Edelweiss Snowfresh Weissbier
Style: Herbed/Spiced Hefeweizen
ABV: 5%
Presentation: Single 330 ml brown bottles
Brewery: Hofbräu Kaltenhausen
Country: Hallein, Austria
KANPAI! w/ Jeff Werstiuk
“If you really love me you will bring me Edelweiss!” So went the chorus of the one-hit-wonder dance track of the late 1980’s, to the tune of ABBA’s “SOS” no less. That being said it still runs through my head every time I reach for another bottle of this special little beer that is now brewed at the foot of the Alps in Austria near Salzburg. Never have I come across such an enjoyable and easy drinking ale that also keeps me guessing and as of yet hasn’t let me completely pin it down.
To begin with this starts out as a light traditional German-style wheat beer, and utilizes that particular special strain of ale yeast to produce it. But then the tables turn a bit with the addition of an unknown blend of Alpine herbs to the whole mix, transforming this into a bit of an Austrian interpretation of a Belgian Witbier as well. The final product is something of a hybrid between the German and Belgian styles of wheat beer, while at the same time maintaining a unique character all of its own.
For the life of me I haven’t been able to fully determine exactly what any separate component is within this mysterious Alpine herbal blend, it continues to elude and remains a satisfying riddle that keeps drawing me back for more. Not like I need any extra incentive though….
A Weizen glass or Pilsner glass will help accentuate the best parts of this Austrian wheat beer, although a pint glass will work by default if necessary. You’ll also want to consume this while it’s still fairly well chilled—the time it takes to grab it out of the fridge, open the bottle and pour it into a glass, and then allow the head to settle a bit should allow it to reach an optimal serving temperature.
Expect a fairly typical appearance for a Hefeweizen, cloudy straw in colour with a tall billowing white head that will last a while. It’s in the aroma that you are introduced to the beginning of the enigma. The basic elements are sweet and floral and grassy, however the more attention you pay to it, the more individual characteristics start to become more pronounce. Scents of lemon and mandarin, notes of tropical fruit such as papaya and banana, honey-sweet malt, ginger, coriander, mint, and a light perfumey lavender. And there’s still stuff in there I can’t figure out and name! Pretty complex. Much of this continues on in the taste with soft sweet malt, citrus, light banana, mint, and the same inexplicable mix from the aroma that continues to elude me. Hopefully you have better luck decoding the puzzle of this particular blend of alpine herbs. Carrying this liquid joy is a light-bodied mouthfeel that feels creamy smooth across the palate and provides a zip of carbonation on the finish. This helps maintain the status of Edelweiss Snowfresh as a great session beer, which makes it easier for the rest of us to go back for the purpose of more exploration.
When it comes time to take a break to eat and you don’t want to leave this Austrian Weiss behind, I think it would be a great idea to pair it up with some fresh lobster tail. But hey, I have expensive tastes…. For more common fare you could serve this unique wheat beer with the likes of chicken or fish, salad or pasta. Anything with savoury seasoning is fair game, however avoid spices that provide more intense heat. And while Cajun cooking might overwhelm the subtle nuances of this beer, Louisiana desserts on the other hand are a totally different story. My recommendation is some Bananas Foster. If you’re not familiar with this Southern treat, imagine rum flambéd caramelized bananas served over vanilla bean ice cream. I you choose to go with that route then put on some safety goggles, pour another glass of Edelweiss Snowfresh, and prepare yourself for a flavour explosion!
The next steps in the cooler:
Other Austrian Beer:
Gösser
Stiegl
Other Hefeweizens:
Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier
Ayinger Bräu Weisse
Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse
Schneider Weisse
Erdinger Weissbier
König Ludwig Weiss
Witbiers:
Hoegaarden Original White Ale
Unibroue Blanche De Chambly
St. Bernardus Witbier
Wittekerke
Hitachino Nest White Ale
Lost Coast Great White
Mill Street Wit
DDC Rosée d’hibiscus
Tags: Austria, Hefeweizen