Beverage of the Week (B.O.W)

Perhaps there is no place in the world that reveres Beer more than Bavaria. Beer is an inseparable part of daily life as it is woven into the tapestry of the culture. As expected, standards for Beer are high here so it is no surprise that some of the best Beers in the world come from this zone in and around the capital city of Munich.

Just 25 kilometers to the southeast of Munich lies the small, 1,200 year-old village of Aying. Aying is a classic Bavarian village in every respect with its mix of very old and new structures, a maypole in the town’s center square, ancient churches, local restaurants serving schnitzel the size of your head, and a great brewery – Brauerei Aying (Ayinger).

Ayinger has been producing incomparable Beers for more than 130 years. Like the village of Aying, the Ayinger brewery is a clever blend of old and new. The old portion of the brewery was once home to the Bernried Monastery and has the look of an old abbey and seamlessly marries with the new modern brewery completed in 1999.

Ayinger produces 12 different styles of Beer, a great commitment for a brewery of this size. Ayinger has been owned and operated by the Insellkammer family since 1878. They have consistently won awards around the globe but the local Bavarian residents are seemingly unmoved by medals awarded in some foreign land. They have always known that they possess something special in Ayinger and they happily consume 90% of the brewery’s production with just a scant 10% leaking out to export markets.

The great Beers from Ayinger have been available in the US for more than two decades but the Beer that we feature as our Beverage of the Week is a newcomer to American shores. This incredible winter seasonal Beer is a pale (Helles) style Weizen-Bock. This Weisse-Bier is a stronger version of their classic Braü Weisse designed to fortify the Beer lover in the cold winter months. It perfectly marries the spicy and zesty flavors of the classic Weisse with the rich, malty flavors that one expects from a true Bock style. We would wish to welcome the Ayinger Weizen-Bock to America. Prost!