Kaiser Beer: A Big Can of Austrian (not Australian) Lager
Jul 05 '01
The Bottom Line Tasty, inexpensive, somewhat hard to find. Good beer is made in the country of Austria.
Much to my delight, International Import Export of Los Angeles, California, has recently introduced a high-quality, low cost Märzen beer here in Southern California: Kaiser Beer.
The Beer
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Kaiser Beer is brewed by the Hofbräu Kaltenhausen (founded 1646), but that operation was absorbed by the larger Brau Union Österreich in 1921 when five Austrian breweries combined to form one giant union. Brau Union also produces Adambräu Bier, Edelweiss, Gösser, Schlossgold, Zipfer, and other Austrian brands in addition to its line-up of other European brands: Starobrno (Czech Republic); several Romanian brands such as Arberna, Craiova and Marbera, and even some Hungarian and Polish beer brands.
This 5.2% alcohol by volume lager pours in the glass producing a prodigiously huge, frothy white head. Unlike the amber Märzen beers that most people are familiar with (i.e., the Oktoberfest beers) this on is golden yellow in color (this is a clear Helles or pale beer). This is a malty Vollbier that finished on the bitter side with full-hopped flavor. A Vollbier is a full-bodied beer, and in the Austrian style this beer fits somewhere in between an amber, bottom-fermented München beer and a golden Czech Pilsner.
Unlike Germany, Austria does not have a Reinheitsgebot "beer purity law." Therefore, the use of unmalted cereal adjuncts in the beer making process (e.g., corn and rice) are allowed.
This beer is Austria's leading beer brand. As they say in Salzburg: Hast ein Kaiser, bist ein Kaiser. (If you have a Kaiser (beer), you are a king.)
Price and Availability
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Normally, I don't like my beer from aluminum cans, but I do sometimes make exceptions. In this case, a six-pack of 500 ml cans (just over one pint, each) cost only $3.99 (at Trader Joe's). I considered that a deal "too good" to pass up... so I didn't. I really enjoy lager beers, and at only 68¢ per 16+ oz. serving, I was very pleased by the beer.
Recommendations
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This lager pairs well with most hearty meals; it's a true meat-and-potatoes type of beverage. Yes... laugh if you will, but I really like this beer with a grilled Bratwurst and Sauerkraut. This beer is cheaper than a Spaten Pils and it hits the spot just as well.
Kaiser is a German word that means "king." Although this is not the finest Austrian beer I have tried (I prefer Brau Union's Gösser Export Pils), it definitely ranks as a "good buy" simply because of its stunning value. It is hard to find beer this good at such a remarkable price and I confidently recommend this beer to anyone wanting to try something different.
I definitely would recommend it to others who are considering purchasing a macro-brew product like Budweiser, Miller Draft, or Coors. This beer has a better, more robust flavor and doesn't have the corn sweetness or rice aftertaste that you experience in some American beer products.
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Epinions.com ID:
4-1-1
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 - Top 50 |
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Member: Tom Carr
Location: Southern California
Reviews written: 1091
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