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Hey, what’s that on the beer holiday calendar? (Where the hell is a good beer holiday calendar??) It’s German Beer Day! Germany has long had a special place in the beer drinker’s heart, as the home of high quality and drinkable beer, maybe not as fancy as Belgian, but trustworthy in its effects. Although there aren’t that many German craft beers floating around, some classics do make their way across the continent and populate the shelves of better stores. Schneider-Weisse is one that isn’t hard to find, and the weissbier style is right for the times…of excessive heat and dryness.

Although light and snappy looking, it delivers a thick malty aroma. The head is bubbly and controlled. The flavor is difficult to pin down – I get the dusty maltiness up front, but there’s a spiciness that I didn’t expect right beside it. The wheat is clear enough, and not that weird aftertaste some of the more commercial German ones have, but it also has a pretty strong essence of hops. It’s a pretty mouth-filling beer, which shouldn’t be a surprise from a doppelbock. In spite of that, it’s very soothing, with an almost medicinal flavor developing over time. There’s a much more bubbly texture than I’m used to from bock beers, but it’s not unwelcome. It has a satisfying modern feel along with a comforting whisper of tradition, and I think that’s what a lot of people would hope for when they look for a beer to celebrate on German Beer Day.

Supplier: Birra Y Paz
Price: €3.50