Comments on: While You Were Out: The Return of Herold's Wheat Beer http://www.beerculture.org/2009/05/15/while-you-were-out-the-return-of-herolds-wheat-beer/ Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:08:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Evan Rail http://www.beerculture.org/2009/05/15/while-you-were-out-the-return-of-herolds-wheat-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-560 Evan Rail Tue, 26 May 2009 07:30:44 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=467#comment-560 I agree that tradition is tradition, but two points: 1. Though there are many flavors in wheat beer, "tradition" isn't one of them. 2. There's a very good chance that the tradition of wheat beer originally came to Bavaria from Bohemia. That doesn't mean that Primátor and Herold are better than Bavarian wheats: I'm definitely not saying that. Nor does the "tradition" of wheat beer in Bavaria make it better than wheats in the Czech lands. (The "tradition" of brewing IPAs in America is fairly short, and I don't think anyone would say that the American versions are, therefore, not as good as the IPAs brewed somewhere else.) I can say that I recently did a blind tasting with two Bavarian wheats, the Weltenburger Hefe-Weißbier Hell I mentioned and the Schneider Weisse Hefe-Weizenbier, along with Primátor Weizenbier, and everyone who tasted these beers blind put the Primátor ahead of the Weltenburger (and many even put Primátor ahead of Schneider). My tasting notes say that Primátor had the most clove aroma and the most citrus flavors in the mouth. Weltenburger had the lightest body with some corny, grainy notes that turned some tasters off. So beyond the appeal of "tradition," what specific Bavarian wheats do you like? And what specifically about them do you prefer? I agree that tradition is tradition, but two points:

1. Though there are many flavors in wheat beer, “tradition” isn’t one of them.
2. There’s a very good chance that the tradition of wheat beer originally came to Bavaria from Bohemia.

That doesn’t mean that Primátor and Herold are better than Bavarian wheats: I’m definitely not saying that. Nor does the “tradition” of wheat beer in Bavaria make it better than wheats in the Czech lands. (The “tradition” of brewing IPAs in America is fairly short, and I don’t think anyone would say that the American versions are, therefore, not as good as the IPAs brewed somewhere else.)

I can say that I recently did a blind tasting with two Bavarian wheats, the Weltenburger Hefe-Weißbier Hell I mentioned and the Schneider Weisse Hefe-Weizenbier, along with Primátor Weizenbier, and everyone who tasted these beers blind put the Primátor ahead of the Weltenburger (and many even put Primátor ahead of Schneider). My tasting notes say that Primátor had the most clove aroma and the most citrus flavors in the mouth. Weltenburger had the lightest body with some corny, grainy notes that turned some tasters off.

So beyond the appeal of “tradition,” what specific Bavarian wheats do you like? And what specifically about them do you prefer?

]]> By: Elf http://www.beerculture.org/2009/05/15/while-you-were-out-the-return-of-herolds-wheat-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-561 Elf Mon, 25 May 2009 23:10:01 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=467#comment-561 Yes, it means “I don’t agree with you”. I really like Primátor Weizen and Herold Wheat Lager, but they still can't be compared with Hefeweizen from Germany (precisely from Bavaria). In this case tradition is tradition and anybody can find out. Yes, it means “I don’t agree with you”. I really like Primátor Weizen and Herold Wheat Lager, but they still can’t be compared with Hefeweizen from Germany (precisely from Bavaria). In this case tradition is tradition and anybody can find out.

]]> By: Evan Rail http://www.beerculture.org/2009/05/15/while-you-were-out-the-return-of-herolds-wheat-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-562 Evan Rail Mon, 25 May 2009 17:10:44 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=467#comment-562 <em>I must say: don’t kidding me and don’t kidding anybody. </em> According to Google Translate, that means "I don't agree with you." I must say: don’t kidding me and don’t kidding anybody.

According to Google Translate, that means “I don’t agree with you.”

]]> By: Elf http://www.beerculture.org/2009/05/15/while-you-were-out-the-return-of-herolds-wheat-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-563 Elf Sun, 24 May 2009 21:58:43 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=467#comment-563 toJavier: Bavarian wheat beers are not as good as what? As czech wheat beers? If I've understood you correctly, I must say: don't kidding me and don't kidding anybody. toJavier: Bavarian wheat beers are not as good as what? As czech wheat beers? If I’ve understood you correctly, I must say: don’t kidding me and don’t kidding anybody.

