Spaten beer: history, overview of types + interesting facts
Spaten is a brewery brand from Munich, Germany, which is part of the so-called "Big Six in Munich" and consists of such brands as: Levenbrew, Hofbräuhaus, Paulaner, Augustinerbrew, Hacker-Pschorbrew and, of course, Spaten...
This brand owns the copyright to brew for the largest folk festival Oktoberfest. Since 1997, Spaten Brau has been a part of the Spaten-Levenbroeck Group.
Today, the rights to the brand are owned by the Anheuser-Busch InBev international brewing corporation, which was formed by the merger of the Belgian-Brazilian company InBev and the American Anheuser-Busch.
History of Spaten beer
1397 - the registration of a small brewery Welser Prew with the owner Hans Welser was recorded in Munich.
Over the next 125 years, the company changed hands quite a few times.
1522 - from this period, the management is transferred to the Stanberger family for a significant period (about a hundred years). They increase the company's productivity.
In 1622, the Spatt family buys the brewery and changes the company's name, which is derived from their surname.
1807 - a small brewery Spate is bought by Gabriel Seddlemeyer Jr. During this period, he holds the position of head brewer at the Royal Bavarian Court and is actively involved in the development of the methodology for making bottom-fermented beer. In the 1930s, he worked closely on the production of brown lagers.
Under the management of the Södlmeyer family, the company grows into the largest brewery in Munich. In Paris, at the World Exhibition, the company receives a gold medal for its products, and becomes the only company from Germany to receive this award.
In memory of the valuable deeds of Gabriel Södlmeyer, his name was immortalized in the company's logo - the initials of the chief brewer were placed in the label on the bottle of Spaten beer "G.S".
1844 - the shovel emblem appears on the label of Spaten beer bottles. It was designed by the famous and popular graphic artist Otto Hupp.
1894 - Spaten becomes the first brewery in Munich to use bottom fermentation in brewing. Nowadays, the lager is produced according to the unique technology of Gabriel Södlmayer Jr.
1922 - the merger of the Spaten and Franziskiner-List-Broy breweries, which are owned by the company, takes place and the company merges with Levenbrau.
In 2003, Interbrew, a Belgian concern, bought the company for almost 500 million euros.
The Spaten and Franziskaner-Breu breweries, controlled by the Sedlmayr family, are merged into the joint-stock company Gabriel and Joseph Sedlmayr Spaten-Franziskaner-Leistbräu AG.
Types of Spaten beer
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Spaten Münchner Hell (Premium Lager)
Light lager with a weak malt and hop aroma.
The taste is slightly sweet, malty, with a citrus flavor, turning into hop bitterness and a slightly tart bitterness of rye bread.
Long considered synonymous with quality and German traditions.
The drink is characterized as a "golden symbol" of Munich brewing.
Snow-white foam with a high head. Alcohol 5.2%, density 11.8%.
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Spaten Optimizer
Brown lager with a red tint.
The technology uses not only Viennese and Munich malts, but also adds a little specific Kaffir malt, which gives the drink a fruity and grainy flavor.
Taste of the drink with inherent hop bitterness, which is perfectly balanced by sweetish notes of liquorice, figs, prunes.
The foam is beige in color, medium-grained. Alcohol 7.5%, saturation 18.2%.
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Spaten München Dunkel
Traditional Munich dunkel.
The color is transparent brown, the taste is clearly distinguishable malt tone with a taste of caramel and rye bread, combined with a small amount of fruit acid.
In the aftertaste there is a slight bitterness from hops.
Creamy, fine-grained foam. Alcohol 5.1%, saturation 12.6%.
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Spaten Oktoberfestbier
It was the first beer to be brewed for Oktoberfest in 1810.
It is released only before the opening of the festival, so it is not possible to enjoy this drink all year round.
The color is clear, amber.
The taste is richly varied with a combination of hop bitterness and roasted malt aroma.
Snow-white foam with a high head. Alcohol 5.9%, saturation 13.7%.
Recommended storage conditions for Spaten beer drinks are from +5 to +20 degrees.
Interesting facts
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In 2011, Spaten became the official beer of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, a vintage car festival held annually in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
All proceeds from sales during the festival go to charity to help children with autism and create a special school for such children.
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In 1516, the "Beer Purity Law" was issued by Duke William the Fourth of Bavaria, which states: "that from this time on, beer beverage shall be brewed exclusively from the ingredients hops, malt and water".
And in turn, the Spaten brewery not only preserves these traditions, but also proves to be an innovator in this area.
All beer in Munich is produced exclusively according to this law and only from high-quality materials.
Update: 17.12.2019
Category: Beer, Cider, Ale