Burgerliches Brauhaus Altbairisch Hell Beer Review

Burgerliches Brauhaus Altbairisch Hell

Review Date 5/1/2020 By John Staradumsky

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. Last year, 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). This year, 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.

That might sound steep, but when you distribute that price over 24 different half liter cans, it only works out to $2.66 per can. Not a bad deal at all looked at that way. It certainly does not stop these from selling; a follow up trip to my local Woodstock Costco a few weeks after I saw them and there they were: gone!

For 2019, there are six new beers in the mix and 18 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 18 old friends and 6 news ones in the same box. What's better than that?

On Day 9, December 9th of course, I opened a door to a can of Bürgerliches Brauhaus Altbairisch Hell from Herrnbräu of Ingolstadt. Herrnbrau owns the Bügrerliches Brahaus brand, and that brewery says of their history on their website:

Das Bürgerliches Brauhaus entstand 1882 als Aktiengesellschadt durch den Zusammenschluss der Traditionsbrauerien Schwabenbräu und Schmalzingerbräu.

In English that means:

The Bürgerliches Brauhaus was founded in 1882 as a share company by the merger of the traditional breweries Schwabenbräu and Schmalzingerbräu.

About the Altbairisch Hell they say:

Mit dem Altbairisch Hell haben unsere Braumeister nun einen Klassiker der regionalen Bierkultur neu entdeckt. Nach originaler Rezept mit Liebe zum Handwerk gebraut...und das wird belohnt!

In English that means:

With the Altbairisch Hell, our master brewer has rediscovered a classic of regional beer culture. Brewed according to an original recipe with love of craftsmanship...and that will be rewarded!

Bürgerliches Brauhaus Altbairisch Hell has an alcohol content of 5% by volume. My can is stamped EXP 05/2021. I drank it on December 29th 2019. The can says this beer is Gebraut von Herrnbrau GmbH, so does not appear to be contract brewed by Egerer.

Bürgerliches Brauhaus Altbairisch Hell pours to a pale golden color with a thick fluffy head of foam and a soft biscuity-bready malt nose. The palate delivers the same wonderful crisp malt flavors the nose promised, and the beer finishes with a gentle kiss of herbal hops. An excellent Helles, delivering the malt and balancing but not overpowering with the hops.

I’m greatly enjoying my Beer Advent Calendar 2019 with the day 9 beer. Here’s looking forward to the remaining 15, and another assortment of 24 in 2020. We’ll be on the lookout next year at Costco once again! Follow them on their Facebook page.