Keesmann Sternla Lager

Brewed by Brauerei Keesmann
Style: Zwickel/Keller/Landbier
Bamberg, Germany

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

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Part two of the Germanic beer offerings, Keesman Sternla Lager is the beverage of choice with a Pizza and salad Friday. Completely by accident, this pairing is not heavenly, its lifesaving. Ever opting for the hottest, most outrageously spicy offering the n a pizza possible, the damn thing burns like thermite. The only way to quench this inferno is a strong, malty bomb. Sternla Lager is just the job. Cracking the bottle and on the pour, Stern a throws hints of halted biscuit, fresh hay, and just a small hint of ester. Very interesting stuff indeed. Speaking of pour, this brew is art made manifest. Surging in a turbid swash like a storm, Sternla settles into a gorgeous clear burnt amber glow, the rival of any quality Vienna lager, while the head is a firm, robust cap which any beer enthusiast worth his salt would expect of a German beer. Unusually, Sternla is listed as a kellerbier, but so far all signs suggests a Vienna. Amber? Vienna. Crystal clear hue? Vienna. Moderate carbonation? Yes sir, Vienna. The proving however is in the tasting. My god, what a taste. Initially Sternla begins with a very subtle hint of breast yeast, but this swiftly changes to a growing citric acidity and bitterness, backed up by a more subtle but present malty backbone, like the coffee and vanilla hints in good Cuban cigar. This continues through to a climax of lingering grapefruit sourness, this might not sound too appealing but supported by the biscuit malt and given the serving temperature, it is a most satisfying Finnish that practically demands an appreciative "Aaaaaah" To summarise? Sternla Lager acts and looks like a very, very fine Vienna lager, however it exchanges the stronger malt influence in the typical Vienna with a more bitter, citric astringency. Radically different to the GOS Sanger Kellerbier of that I am sure, Sternla may or may not be an example the of kellerbier (should anyone be in the know be able to offer an insight I would be very grateful), what I do know is that this is another enormous success chalked up to the Teutons. dankeshun mit prost!

Amber beer. Fading bit darker coloured head. Hop aromas predominant with traces of leaves. Light lively, bit velvety and washy. Earth notes and floral hints. Light body. Finish is there but fading nicely in the background. Good beer for in between or good average allrounder.

Tap at the Brauhaus - 27/04/12. Poured to a mid copper/amber colour with a thick slightly off-white head. Caramel, malts, a litttle butter on the nose. Malts (slightly roasted) were the predominant flavour, medium body/carbonation and a slightly bitter finish. Not the best beer on this trip!

Bottle at Sternla. Beautiful reddish copper with a rocky yellow-tinged head. Light, light bitterness but lasting, toffee, earth, dry, gritty, caramel, faint fruit, super! Medium body.

From Tap in the Brewhouse. The head is robust, the body red-brown. Interessting different malty taste, also it is a bit smokey, sweet-malt, a little bit hoppy. Nice aromatic malty Lager! 11/12/11/11/10/11

UPDATED: MAY 31, 2012 Half litre at the Sternla, copper colour, clear. Large, thick, well retained head. Smelled some english style hops and some sour fruits but the aroma was on the faint side. Fairly sweet taste, malty with a slight bitter finish. Smooth, medium body with moderate carbonation. Overall a refreshing malty rather than hoppy Lager, fairly refreshing. Decent but not the best from Keesmann.

Draught @ Akkurat. Notes of vegtables, apricots and sweet white bread. Burned aftertaste, with an annoying strange bitterness. OK.

bread, spruce, earthy, cooked vegetables, amber, sparkling, frothy, medium sweetness, very bitter, medium body, sticky, average carbonation, bitter,

Tap@Brewpub. Neutral aroma. Pale amber, off-white head, fair lace. Light sweet, lightly oxidized, light hoppy. Medium body. Hard to finish a 0.5 litre glass.