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Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U

Posted by Barry on 2009-12-24 04:17:20

As you say, Nick, it’s a hell of a lot of beer for one pub! I guess I’ll just have to give it a go some time. During my visits to Germany, I’ve sampled a good few bottled beers (who can resist beer at €0.60-odd a throw in a supermarket!), including those from all the Bamberg breweries, and I would say that, without exception, all are pasteurised and with added CO2. And, all, generally end up tasting much the same. I think that Hirschbrau simply put their normal naturally carbonated beer in bottles (swing top type) – And, yes, there is sediment. The label is very simple and loosely attached to the neck, with a date stamp (rubber ink-block type) stating ‘Mindestens haltbar bis:’ (you can translate better than I). In the case of the one that I have before me, a beautiful dunkler bock, 23 Jan 2010. Belgium brewers manage to market their bottle conditioned beers internationally (i.e. Duvel, Chimay, etc., etc.), so I can’t see any reason why German brewers can’t do the same in Germany. Re the Reinheitsgebot: I’m minded to quote Ronald Pattinson here (my first introduction to the possibilities of Bamberg – he must have been in more pubs than the rest of us can dream of!). I too am beginning to think that it is a handy diversion and a great marketing ploy but, nowadays, little else. Nick, you are living in Germany and understand the contemporary beer culture better than I. I am only going on my limited impressions (and not much real knowledge) but it seems to me that you are absolutely correct in your summary. Maybe there is a need for a CAMRA? After all, in Britain, we were all happily drinking away at the products of our local breweries (good and bad) when we suddenly woke up in the 1960s to find that they were rapidly being bought out by conglomerates who were interested in nothing but profit. The ultimate product, a standardised, pasteurised, artificially carbonated liquid that was passed off as beer (anyone remember Red Barrel?). Uncle Jimbo, I had that experience on my second visit this year to Mahrs. However, the waitress kindly informed me that the U vom fass was finished and, on the advice of a regular, switched to the Helles. On the third occasion, she didn’t bother, just bought a sidla of bottled U and, being in the back room, I hadn’t noticed until I started drinking. Like Fred and his friends, we voted with our feet. Why don’t Mahrs do as you say and have a couple of smaller vessels available – after all, it’s not as if they have to go to far to get them. I think now that they believe in their own (and other people’s) publicity and have become complacent – not just my view, but also that of a share of their regulars. Mr Harvey: I’m not sure what point you are making? I understand that the beer will contain a level of natural carbonation but what has that got to do with the practice of dispensing using added CO2? I agree about pasteurisation but find it hard to believe that, as a professional brewer, you are happy see your products destroyed by adding CO2 (can I enquire which brewery you work at please?). CAMRA has worked strenuously over many years to try to prevent pubs and breweries carrying out this practice, including using invidious little tricks such as adding blanket pressure to barrels of real ale. In the end, as Nick says, all these practices are simply ‘a craving for efficiency’, which is really a euphemism for trying to increase profit levels at the expense of the consumer.

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U by A Harvey on 2009-12-24 12:23:34

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U by Barry on 2009-12-25 08:41:41

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U by Robbie Pickering on 2010-01-02 15:28:54

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U by Barry on 2010-01-03 07:23:25

Bright Beer, Conditioning, etc. by Nick B. on 2010-01-04 00:53:40

Bright Beer, Conditioning, etc. by Barry on 2010-01-04 08:48:52

Bright Beer, Conditioning, etc. by Uncle Jimbo on 2010-01-04 13:32:40

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U by Mark Andersen on 2010-01-04 15:10:17

Bright Beer, Conditioning, etc. by Nick B. on 2010-01-05 01:22:34

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U by Nick B. on 2010-01-05 01:40:22

Bright Beer, Conditioning, etc. by Barry on 2010-01-05 03:18:42

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U by Barry on 2010-01-05 03:47:49

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U by Mark Andersen on 2010-01-05 06:16:41

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U by Mark Andersen on 2010-01-05 07:02:19

Natural carbonation in beers by Uncle Jimbo on 2010-01-05 10:22:09

Buzzards Bay by Uncle Jimbo on 2010-01-05 10:31:31

Bright Beer, Conditioning, etc. by Fred Waltman on 2010-01-05 17:08:46

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Joelle on 2010-01-11 09:03:37

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Mark Andersen on 2010-01-11 12:35:18

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Joelle on 2010-01-11 13:10:47

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Fred Waltman on 2010-01-11 14:17:07

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Joelle on 2010-01-12 07:55:11

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Uncle Jimbo on 2010-01-12 11:08:54

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Nick B. on 2010-01-12 23:32:06

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by TreinJan on 2010-01-13 00:26:32

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Nick B. on 2010-01-13 02:08:48