Beer: Hacker-Pschorr - Animator Doppelbock

HACKER-PSCHORR ANIMATOR DOPPELBOCK (Munich, Germany) - 4.25 (excellent)

The final brew in Hacker-Pschorr’s limited seasonal series of 2014, this is a classic doppelbock straight from Munich, and apparently is available for the first time in North America this year, albeit in very limited quantities. I’d recommend picking this one up if you do see it out and about.

Pours a cloudy, hearty amber with crimson highlights, and a thick head of fine off-white carbonation Virtually no lace here, though! 

Aroma is toasty malt grains, dried candied fruit, toffee, and fireside roasted nuts. Complexity? Yes!

Taste is rich, malty, and sweet, again with hints of toasted malts and dark, dried fruit and toffee. The thick malt profile gives way to a light, hoppy zing of bitterness at the finish, and I do detect a slight alcohol heat as well. Overall, a delightful and world-class doppelbock that’s packed with complexity and drinkability despite the high 8.1% ABV. 

Hacker-Pschorr site

Beer: Hacker-Pschorr Sternweisse

HACKER PSCHORR - STERNWEISSE (Munich, Germany) - 4.25 (exceptional)

The second of four small-batch releases from this legendary German brewery, Hacker-Pschorr's Sternweisse is a dark wheat beer/hefeweizen that pours a cloudy, murky amber in my Hacker-Pschorr hefe glassware. I get a rich, frothy head of off-white carbonation and some minor lacing.

The aroma here is strong on the spices. I get wheat, caramel, coriander and some traces of clove. Very promising start, indeed!

The taste is sweet but well-balanced. It's a malt-based beer, of course, but the touch of spice adds some depth. I get some dark fruit underneath it all, too, before it finishes with a citrusy lemon spice hint. 

This is an exquisite, complex, and very very drinkable brew, light enough for Summer (or anytime) enjoyment.

Hacker-Pschorr site

Beer: Hacker-Pschorr Hubertus Bock

HACKER-PSCHORR HUBERTUS BOCK (Munich, Germany) - 4.25 (exceptional)

This exquisite and limited German brew pours a fairly light golden-amber in my Hacker-Pschorr stein. Head of carbonation is substantial and lace is lovely and detailed.

Aroma is toasty grains, with a tinge of caramel and bread. Maybe a bit of citrus in there, too. Definitely appealing.

Flavor is more of the same -- toasty bread, yeast, and caramel malts. A hint of hoppy citrus arrives just around the finish, making this a delightful and well-rounded brew. Superb and well worth finding.

As well, be on the lookout for other limited seasonal brews for US distribution from Hacker-Pschorr: May 2014 will bring Sternweisse (an amber-hued wheat beer), July 2014 brings Festbier (a golden lager), and coming in November is Animator (a heavy doppelbock).

Many thanx to Charles Stanley at Paulaner HP USA for the sample, info, and swag! Prost!

Hacker-Pschorr dot com

Beer: Schofferhofer - Grapefruit Hefeweizen

I've never been much a fan of Summer shandies or radlers. Some of the more mainstream beer/fruit juice mixes seem far too artificial and sweet for my more "mature" (read: hop-centric) taste buds! Hah! But this German import mixes 50% real hefeweizen with 50% "natural grapefruit flavors". And it doesn't suck. 

Schofferhofer Grapefruit-Hefeweizen Mix is easy to drink, and at a meager 2.5% ABV, you could easily down a sixer without even getting tipsy. Maybe. Anyway, I'm not sure how easy this beer is to find, or what states it's distributed in, but it does retail for $8.99-$9.99. Ask your local retailer if their distributors can get it. So, how about that review? 

Pours a weird orange (like a Fanta or Crush), but it's an impenetrably cloudy and opaque -- like a proper hefeweizen! No lace here. Nose is subtle grapefruit, with some sharp wheat character. Actually not bad. Taste is sweet grapefruit and a hint of wheat sharpness. Actually, this isn't too far from a citrus soft drink, with an infusion of beer. Call it a radler or a shandy or whatever, but this drinks very easily. And at a lowly 2.5% ABV, this is perfect for Summer yardwork. Enjoyable!

Official Schofferhofer.de site

"Playgirls Of Munich" 2xDVD (director: Navred Reef)

Ah, reissues of old 70s-era grindhouse porn are always welcomed at Goatsden HQ, and this extravagant set is good fun, in an awful, sleazy, and tacky way. The premise? A pair of bumbling telephone repairmen are in search of a good time, and they manage to stowaway to Germany, where the two manage to coerce the sex-starved German lasses into all sorts of wacky predicaments. 

As a grindhouse porn with tons of humorous elements, "Playgirls Of Munich" is a pure farce, with hammy acting, no real story, and plenty of beautiful women who are willing to please. The film quality is fine, considering the age, and this is a well-shot trash film with plenty of explicit action. The second DVD is simply a collection fo trailers and 70s-era porn loops -- quite forgettable and unnecessary. Still, a solid set for fans of that au-naturel seventies scene. (After Hours Cinema)

The beer is back in town.

Well, if it isn't the start of the month, and that could only mean...the calendar picture changes! And there's new beer to report on! These are rated on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being toilet water, and 5 being nectar of the gods. Take a look, and heed the call of artisan brewmasters by supporting independent and local beer.

MARGARITAVILLE BREWING CO. - Landshark Lager (Jacksonville, FL) - 3.0

This new favorite among Summer lager fans pours a frothy pale gold,
and tastes smooth, malty, and light on the (beer) gut, with a faintly
citrus hint. At the same time, it's crisp and thirst-quenching. I'd
hate to say it's better than a Corona, but it may be better than a
Corona.

KOSTRITZER - Schwarzbier (Thuringia, Germany) - 3.5

Black (schwarz) beer is right. Huge head here, and looks like a stout
though it pours like a lager. Hmm. Sweet taste, hint of maybe some
maple syrup overtones. Not an overly challenging beer, but wholly
satisfying, and a terrific jumping-off point to the world of darker
beers. No problem here.

MENDOCINO BREWING - White Ale (Saratoga Springs, NY) - 3.0

Mmm. This cloudy, unfiltered Belgian-style spiced ale is
characteristically bold, rich, and complex. Hints of citrus,
coriander, and clove, and nicely zesty and strong, yet still
well-balanced. Mendocino's White Ale is not one to chug, but for a
sipper, this one's a treat. Forget the diets and try one of these.

ANHEUSER-BUSCH - Beach Bum Blonde Ale (St. Louis, MO) - 2.5

Another blonde this month, pouring a foamy gold with a decent flavor
balance, and a suggestion of maybe some sweet orange spice. Subsequent
sips brought out a more frou-frou kinda taste, which is not good. I'm
indifferent on this one, and I definitely wouldn't buy any more!