A Rare German Specialty: Duckstein Rotblondes OberbrauMay 08 '02 Write an essay on this topic.
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Das Leben ist Schon-Life is beautiful. This is the motto of Duckstein beer, a rare specialty brew from Germany which has recently become available in the United States. Certainly, life is beautiful for those who taste this delicious, complex, and idiosyncratic German brew produced following a recipe that is more than 500 years old. In 1987, Holsten’s Feldschlossen subsidiary revived this classic beer. Duckstein, according to its maker Holsten, is an die alten Braumethoden angelehnten or brewed in the old style. This usually means ale fermentation and aging, but according to Holsten Duckstein is lagered. This is a Rotblondes Oberbrau, or a red-blond top beer, and it’s ingredients are only the finest: select dark malts, Noble Hallertau hops, and the local hard water that gives Duckstein its firm body. In addition, the beer is aged upon special wood chips that add to its complexity. Originally, Duckstein was brewed in Königslutter am Elm, and is said to have been extremely popular in the court of Frederick the Great over 260 years ago. Frederick was a consummate admirer of French culture, but it seems in the great beer vs. wine debate he sided with the drink of his native land. For many years after its recall to life, Duckstein was a limited production, draft only specialty available exclusively to discriminating German beer drinkers. Many thanks are due Holsten for exporting it to the United States. Large brewers are often criticized for the limited variety they offer consumers, but here we have quite the opposite: a large brewer offering beer drinkers a taste of history. Duckstein is attractively packaged. The brown bottle has a wide base, tapers slightly and then expands back to slightly more than the bottom’s girth, giving it a slightly bulbous appearance. An elegant “D” is embossed in the glass just below the neck, and the petite label is decorated with a picture of an ancient castle. Duckstein Rotblondes Oberbrau pours to an orange-red color with a thick, creamy and rocky head formation and a hoppy pilsner like nose. The palate is smooth, lightly toasty, malty and hints faintly at toffee and powdery cocoa. It is slightly smoky and salty as well. The finish is mildly bitter. Alcohol is 4.9% by volume. This is a wonderfully complex ale. I recommend drinking it alone to fully appreciate its complex palate, although it would pair well with pork, chicken, or fish. Holsten maintains a beautiful website for this beer, in German: http://www.duckstein.de/index.html EPINIONS CRITERIA: Overall Rating: Five Stars Beer Rating: A must - sensational Weight: Medium Body Flavor: Bitter Complexity: Complex Price: $3.49 per 500ml bottle  |
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