Beer of the month – Schremser Bio-Roggen Beer
Schremser Bio-Roggen Beer 5.2% Austria
The huge amounts of money committed to "World Lager" marketing rarely communicate the element that really rocks my boat - the history. And Schremser Bio-Roggen has history in spades.
This rich, opaque, organic Austrian beer - which smells like freshly-baked bread - was banned in 1516 under the German Purity Law because it is brewed with rye rather than barley.
But Austrians have long memories and when the law was finally lifted in 1988 the chaps at Schremser set about unearthing the original recipe and recreating this marvellous regional obscurity.
The beer itself is top-fermented and has a bready, fruity flavour and almost preternatural length in the mouth. Truly a taste of history, and one worth seeking out by the connoisseur.
www.schremser.at/web/our-beer/bio-roggen.html?lang=en">http://www.schremser.at/web/our-beer/bio-roggen.html?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">www.schremser.at/web/our-beer/bio-roggen.html?lang=en
Charlie McVeigh, founder, the Draft House