What exactly is a winter beer?

If we're being honest with ourselves, we know that we brew beer at home year-round—or at least we want to. However, the cold weather makes outdoor activities less appealing and can also make it easier to maintain consistent fermentation temperatures. Plus, a brewery filled with warm steam feels especially inviting during the colder months.

Up until relatively recently, brewing beer was actually prohibited in some parts of Germany after Georgi (April 23). Mash tuns could only be used again after Michaelmas (September 29). This restriction was largely due to the challenges of controlling fermentation temperatures without cooling equipment, as well as the fire risk associated with heating the brew. The last beer brewed before the break was called “Märzen,” named after the month, and it was typically stronger to help it last through the summer and even into the fall.

Today, when we think of winter beers, we tend to picture rich, dark brews spiced with ingredients like cinnamon, cardamom, or cloves. These beers are almost black from the roasted malts and are a common offering in many small craft breweries. And it's not just the small breweries getting in on the trend. Larger breweries are also expanding their winter selections. For example, Mashsee brewery offers a wintery gingerbread ale, Landgang brews a heavy Salonsozialist, and even Bitburger releases a winter bock during the colder months.

For those of you who, like in the old days, can only consistently brew bottom-fermented beer from November to February, it's not necessarily the time for heavy stouts or intensely spiced beers. Instead, consider brewing a Helles, Pils, Export, or even Märzen. Interestingly, the Märzen style has evolved over the centuries and is now much more drinkable than it was originally. It's only slightly stronger than its bottom-fermented cousins, and in some regions of Germany, Märzen is nearly indistinguishable from Export beer, as they share similar color and clarity.

But no matter what you choose to brew, Braumarkt wishes you a hearty “Cheers”!

Here are a few products that might interest you this season:

Fermentis Safale US-05 11,5 g

A top fermenting yeast, the best known yeast from Amerika. Also available as a ready-to-use dry yeast. For well-balanced beers with low diacetyl and a very clean, crisp end palate. Specifications: Flocculation: Medium Final Gravity: Medium Fermentation temperature: 12-25 °C (ideally 15-22°C) Dosage: 0,5-1g / LTotal Esters: low Total Superior Alcohols: medium Apparent Attenuation: 81% Alcohol Tolerance: 9-11% Package: 11,5 g

€2.75*

Available

Saaz hop pellets 100 g

Saaz is a "noble" variety of hops. It was named after the Czech city of Žatec (German: Saaz). This hop is used extensively in Bohemia to flavour beer styles such as the Czech pilsner. Saaz has a very distinctive flavour. When used in beer, the resultant aroma is very mild, earthy, herbal and spicy. Despite its popularity and noble pedigree, Saaz generally has a very low Alpha Acid level and is not very effective as a bittering hop. This hop is generally used for Bohemian style lagers and pilsner. Alpha Acids: 3,1%Beta Acids: 3 - 4.5% Country: Czech RepublicYear: 2022 Contents: 100 g hop pellets, vacuum packaged

€4.25*

Available

Insulation Jacket for FB60 Fermenter

The Easybrew insulation jacket is a handy accessory for those cold winter days. It will help you to keep the temperature in your fermenter during colder days to prevent your fermentation from stalling.

€34.95*

Available

BlackSwaen Barley 1 kg

Top quality Dutch roasted barley from Mouterij The Swaen from Kloosterzande. SpecsRoasted barleyColor: 1000 - 1250 EBCRate: up to 5%Content: 1 kgMaltster: The Swaen (NL) InfoInformation from the supplier:BlackSwaen©Barley imparts the typical roasty aroma. Perfect for colouringBeer styles: Schwarzbier, dark beers, Stout, Porter, Ale,Bockbier, Altbier, dark wheat beers, all beer types for colouring.

€3.55*

Available

Mangrove Jack's New World Strong Ale M42 10 g

A top-fermenting ale strain suitable for many types of ales of all strengths. Ferments with a neutral yeast aroma to ensure the full character of the malts and hops are prominent in each beer. Suitable for IPA's, Porters, Russian Imperial Stouts and more.Flocculation: High (5/5)Attenuation: 77-82%Recommended fermentation temperature: 16-22°C Alcohol Tolerance: till 12% ABVContent: 10 gr - for max. 25 litresKeep refrigerated.

€3.25*

Available

Bestmalz Pilsner 25 kg

Top quality pilsner malt from maltster Best Malz Pilsner malt Colour (EBC): 3,0-4,9 Rate: Up to 100% Content: 25 kg Maltster: Best Malz (DE) Information from the Manufacturer:The enzyme-strong and extract-rich BEST Pilsen Malt is the base malt, alone or combined, for all kinds of exceptional and great-tasting beers. Even with high special malt contents in the bulk, this malt provides the ideal basis for optimum processing in production and, as a result, the basis for the best top-quality beers of all kinds. BEST Pilsen Malt can be produced from winter malting barley on request.

€30.95*

Available

WHC Lab - Hoppin Pils - 11gr

Introducing Hoppin Pils: Lager Yeast for Exceptional Bocks, Lagers, and Pilsners.Unlock the true potential of your lagers with our Hoppin Pils Lager Yeast. A preferred choice for bocks, German lagers, kolsch, and pilsners, this strain originates from the esteemed Weihenstephan 206 lineage, renowned for its brewing excellence. Key Characteristics: Origin: Weihenstephan 206, a hallmark of German brewing tradition Attenuation: High, ensuring a dry finish Hop Profile: Ideal for IPL styles and dry-hopped lagers, with biotransformation enhancing hop character Ideal for: Recommended for a range of lager styles, including Oktoberfest, Helles, and Bock Brewing Recommendations: Yeast Type: Lager yeast (Saccharomyces pastorianus) Oxygenation/Rehydration: May not be needed for generation zero, but can be beneficial Recommended Beer Styles: IPL (India Pale Lager) Oktoberfest Helles Bock German Lagers Kölsch Pilsner Comparative Strains: Safale S-23, Wyeast 2206 Bavarian Lager, WLP820 Oktoberfest, OYL-107 Oktoberfest Specifications: Floculation: Low-medium Attenuation: 73-80% Temperature: 10-15°C ABV Tolerance: 10% Pitch Rate: 1g per Litre

€3.95*

Not Available

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