Friends, let me start this little reflection on Wurzburger Hofbrau Premium Bavarian Beer by stating that this beer and I go way, way back. I was drinking this beer as early as 1983 when it was first imported into the USA by St. Killian Importing, or perhaps even earlier, since the New York Times reported it as being imported into Rhode Island (where I grew up) as early as 1981. At the time, the beer was imported by Anheuser-Busch as their premium import brand. I remember fondly drinking Wurzburger Hofbrau in those early days of my now illustrious drinking career.

The October, 1985 issue of All About Beer magazine reports that, at least for a time, Anheuser-Busch brewed Wurzburger beers under license and eventually ignored the brand into irrelevance. However, that same year St. Killian began importing the real stuff from Germany again (including the truly wonderful Wurzburger Hofbrau Holiday Beer, one of the finest doppelbocks that I’ve ever tasted and a beer I drank by the case-when I could find it).

For the most part, I haven’t seen Wurzburger beers here in Georgia since my relocation in 2001, aside from the odd appearance of their Julius Echter Hefe-Weiss Dunkel. I was therefore very happy indeed to see gleaming bottles of Wurzburger Hofbrau on the shelves at Total Wine recently. “Hofbrau” means royal court brew, and Wurzburger, located in Wurzburg, Bavaria, traces its history back to 1643. Wurzburger Hofbrau is a pilsner in style, and a very fine one indeed.

From the website:

A typical Franconian Pils with a particularly distinct and fine malty note. The elegant aromatic hoppy bitterness gives our pils its typical character.

Wurzburger Hofbrau Premium Bavarian Beer has an alcohol content of 4.9% by volume. I paid $11.99 for a six-pack bottles, and they are stamped as best before the end of November, 2016.

Wurzburger Hofbrau Premium Bavarian Beer pours to a pale straw color with a thick unruly head of foam and a delightful nose of fresh biscuit malt and earthy floral hops. Taking a sip, the beer screams crisp biscuity pilsner malt, at least until the hops take over and leave the beer finishing with a floral, grassy bitter lingering finish.

Wurzburger Hofbrau Premium Bavarian Beer is truly wonderful indeed, and its remarkable balance between fresh malt and earthy hops is truly sublime. This beer rivals my beloved Konig Pilsner in the style, though the fact that konig sells for about $2 less a six-pack knocks Wurzburger Hofbrau down a half star. That said, this is a delightful old friend that I’m so happy to see again.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft



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