Welcome to Germany! 

Located in a city of the same name, known as “the heart of old Bavaria,” Hofbrauhaus Freising is one of the country’s oldest brewing enterprises. Records indicate brewing was happening here as early as 1160 by Bishop Albert I of Harthausen, back when breweries were still in the hands of the church. It wasn’t until 1803, during secularization, that the ownership of the brewery shifted to the state of Bavaria. Currently, Hofbrauhaus Freising is owned by the Bavarian counts of Törring-Jettenbach. 

It was on October 12, 1912, that the first beer was brewed in the home of Hofbrauhaus as we know it today, but it wasn’t until 1970 with the purchase of the Scholssbrauerei Haag an der Amper (brewery) that Jägerbier became part of Hofbrauhaus Freising. 

Jägerbier, meaning “hunter beer,” is brewed in the traditional Dortmunder style, or as it is sometimes known: Export Lager. Dortmunder is a German-style lager that is relatively light-bodied and somewhat comparable to Helles Lager or a German Pilsner, though not as hoppy as a pilsner. It is also incredibly fun to say. You might hear it compared to a Maibock as well, though Maibock tends to be maltier with the hops used to tame the sweetness rather than provide any distinct flavor. 

This particular Dortmunder style beer has notes of caramel and pale malts and an almost crackery smell to it. You’ll also get a nice intense spicy aroma from the hops. I quite enjoyed this beer, despite the slight caramel characteristics that hit the back of the tongue. Not overly sweet, everything about this beer is really well balanced – which one would hope for in a brewery with over 850 years of experience! True to the style, Jägerbier has a pale golden color with a long-lasting head of foam. It should be light, but not as pale as a pilsner-style beer.  

Unfortunately, I was not able to find a list of hops and/or malts used in this brew so one can only guess at what makes it so good. Based on the spicy and herbal notes, I would assume there are some noble hops involved, such as Hallertau. Hallertau, Hallertauer, and Hallertauer Mittelfrüher are all names for the original German Hallertau variety that dates back more than 100 years. This particular hop stems from an old German landrace and is one of the original noble hops. 

Things are starting to open up here in America but remember to stay safe and respect your fellow human while supporting the love of beer. 

Check out the awesome history of Hofbrauhaus Freising and keep an eye out for all their signature brews.

Cheers ~ Steph