König-Brauerei - König Pilsener

t's September and that means Oktoberfest celebrations are starting around the world. Chances are there's an 'O-fest' scheduled near your area. We encourage you to attend. We decided not to ship a German Oktoberfest this month or next since there's likely to be some on hand in your area or at least in your local beer/liquor store (although next month we are considering a German-style Brazilian Oktoberfest because we're crazy like that). Instead, we're closing out the hot summer months with a solid German Pilsener. König Pilsener was first sold by that name in 1911 and for nearly a century, beer lovers worldwide have been enjoying this approachable, easy-drinking brew. Expect a pale straw color topped by a brilliant white frothy head. Look for a crisp, clean pilsener aroma showcasing notes of grassy, lemony hops, clean grains, and a slight kiss of honey, with a very subtle yeasty mustiness in the background. The beer presents a solid bitterness on the palate that is assertive but never sharp, with a lightly floral hop kick and like the aroma, a note of honey. Finishes clean with a subtle hop aftertaste. One of the easiest beers to pair with food, Pilseners go with just about anything you can throw at 'em. We enjoyed it with grilled halibut served in a creamy dill sauce.

Germany—where beer is King. Enough said, on to the drinKing! OK, so maybe there's more to say than that. After all, this IS a newsletter about beer. So let's start with this: is it any coincidence that the number one producer of milk thistle, a nutrient that is widely purported to protect the liver from developing cirrhosis, is based in Germany? We think not. Some would claim that the Germans, particularly Bavarians, have the best beer, the best brewing culture, the best beer fans and the best customs for enjoying beer (you may have never been to Germany, but you've certainly heard of Oktoberfest). And the folks most likely to make such claims would be the Germans themselves. But fear not, all this "best of the best" superiority talk is not a threat of World War III. It's simply a pride that the Germans have earned through at least a millennium of brewing. Our second international feature this month is a German beer brewed with careful attention to traditional methods, but expertly quality controlled by modern day technology. Located in Duisburg, Germany's 11th largest city and home to Europe's largest inland port, the König-Brauerei was founded in 1858 near the confluence of the great Rhine and Ruhr waterways by Theodor König. A savvy businessman, he realized the potential for a regional brewery and the relative ease of exportation via port waterways. Today the brewery is best known for their Pilsener beer, a style which Theodor König intended to specialize in, but at the time the brewery was founded in 1858, this was a risky move. Pilsener was still an emerging, relatively complex style to brew. His instincts soon paid off when the style became the world's most popular beer style. So, at the confluence of the Rhine and Ruhr waterways was the fortunate confluence of business savvy and luck which eventually led to Germany's "King of Beers" (note the text "Das König der Biere" on the label). If you'd like more information about the König-Brauerei, check out their website (in German only) www.koenig.de.