Hacker-Pschorr
Munich, Germany
Imported by: Star Brands Imports
White Plains, NY
Available: beginning in June/July
The Hacker Brewery was founded in Munich 99 years before the enactment of the Rheinheitsgebot Purity Law of 1516. In 1972, Hacker merged with the much-younger Pschorr Brewery to form Hacker-Pschorr.
Alcohol (vol): 5.5
Alcohol (wt): 4.4
Color: n/a
Bitterness: n/a
Original gravity: n/a
As you would expect from an unfiltered German wheat beer; you'll find a big fluffy head, hazy light amber/marmalade color, and flavors of banana, vanilla, and clove. Subtler notes of plum, lemon, honey and sulfur round everything out and add complexity. Tasty and also thirst-quenching!
“Star” is how my German-English dictionary translates stern, an obvious reference to the symbol for the Pschorr part of this merged brewery’s name. The nose is typical for the style, with a rich banana-y fruitiness cut by undertones of fresh lemon and background notes of clove, but also a curious whiff of fresh cream. In the body, the creaminess persists, along with an assertively fruity palate, making this one of the richest tasting hefeweizens I’ve ever sampled. I’d pair it with fresh goat cheese and good bread, or perhaps a fruit and onion salad.
John Hansell is an equal-opportunity drinker. He writes about beer, wine and spirits. He is the creator, publisher & editor of Malt Advocate, a magazine for the whisky enthusiast.
Stephen Beaumont boarded his first plane at the age of 15 and hasn’t looked back since, obsessing about travel to the point that he gets nervous if he doesn’t have a ticket or two stacked on the corner of his desk. When he’s not running around in search of new taste experiences, he makes his home in Toronto, where a new cultural experience is only as far away as the next neighborhood.
