2 O'Clock Tasting: 
Hofstetten Brewery

Updated on March 30, 2016

Brauerei Hofstetten is a historic, farmstead brewery that has been sitting atop the hills of Mühlviertel, Austria since 1449. Although established in the fifteenth century, Hofstetten has been family owned by the Krammers since 1847. The family’s great, great grandfather, a cattle trader, procured the brewery from its former owner who couldn’t afford to keep up with the payments any longer.

Brauerei Hofstetten is proud of its Austrian heritage as it acquires all of their raw materials locally. Perhaps the most unique ingredient of Hofstetten Beer is the water. Hofstetten collects soft, bedrock water that has flowed through granite rock from nearby aquifers. Hofstetten has sustained small-scale brewing operations since its beginnings and currently has 11 people on staff and produces nearly five thousand barrels of beer each year.

1. Kuebelbier

   5.8% ABV

   Brewed in line with the historic beer style: Zwickelbier, the Hofstetten Kuebelbier is unfiltered, unpasteurized, and bottle conditioned. This beer pours a cloudy, orange color with a lasting, white head. A very aromatic and fruity nose is filled with scents of cider, pineapple and banana. The flavor is balanced by a wonderful hop bitterness and reminded us of a French bière de garde.

2. Original Hochzeitsbier von 1810

   6.3% ABV

   Hochzeitsbier, which translates to "wedding beer," is an Oktoberfest beer based on a beer that was served at the wedding of King Ludwig and Princess Therese on October 12th, 1810. This beer pours a deep orange color with a well retained, off-white head. The aroma comes through with toasted bread and biscuits and the palate is full of sweet, caramel malts, hints of cherry, and bread with a subtle grassy hoppiness.

3. Granit Bock

   Note | 7.3% ABV

   Hofstetten’s Granit Bock is brewed in accordance to the historical style of a stone beer. The wort is boiled in stone troughs and white hot rocks are added to bring to a boil. The Granit Bock has a very dark, reddish brown color and holds a nice head. This beer is full bodied and its flavor and aroma are packed full of strong boozy caramel and stone fruit notes.

4. Barley Wine Ale

   Note | 8.3% ABV

   This complex brew aged in Wooden barrels poured a mahogany color with a quickly dissipating head. The nose opened with brandy, toffee, and dark fruits and the palate captured flavors of oak, toffee and caramel a boozy finish.

5. Granit Bock Ice

   Note | 11.5 % ABV

   Hofstetten’s Granit Bock Ice is an Eisbock styled beer that was crafted by freezing off and removing a portion of water from the Granit Bock. This method increases the beer's mouthfeel, flavor, and alcohol content and surely shows itself in the Granit Bock Ice. This brew is essentially a bigger and bolder version of Hofstetten’s Granit Bock - it pours a similar dark, reddish brown color like Dr. Pepper and features aromas of brown sugar, brandy and dark fruits. The flavor is boozy and full of sweet malt.

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