The Zwickel

Unfiltered Lager Beer Zwickel beer is an effervescent Bavarian lager, whose name stems from the valve ("Zwickel" in German) mounted at the outside of a cask or tank. This valve allows the brewer to take samples for assessing the brew's progress during fermentation. Zwickelbier originated in the small artisanal and home breweries of Franconia. [wpex more="Read more" less="Read less"] Zwickelbier is unfiltered and unpasteurized, and the maturation casks (or modern tanks) are bunged or capped ("gespundet" in German) just before the end of fermentation. This furthers the dissolution of carbon dioxide gas in the brew and as a result, Zwickelbier builds up effervescence and has a nice creamy head when poured into a glass. Zwickelbier tends to be served as soon as it is finished fermenting, though we have lagered ours for an additional two weeks (still shorter than our traditional four week aging time for most of our lager beers). The Zwickel pours an intentionally hazy golden color, with thick head and considerable lacing. Crafted from Weyermann Pils and CaraHell malts, it is hopped with German Saphir hops which offer a touch of fruitiness atop the traditional Germanic spicy hop profile. With yeast in suspension this beer presents with a medium body but very dry and thirst quenching finish. Well-balanced between maltiness and hops, this beer seems to disappear quickly from our “sampling glasses.” We hope you enjoy! Prost! Pilsner 5.50 Pitcher 18 Tower 30[/wpex]

Original Gravity
1.048

Final Gravity
1.008

Alcohol by Volume
5.25%