Paulaner beer: history, how it is made, types, interesting facts

Most beer lovers will agree that the best beer is brewed in Germany. It's even cooler if it's made in Munich, the beer capital of Bavaria. It was here that the first batch of "Paulaner" was brewed almost four centuries ago.

Since then, the drink has become famous far beyond the borders of its homeland: today it is exported to more than 70 countries, and the annual production volume exceeds 2 million hectoliters.

The history of Paulaner beer

The first mention of Paulaner Salvator ale dates back to 1634. Bavarians owe the emergence of the legendary drink to Munich monks from the Neudeck ob der Au monastery, who began brewing strong beer for their own needs in the 17th century. They gave the rest of the product to the poor or sold it to local taverns.

The quality of the drink was not just good, but excellent, as the monks complied with the Beer Purity Act of 1516 (by the way, it is still observed today).

According to this document, only natural ingredients could be included in the composition of the foamy beer: water, malt, hops (yeast appeared later). And the ministers of the order themselves, of course, were interested in the decent taste of the finished product.

In 1751, Bavarian monks received official permission to trade in draft beer.

The chief brewer of the Paulaner Order was the monk Valentin Stefan Stille, known among his brothers in faith as Barnabas. He is credited with the authorship of the innovative Paulaner Salvator recipe, which is still used in Munich.

In 1806, the brewery passed into the possession of Franz Xaver Sacherl, who renovated and expanded it. The company is popularly known as ZacherlBräu (Zacherl Brewery).

Only a dozen years later, in 1818, mass Bavarian beer festivals were launched, the first of which was organized on the Wiesn meadow.

In the XX century, the brewery actively mastered new technologies, constantly modernizing and keeping up with the times.

The brewery was heavily damaged during the bombing of 1944, but by 1950 it was fully restored.

In 1979, the company became the property of the Munich entrepreneurial family Scherghuber, which still owns it today.

How Paulaner beer is made

The secret to the success of the Bavarian brewing icon is the use of ingredients of exceptional quality:

1. The purest soft water with a minimum salt content is extracted from its own well, which goes to a depth of 190 meters.

2. Dark and light malt for different types of beer is bought only from local producers, and there is no doubt about the quality of Bavarian raw materials.

3. Every autumn, Paulaner brewers go to the Hallertau plantations, which are famous for the best harvest of aromatic cones, to find the best hops. Depending on the type of inflorescences, the finished drink acquires a characteristic bitterness or a special flavor (citrus, passion fruit, coconut, etc.). д.).

4. Different types of yeast are used for different types of beer: bottom-fermenting strains are ideal for classic Munich lagers, while top-fermenting strains are used for wheat ales. To ensure the stable quality of the beverages, "freshly diluted" pure yeast cultures are regularly added to the wort during the fermentation process.

Types of Paulaner beer

1. Hefe-Weißbier Naturtrüb

   The standard of light unfiltered wheat beer, the No. 1 brand in Germany, the most popular drink in the Paulaner line.

   For its playful character, lush foamy head and luxurious taste, it became famous at home as "Bavarian champagne".

   It has a velvety golden hue with a natural turbidity, delicate yeast aroma with light tones of banana, mango, pineapple.

   The mild flavor is perfectly balanced between sweetness and bitterness.

   Herkules hops, 4 types of barley and wheat malt are used in the production. Strength: 5,5%.

   

2. Hefe-Weißbier Dunkel

   A dark version of unfiltered wheat beer with a rich chestnut color and masculine character.

   The noble flavor combines softness with core, notes of chocolate, cocoa, burnt malt are noticeable.

   The composition includes Herkules hops and 4 varieties of malt. Strength: 5,3%.

   

3. Münchner Hell

   Classic Bavarian lager, a symbol of Munich brewing.

   It has a transparent light golden color, a pleasant, mild, slightly sweet taste with an elegant malt note and light hop bitterness.

   Luxuriously foams in the glass, contains one hop variety (Hallertauer Tradition) and light barley malt Pilsen. Strength: 4,9%.

   

4. Oktoberfest Bier

   A festive, surprisingly harmonious drink dedicated to the main Bavarian beer festival - Oktoberfest.

   Brewed since 1818.

   It has a perfectly balanced taste with a light hop note and a pronounced malt accent.

   The composition includes 3 types of hops (Herkules, Taurus, Hallertauer Tradition) and 2 types of malt (dark Munich and light Pilsen). Strength: 6%.

   

5. Salvator

   The ancestor of the entire brand line, a strong dark beer with a beautiful chestnut color, lush caramel foam, seductive chocolate aroma and rich taste.

   Delicate Munich malt harmonizes with a subtle hop note in the bouquet.

   Includes 2 types of hops (Herkules and Hallertauer Tradition) and malt (dark Munich and light Pilsen). Strength: 7,9%.

   

6. Hefe-Weißbier Non-Alcoholic

   Non-alcoholic version of unfiltered wheat beer, a light, refreshing drink to quench your thirst.

   Herkules hops and 4 varieties of malt are used in the production process.

   Has been produced since 1986. Alcohol content: up to 0.5%.

   

Interesting facts about Paulaner beer

1. In addition to the famous brewery, Paulaner Brauerei Gruppe GmbH owns a network of branded beer houses located not only in Germany, but also in Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, St. Petersburg.

2. The Paulaner brewers were the first to release Münchner Hell on tap. Traditionally, it is drunk outdoors, under chestnut trees. The company is also the first to create a light non-alcoholic beer.

3. In 2010, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Oktoberfest, the company equipped its Winzerer Fähndl tent with an unusual tent with a beer pipeline coming out of the ground, which was later copied by other producers.

4. In 2016, the company's management board moved to the old Sacherl house, thus returning to the historic building in Neudeck ob der Au.

5. The slogan of the famous Bavarian brand speaks for itself: "Gut, besser, Paulaner" (Good, better, Paulaner).

6. The company takes an active part in charity, supports FC Bayern Munich and cares about preserving the environment, being an environmentally friendly production.

Update: 01.08.2019

Category: Beer, Cider, Ale