After enjoying a couple of beers from Aktienbrauerei Kaufbeuren (ABK) in the past, a German brewery with a seven hundred year heritage, it was with excitement that I was contacted by Drinks Aisle who told me that they would now be distributing the ABK range in the UK.
And so I smiled politely and asked if I might be able to grab a bottle or two for review.
They said yes, and I’m very pleased that they did.
I mean, look…..

This Radler (2.8%) is just what I needed after my forty mile bike ride this morning, and is also very apt as a Radler is a cyclist.
For those of you, and I’m guessing there’s not many, who don’t know, a Radler is basically a Shandy, a 50/50 blend of Helles Lager and Lemonade.
And this one is crisp and sweet with a soft honeycomb and biscuit malt and lashings of sweet and lightly zingy lemons.
There’s not a lot else to say here really, other than it’s gone down a treat.

ABK’s Hell (5%) is a superbly balanced Helles Lager that pours with a lovely frothy head and an aroma full of lightly spicy honeysuckle.
The malting is creamy and smooth, with caramel and wafer biscuits providing a sweet biscuit base, while there are some darker earthy notes from the yeast and then that slap of hedgerow herbs, zesty lemon and nettles that Noble hops bring.
Lovely.

Edel (5.8%) is an altogether more malty affair.
A golden Lagered beer with a fluffy head, the hops here take a back seat to the almost Best Bitter chewiness of the malt body.
Toffee and biscuits, runny honey, salted caramel and waffles give this beer a great big sticky kiss of a backbone.
The hops lurk in the background but provide a much needed smack of prickly hazel leaf and lemon rind brightness, whilst there’s a boozy warmth that grows as you make your down down the glass.
I like this one a lot.

I do like a Weissbier (5.3%) at lunch time and this one does everything I could ask for.
The body is soft and smooth and creamy, with hints of banana and vanilla ice cream from the yeast, along with caramel and biscuits from the malt bill.
There’s a nice snap of pithy greenery from the hops, all nettle tea, garden herbs and a twist of lemon zest.
In the finish you find a touch of boozy warmth, not too much but enough to make the beer feel big and satisfying.

‘Tis the season for a Dunkel (5%) and this one is packed with dried fruit, plums, coffee and chocolate.
There’s some lovely rum and raisin flavours going on, and the smoothest creamiest body you could wish for.
The aroma is round and rich, all Christmas cake and honeycomb, and towards the finish you find a much welcomed snap of hoppy hedgerow undergrowth that adds a bright snap to what is a delightfully satisfying, warm and puddingy.
Super.

Source: Drinks Aisle