Wheat beers of all varieties have gained in popularity in recent years, as their fruity, tangy taste compliments almost any meal and appeals to a vast array of palates. However, towards the late 19th century, wheat beers were going “out of fashion.” At that time, the German nobility controlled the rights to brewing wheat beers, but, as sales began to decline, it eventually sold the brewing rights to one of their own brewers, Georg Schneider. After purchasing the rights, Schneider promptly opened his “Weisses Bräuhaus” in Munich, and his family has been in the brewing business ever since. During the first half of the 20th century, the family expanded operations to a number of other towns in Bavaria, and after World War II, permanently relocated to Kelheim, about 60 miles north of Munich.
Like many traditional breweries, G. Schneider & Sohn has been an anchor in its local community, working with farmers in its area to select ingredients worthy enough of the Reinheitsgebot (the original beer purity law), and that tradition continues to this day. Additionally, G. Schneider & Sohn is a member of “Die Freien Brauer,” a community of 39 medium-sized private breweries in Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, which have been independent and family-owned for generations (a community which also includes Neumarkter Lammsbräu). As a member, G. Schneider & Sohn are committed to personal responsibility over their region, as well as clean environment.
Beer
This commitment to the clean environment and personal responsibility has taken hold in one particular beer, the organic wheat beer called “Edelweisse.” Edelweisse (bottom left), is a bit of a play on words, as it sounds much like edelweiss, the white flower and subject of the famous song from the Sound of Music. A Schneider representative informed me via email that the Edelweisse actually comes from two words, “edel” meaning special, and “weisse” meaning wheat beer. Originally, this Edelweisse recipe was the wheat beer the Schneider Family brewed during Oktoberfest, and, similar to other Oktoberfest beers, it is a bit stronger than the original recipe (and a bit hoppier too). For the last ten years, they have worked diligently to keep this organic, working with local farmers to craft organic wheat and malts. The beer, much like other Schneider products is very citrusy (and spicy) on the nose, not in a hoppy, grapefruit way, but in a sweeter way, similar to pineapple. The beer has a nice carbonated mouthfeel, and follows with a surprising taste, fruity up front, followed by a mellow, hoppy finish. This beer might taste slightly familiar in some ways, as Schneider uses organic Cascade hops, which is found in a number of American pale ales. Schneider is confident that they will continue to brew the Edelweisse as a certified organic beer, but is unsure if the rest of its beers will follow suit. Either way, Schneider beers are definitely worth checking out, and I would have to say that this Edelweisse is one of the most delicious organic beers in the world. Highly recommended.BeerAdvocate – 4.07/5 Schneider & Sohn website – http://www.schneider-weisse.de/index.php
Die Freien Brauer – http://www.die-freien-brauer.com/en.html (The organic beer gal loves the Schneider & Sohn’s Aventinus (right), a creamy, dark, luscious beer with tasting notes full of of bananas and cloves.)