]]> By: Evan Rail http://www.beerculture.org/2009/05/15/while-you-were-out-the-return-of-herolds-wheat-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-557 Evan Rail Sat, 16 May 2009 07:45:06 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=467#comment-557 Hey Javier, Dr. Beertooth, thanks for your comments. I agree with Javier, there is definitely a small (but growing) market for wheat beers here. I wouldn't call Primátor Weizenbier a beer for tourists, as it's not available in most (or any?) tourist bars; at places like U Sadu you can definitely see locals drinking and enjoying it. And since it's starting to be widely carried in supermarkets like Albert and Tesco, where I bought a few bottles this week, you'd have to imagine that it is being bought by at least some Czech pivaři. (I'm not sure if Javier and I count as Czech pivaři, but still.) The thing that's interesting is that even if wheat beer sales make up just the smallest percentage of the market here, the resulting number could end up being quite large if that percentage increases even slightly. You've got 10 million people who drink some of the largest amounts of beer per capita in the world. If Czech consumers bought a wheat beer just 6% of the time, that would amount to a million hectoliters. I'm not saying that's going to happen soon, but it certainly has potential. Hey Javier, Dr. Beertooth, thanks for your comments. I agree with Javier, there is definitely a small (but growing) market for wheat beers here. I wouldn’t call Primátor Weizenbier a beer for tourists, as it’s not available in most (or any?) tourist bars; at places like U Sadu you can definitely see locals drinking and enjoying it. And since it’s starting to be widely carried in supermarkets like Albert and Tesco, where I bought a few bottles this week, you’d have to imagine that it is being bought by at least some Czech pivaři. (I’m not sure if Javier and I count as Czech pivaři, but still.)

The thing that’s interesting is that even if wheat beer sales make up just the smallest percentage of the market here, the resulting number could end up being quite large if that percentage increases even slightly. You’ve got 10 million people who drink some of the largest amounts of beer per capita in the world. If Czech consumers bought a wheat beer just 6% of the time, that would amount to a million hectoliters. I’m not saying that’s going to happen soon, but it certainly has potential.

]]> By: Javier http://www.beerculture.org/2009/05/15/while-you-were-out-the-return-of-herolds-wheat-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-558 Javier Fri, 15 May 2009 17:07:37 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=467#comment-558 There's definitely a market (perhaps not that big) for weizenbeers in Bohemia... the thing is the Primator which has been recently added to a few supermarkets (albert), lacks support on the hospodas and bars.... stop by U Sadu and u can see czechs buying it... (on my part im always trying to get people to taste it at least, a couple of times, that is). In Bavaria is widely popular, and theirs is not as good as ours (not biased) so why not here???.... It's just unnerving to see all this marketing strategies working on people drinking gambac ... while there are lots of better brands out there... Primator weizen is just amazing. There’s definitely a market (perhaps not that big) for weizenbeers in Bohemia… the thing is the Primator which has been recently added to a few supermarkets (albert), lacks support on the hospodas and bars…. stop by U Sadu and u can see czechs buying it… (on my part im always trying to get people to taste it at least, a couple of times, that is). In Bavaria is widely popular, and theirs is not as good as ours (not biased) so why not here???…. It’s just unnerving to see all this marketing strategies working on people drinking gambac … while there are lots of better brands out there… Primator weizen is just amazing.

]]> By: pivnizub http://www.beerculture.org/2009/05/15/while-you-were-out-the-return-of-herolds-wheat-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-559 pivnizub Fri, 15 May 2009 16:42:08 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=467#comment-559 Good luck to Herold ! But is in Bohemia really a market for Weizenbier ? I remember that - a short time after the velvet revolution - Prazdroj launched also a Weizen; first they called it "Prior" (an old brand of the PU trust from the 1930's), later Gambrinus Bile. It seems, that it wasn't a very big commercial success, because the production stopped already in the 90's. Primator Weizen is widely available, but I've never seen a czech pivař buying or drinking it..... So who is really - besides tourists - keen on Pšeničné pivo in the czech countries? Good luck to Herold ! But is in Bohemia really a market for Weizenbier ? I remember that – a short time after the velvet revolution – Prazdroj launched also a Weizen; first they called it “Prior” (an old brand of the PU trust from the 1930’s), later Gambrinus Bile. It seems, that it wasn’t a very big commercial success, because the production stopped already in the 90’s.
Primator Weizen is widely available, but I’ve never seen a czech pivař buying or drinking it….. So who is really – besides tourists – keen on Pšeničné pivo in the czech countries?

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