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Fuller’s, Fruli and Hacker-Pschorr Brews

Fulller’s, Fruli and Hacker-Pschorr Brews
By Dale Zupsansky

Fuller, Smith & Turner – a.k.a. Fuller’s
Beer has been brewed on Fuller’s Chiswick site for over 350 years — as far back as the era of Oliver Cromwell. From the original brewery in the gardens of Bedford House on Chiswick Mall, the business expanded and thrived until the early part of the nineteenth century. In 1829, owners Douglas and Henry Thompson and Phillip Wood welcomed a new partner, John Fuller. The partnership dissolved in 1841, leaving Fuller’s son, John Bird Fuller, alone to run the large enterprise. In 1845, Fuller was joined by Henry Smith from the Romford Brewery of Ind & Smith, and his brother-in-law, head brewer John Turner, thereby forming Fuller Smith & Turner, as it is still known today. Based at the historic Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, London, between the serenity of the Thames River and the hustle and bustle of the Hogarth Roundabout, Fuller’s has been brewing quality beers and running excellent pubs since 1845. From its flagship London Pride to the exclusive Vintage Ale, they are crafted with pride and passion.

London Pride
London Pride, Fuller’s flagship beer, was crowned the Supreme Champion at the 2000 International Beer and Cider competition. London Pride was named Champion Best Bitter at the CAMRA Great British Beer Festival in 1995, and in 1979 when it also achieved the ultimate accolade of Beer of the Year. London Pride is a smooth and astonishingly complex beer with a distinctive malty base complemented by a rich balance of well-developed hop flavors from the Target, Challenger and Northdown varieties. It is 4.7% ABV.
ESB

Fuller’s is the father of the ESB style, and first introduced it as a winter brew in 1971. The potential of the beer was soon realized, and Fuller’s began producing it year-round. ESB’s reputation as the best British beer around can be credited to the multiple CAMRA awards (Campaign for Real Ales) and World Championships that it has won. Since it was created, many breweries have tried to imitate the Fuller’s ESB and the style has become very popular, however the Fuller’s ESB is unrivaled in flavor and balance. A robust 5.9% alcohol by volume, it is brewed from Pale Ale and Crystal malts and from Target, Challenger, Northdown and Goldings hops. Andrew Jefford, the respected U.K. drinks critic, sums up ESB’s flavor thus: “An ample, grainy-nutty aroma and a broad, authoritative flavour, with lashings of dry marmalade-like bitters”. Renowned beer connoisseur Roger Protz describes “an enormous attack of rich malt, tangy fruit and spicy hops in the mouth, with a profound Goldings peppery note in the long finish and hints of orange, lemon and gooseberry fruit.”

Fuller’s London Porter
Fuller’s London Porter is ranked the number one tasting Porter in the world on ratebeer.com. The origins of Porter date back to London in the early nineteenth century when it was popular to mix two or three beers – usually an old, well-vatted or “stale” brown ale – with a new brown ale and a pale ale. It was time-consuming for the pub owner to pull from three casks for one pint, so brewers in London tested and produced a new beer, known as “Entire”, to match the tastes of such mixtures. Using high roasted malts, entire was dark, cloudy and hoppy. It was also easily produced in bulk and ideally suited to the soft well water of London. Very quickly, it became popular among the porters working in Billingsgate and Smithfield markets. Gradually, the beer took on the name Porter in recognition of its greatest devotees. Fuller’s London Porter captures the flavors of the original style perfectly, although you won’t find a cloudy pint these days! Smooth, rich, and strong (5.4% alcohol by volume), London Porter is brewed from a blend of brown, crystal and chocolate malts for a creamy delivery balanced by traditional Fuggles hops. Definitely worth a sip if you fancy something stronger and darker than coffee!

