Wrote this for Mail Today, but found it on thefreelibrary.com.
A white beer titillates the palate of thirsty Delhiites
ON A VISIT to Stone Lounge & Bar at Moet's in Defence Colony last week, I was introduced to Schneider Weisse, the newest entrant in the city's wheat beer market. Our table had a colourful flyer bang in the centre that caught everyone's eye as soon as we walked in, offering a buy two- and- get- the- third- free deal for Rs 295 a beer.
Not only is this Weissbier ( white beer) delicious -- it is cloudy in its appearance and has a smooth and fruity palate with traces of mild banana and cloves -- it also has a fascinating story behind its origins.
Wheat beer ( and not fancy wine) was once the drink of kings in Germany. Almost 500 years back, in the year 1520, King Ludwig X had granted his official steward, Hans Sigmund of Degenberg, the right to brew all the wheat beer in Bavaria. Even when the brewing of this beer was prohibited in 1567, the Degenbergs retained the exclusive permission of the monarch to carry on brewing the beer.
Once the line of the Dregenbergs died out, Duke Maximilian I, the reigning prince of Bavaria at the time, took over the exclusive brewing rights for wheat beer, which was very fashionable among the nobility. Even though the 1567 ban on brewing the beer was still in effect, it did not apply to royalty, so the prince milked his cash cow to its fullest, thanks to his monopoly.
All this time the demand for white beer was on the rise, making the house of Wittelsbach, from which the duke hailed, so much money that it was the only reason the family could afford to raise an army during the Thirty Year War.
But towards the end of the 18th century, the barley- based Bavarian lager began regaining its popularity and Weissbier breweries started making losses. In 1798 the Wittelsbachs decided to permit any nobleman or monastery to brew the beer, but it was losing popularity so fast that by 1812 there were only two breweries producing Weissbier. Eventually, in 1856, the royal house sold the rights for Weissbier to a brewer called George Schneider I, who gave birth to Schneider Weisse, making it the oldest brand of Weissbier still around.
Store wheat beers standing vertically, for if you keep them lying flat, the yeast particles can slide down when you open the bottle, causing a sudden release of carbon dioxide, which causes too much froth, ruining your drink.
A white beer titillates the palate of thirsty Delhiites
ON A VISIT to Stone Lounge & Bar at Moet's in Defence Colony last week, I was introduced to Schneider Weisse, the newest entrant in the city's wheat beer market. Our table had a colourful flyer bang in the centre that caught everyone's eye as soon as we walked in, offering a buy two- and- get- the- third- free deal for Rs 295 a beer.
Not only is this Weissbier ( white beer) delicious -- it is cloudy in its appearance and has a smooth and fruity palate with traces of mild banana and cloves -- it also has a fascinating story behind its origins.
Wheat beer ( and not fancy wine) was once the drink of kings in Germany. Almost 500 years back, in the year 1520, King Ludwig X had granted his official steward, Hans Sigmund of Degenberg, the right to brew all the wheat beer in Bavaria. Even when the brewing of this beer was prohibited in 1567, the Degenbergs retained the exclusive permission of the monarch to carry on brewing the beer.
Once the line of the Dregenbergs died out, Duke Maximilian I, the reigning prince of Bavaria at the time, took over the exclusive brewing rights for wheat beer, which was very fashionable among the nobility. Even though the 1567 ban on brewing the beer was still in effect, it did not apply to royalty, so the prince milked his cash cow to its fullest, thanks to his monopoly.
All this time the demand for white beer was on the rise, making the house of Wittelsbach, from which the duke hailed, so much money that it was the only reason the family could afford to raise an army during the Thirty Year War.
But towards the end of the 18th century, the barley- based Bavarian lager began regaining its popularity and Weissbier breweries started making losses. In 1798 the Wittelsbachs decided to permit any nobleman or monastery to brew the beer, but it was losing popularity so fast that by 1812 there were only two breweries producing Weissbier. Eventually, in 1856, the royal house sold the rights for Weissbier to a brewer called George Schneider I, who gave birth to Schneider Weisse, making it the oldest brand of Weissbier still around.
Store wheat beers standing vertically, for if you keep them lying flat, the yeast particles can slide down when you open the bottle, causing a sudden release of carbon dioxide, which causes too much froth, ruining your drink.
