen: Alsatian thin-crust pizza with crème fraîche, onions, and bacon
- Schweinshaxe: pork knuckle
If you want to opt for a lighter drink, you can try a radler, which is a mix of beer and lemonade.
Where to Find Heady Topper Beer in Vermont
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Edelstoff beer is available for purchase at Beers of Europe, Beer Merchants, Beer Town, and Craft Beers Delivered.
Edelstoff beer, or Augustiner Edelstoff, is a helles beer that is crisp, refreshing, and bright gold in colour. It is made with only water, barley, and hops, in accordance with German purity laws.
Edelstoff beer has notes of cut grass, herbs, and sweet malts, with a moderate bitterness. It is described as light-bodied with a delicate carbonation, resulting in a smooth mouthfeel.