Flötzinger Hell
 

Review Date 12/2/2020  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Munich Helles   Brewery: Flötzinger Franz Steegmüller   Country: Germany   State: N/A   $ Per OZ: $.16 (B)   ABV: 5%

For Christmas of 2015, my wife bought me a really cool present: BeerAdvent Calendar 2015 from Kalea. In truth, my wife got me a lot of nice presents (she’s the best wife ever), but the nice thing about the Beer Advent Calendar is you get it early. You have to, since it’s comprised of 24 different imported German beers in a box with little doors that you open, one per day from December 1st through December 24th. All of the beers are listed on the side of the carton, however, so be careful not to look and spoil the daily surprises!

I love German beer more than beer from any other country on Earth, so this was definitely right up my alley. I have managed to get my hands on one of these calendars each year since, and have never been disappointed. Overall, this is an amazing way to sample 24 German beers over 24 days, and I look forward to it every year. For the first three years, I've found these at Costco in Georgia and paid $59.95 for the box. In 2018, though, we were in Spring Hill Tennessee and I saw these on a pallet at the local Costco in mid-October. I grabbed one there to make sure I didn't miss out. They were up $5 to $64.95 (and indeed, when I did see them at the new Costco in Woodstock, Georgia a month later they were the same price). For 2019, I found them earlier than ever (September 26th) and bought one at Costco here in Georgia for $63.95, though curiously they were down to $59.95 on my next visit.

As with many things, 2020 proved to be a challenge for other reasons. Covid ravaged America, and one had to wonder if the 2020 Beer Advent Calendar would make it to America at all. Kalea said it would, so starting in early September, I made a weekly trek to Costco (masked, and practicing social distancing). On September 25th, there they were! I got one for myself, and one for my daughter's boyfriend, which she got him as a Christmas gift. I paid $62.99 and I am glad I did, because within a few weeks they were gone. Grab them when you see them friends!

That might sound steep, but when you distribute that price over 24 different half liter cans, it only works out to $2.62 per can. Not a bad deal at all looked at that way. It certainly does not stop these from selling, as I mentioned, they always go quickly.

For 2020, there are eight new beers in the mix and 16 returning favorites. I do like this, because there are a lot of the beers that I really enjoy, and want to enjoy again. It's like 16 old friends and 8 new ones in the same box. What's better than that?

Day 1 arrived, December 1st, always a special time! Reports vary on the content of boxes, and some folks got a different beer than I did. What I did pull out of the box, though, was a can of Flötzinger Hell from Flötzinger Brauerei Franz Steegmüller of Rosenheim. This is a new beer for me! Exciting.

Flötzinger says on their website:

Das Kultbier seit Generationen.
Der Geschmack ist vollmundig mit milder Hopfennote und ausgeprägter Malz-aromatik. Hochwertiges bayerisches Malz, Hopfen aus der Hallertau, bester Aromahopfen aus Tettnang am Bodensee und die behutsame Gärung geben dem Flötzinger Hell seinen einzigartigen Geschmack.
Ein Bier mit milder Persönlichkeit.
Erhältlich in der "dicken" Euro-Flasche und in der kleinen 0,33 l Flasche - ideal für Partys und zum Grillen..

Which means, if you don't speak German:

The cult beer for generations.
The taste is full-bodied with a mild hop note and pronounced malt aroma. High-quality Bavarian malt, hops from the Hallertau, best aroma hops from Tettnang on Lake Constance and a careful fermentation give the Flötzinger Hell its unique taste. A beer with a mild personality. Available in the "thick" Euro bottle and in the small 0.33 l bottle - ideal for parties and grilling.

My can from the Beer Advent Calendar is listed as 5% by volume, although the brewery listing for the beer has it at 5.2% with 18 IBUs. My can is stamped EXP 2022/05. The can does say the beer was brewed by Flötzinger and is not a contract brew to Egerer as many have been in years past.

Flotziger Hell pours to a pale golden color with a thick fluffy white head and a crisp bready malt nose. Taking a sip, the beer is crisp biscuity and bready with a luscious fresh maltiness. It finishes gently balanced, only bitter appropriate to the style. Enough to balance the beer only. I love the wonderful malt flavors going on here, and I think you will, too.

I’m greatly enjoying my Beer Advent Calendar 2020 with the day 1 beer. Here’s looking forward to the remaining 23, and another assortment of 24 in 2021. We’ll be on the lookout next year at Costco once again! Follow them on their Facebook page.

The beers of the 2020 Beer Advent Calendar:

Day 1 Flötzinger Hell

Day 2 Furst Carl Kellerbier

Day 3 Käuzle German Pilsner Style

Day 4 Zwönitzer Steinbier