Organic Honey Dew
Organic Honey Dew is the U.K.’s best-selling organic beer. Light and golden with a zesty edge and a bitter-sweet flavor, Honey Dew is a naturally palatable brew that is Soil Association approved at 100% organic. Served chilled, Organic Honey Dew offers both refreshment and an unbeatable taste. The real organic honey in the brew gives a gentle sweetness that appeals to a wide range of people, even those who perhaps wouldn’t usually drink beer, making it a very popular choice. Brewed using the finest organic honey and English malts and hops, The Organic Honey Dew is a wonderfully balanced, zesty beer with a hint of sweetness. For an ultra-refreshing drink, try Honey Dew poured over ice with a wedge of lime – the lime enhances the natural zesty flavors in the beer creating a delicious summer drink. The Organic Honey Dew is brewed to 5.0% ABV.

Bengal Lancer IPA
India Pale Ale is an historic style of English beer that traditionally was always strong and well hopped, it was first brewed in the 19th Century to refresh the troops in India during the time of the British Empire – perhaps the most famous of these troops being the Bengal Lancers; Cavalry regiments whose dashing exploits have passed into folklore. Bengal Lancer is the brand new, classic India Pale Ale from Fuller’s. Brewed to 5.3% ABV and bottle conditioned, this ale has been inspired by the history and character of this traditional style of beer. Pale in color and full-bodied, with a distinctive hoppiness that marks it out as a true India Pale Ale. Bengal Lancer IPA is very well balanced, with just the right amount of mouth feel to make this a perfect beer to go with spicy and barbecue foods. Without the overpowering hop feel that you would find in most American IPAs, Bengal Lancer can be enjoyed year-round and by everyone.

1845
1845 Celebration Ale is a true landmark in British beer history. To commemorate the company’s 150th anniversary, Fuller’s commissioned a special brew to celebrate the milestone, and 1845 Celebration Ale was the result. A more auspicious beginning the brew could not have had; the inaugural beer’s hops were added to the brewing vat by none other than Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, during a royal visit to Fuller’s! 1845 is bottle conditioned, which means that it contains a live strain of yeast and therefore continues to develop its flavors as it ages for up to three years. Enjoy a pint or two today, and then save some to enjoy from time to time over the next few years to watch as the flavors continually develop. It is 6.3% alcohol by volume.

Vintage Ale
Vintage Ale is perfect for those who appreciate the finer things in life. Each year a limited amount of Vintage Ale is brewed, using only the best hops and barley from England. The use of these ultra-premium ingredients, combined with the brewing expertise of Fuller’s, results in the “best beer to have ever come from U.K. soil” as declared by RateBeer.com. Since each batch is unique to the specific hops and barley chosen, each Vintage contains slightly different flavors. This beer is bottle conditioned so that its flavors continue to develop for up to 7 years, reaching the peak of its flavor between 3 to 4 years. First brewed in 1997, Fuller’s Vintage Ale embodies why Fuller’s is often regarded as the benchmark in British Ales. We recommend that Vintage Ale be consumed at cellar temperature, or approximately 52ºF. Pour it slowly into a Cognac balloon and allow the beer to breathe. Then sip it on its own or with a fine cheese and feel the warmth of the season come upon you.

FRüLI
One of the most unique beers you will find, Fruli is a Belgian White (wheat beer) with 30% real strawberry juice added. Far easier to drink than Lambics (which tend to be more of a sipping drink), Fruli can be enjoyed all summer long in the heat, and is a perfect holiday drink for when the weather turns colder. Fruit beer is now becoming established as a distinct category alongside other established beer types such as pale ales, stouts, wheat beers, blond ales and lagers. Früli is a high quality premium beer brewed in the 300 year old Huyghe Brewery, a craft brewery in Belgium. Früli is an excellent accompaniment to spicy Asian foods and – goes very well with desserts, and can also be used as an ingredient in sorbets and sauces. We also enjoy mixing Fruli with other beers and liquors to create unique combinations and cocktails – try mixing with a chocolate porter for a “Chocolate-covered Strawberry”! At 4.1% ABV, Fruli is a very session-able beer that both men and women will enjoy.

