August 17, 2015 at 3:02 p.m.
Rhinelander Brewing Company unveils new Oktoberfest brew
Rhinelander Brewing Company unveils new Oktoberfest brew
Before refrigeration, it was nearly impossible to brew beer in the summer due to the hot weather and bacterial infections. Brewing ended with the coming of spring and resumed again in the fall. Most beers were brewed in March. These brews were kept in cold storage over the spring and summer months, or brewed at a higher gravity so they would keep as they were the last to be consumed before the brewing started up for winter. Marzenbier, or beer of March, is now more commonly called Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-style beer.
The beer is more of an amber beer, O'Rourke said. It pours to a full, lingering head. The taste and aroma are rich, slightly sweet and toasty. The caramel malt flavors come through and balance with a mild hop presence.
Also new is Rhinelander Light, with fewer calories and a lower alcohol content, O'Rourke said.
Rhinelander Lager is now available in a full-sized bottle format, O'Rourke said, because quite a few people have been asking for a bigger bottle.
The beers will be available locally at Trig's, Stein's Liquor, House of Spirits, Pat's Tavern, Hext Theatre, Bucketheads, and The Haven.
Sampling of Rhinelander Oktoberfest and Rhinelander Light will be available at Stein's Liquor Aug. 20 from 3 to 5 p.m. and at House of Spirits on Aug. 21 from 4 to 5 p.m.
Rhinelander Brewing Company was founded in 1893. The brewery in Rhinelander closed in 1967, and a few years after that the Huber Brewing Company bought out Rhinelander Brewing and distribution rights, O'Rourke said.
Huber Brewing Company is now Minhas Craft Brewery, located in Monroe. Minhas Brewing Company is owned by the youngest brewery owners in the world, the Minhas siblings.
The company also hosts tours and is home to the nation's largest beer memorabilia museum.
Katie Perttunen may be reached at [email protected].
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