Hacker-Pschorr

The “Münchner Brauhaus” on the corner of Sendlinger- and Hackerstreet is mentioned 1417 as first place where Hacker beer is brewed. Today we find the “Alte Hackerhaus” (old Hacker house) on the place where the beer was once brewed. Peter Paul Hacker takes over the Hacker brewery from his father Simon Hacker, who has been leading the company since 1738. In 1793, the 23 year old farmer son Joseph Pschorr who has been working as a “brew laborer” marries Therese Hacker the daughter of his “brew master” (the owner of the brewery) and buys the brewery from his father in law. In the following 15 years the small Hacker Brewery becomes Munich’s top brewery among by then 50 existing Munich breweries due to the hard work and skill of Joseph Pschorr.

Hacker-Pschorr Weisse

Hacker-Pschorr Weisse is the authentic Bavarian wheat beer catering to consumers who know beer and appreciate the historic brand’s unique and complex flavor. It is a centuries-old German wheat beer from Bavaria that offers a refreshing taste. Wheat beer was originated in the German state of Bavaria in the 15th century. In Germany, it is typically called Weisse beer meaning white or Weizen meaning wheat. In Bavaria, Germany wheat beers represent 19.4% of the beer category. What makes the beer distinct is the use of 60% malted wheat and 40% malted barley in the brewing process. Unlike lager, wheat beer is top-fermented at higher temperatures. The top-fermentation and wheat produce hints of clove giving Hacker-Pschorr Weisse a distinct flavor. Hacker-Pschorr Weisse has a cloudy appearance, characteristic of wheat beer. The cloudy appearance is due to yeast that is retained in the beer. A centrifuge process is used with traditional wheat beers to retain the yeast instead of the typical filtering process used with beers that are clear in appearance. The result is a taste that is authentic and perfect all year-round.

Hacker-Pschorr Munich Gold

Hacker-Pschorr Munich Gold was the first light-beer brewed in Munich in 1893. In Germany, there are provinces or states like in the most countries of the world. Munich is the capital city of the province of Bavaria, which is sometimes called “The Cradle of the Art of Brewing.” In Bavaria, where beer is an art form to some and a religion to the rest, Hacker-Pschorr Munich Gold is recognized as the benchmark of the lager style. The Hacker-Pschorr Brewery is known as Bavaria’s Heaven – “Himmel der Bayern.” Hacker-Pschorr’s Munich Gold represents the real thing from one of the oldest breweries in Munich. Germany is a hotbed of the brewing industry worldwide to this day, with just over 1,200 breweries in Germany, and 800 in Bavaria alone — more than any other country in the world.

Hacker-Pschorr Weisse Dark

The Dark style of Weisse beer is produced with 60 percent light- colored malted wheat and 40 percent dark- and light colored malted barley. This provides the beer with a deeper amber color than regular Weisse beers and a more robust and fuller flavor. This beer can tame the spiciest items on the menu while it maintains the characteristic refreshment of wheat beer.

Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest
When Ludwig I, the Crown Prince of Bavaria, was to celebrate his wedding in Munich in 1810, he decided it was an occasion for all of Bavaria to celebrate. He commissioned Josef Pschorr, then the brewmaster of the Hacker-Pschorr brewery, among other Munich brewers, to develop special brews to commemorate the occasion. The beer was so good that the party lasted for days and Oktoberfest beer was born. Subsequent annual celebrations evolved into the city of Munich’s world-famous Oktoberfest, which is attended by over 6 million people each year, who in 2003 consumed over 6 million liters of beer. By Munich law, only the six breweries within the city limits of Munich are invited to serve their beer at Oktoberfest. Hacker-Pschorr is one of the six, as is its sister brand, Paulaner. Today’s event is held on land donated by Mr. Pschorr! Today’s Original Oktoberfest Märzen beer is still brewed in the same old tradition. The Oktoberfest brew is 100 percent all natural and brewed with pure spring water. Its brewed with Hacker- Pschorr’s centuries-old, exclusive yeast strain, Hallertau hops and dark- and light-colored malt from two-row Bavarian summer barley. The result is a beer that is full-bodied and flavorful with a rich creamy head.

Vecenies Distributing is the proud distributor of Hacker-Pschorr, Fulller’s, and Fruli beers in the Pittsburgh area. So if you would like to try any of these tasty beers and are having trouble finding them, just simply ask your local beer store to order from Vecenies.