Brauerei Gebr. Maisel Makes Beer with History in Mind

Maisel and Friends tread the line between the Reinheitsgebot and modern craft beer innovations.

So what of these beers and "brew creations?"

One of the first was Stefan’s Indian Ale, a juicy 7.3% IPA based off an English Pale Ale recipe. Stefan Sattran is a childhood friend of Jeff’s and a wine sommelier. Their collaboration led to an ale with a “pleasant dose of bitterness and a fresh, fruity taste,” followed by “citrus notes and floral nuances” and finishing with “hints of wild honey and caramelized malt.”

There’s also Marc’s Chocolate Bock from Marc Goebel, a friend and fellow brewer whom Maisel met while studying at Weihenstephan. The Chocolate Bock features “aromas of roasted malt, coupled with a caramel sweetness, hints of dark chocolate and dark berries,” similar to an Irish stout. When imbibed, the flavor is none other than a “firework of pleasure.” (Pardon the translation.)

Thankfully, beer is a universal language, and translates perfectly to any palate regardless of nationality. Which is why Maisel and Friends is bringing its specially brewed flagship pale ale to America. The sessionable 5.5% ABV Maisel and Friends Pale Ale is brewed in the American style, using 100 percent Yakima hops, something no other German brewery has done.

The American-style Maisel and Friends Pale Ale is Maisel's first beer to hit American shores.

The hops varietals include Hercules, Chinook, Simcoe, Amarillo and Citra, providing a fresh citrus kick, and tempered with a signature smooth malt base with hints of caramel.

At the moment, you can only get this beer on draft, and more likely on the West Coast. Keep an eye on bottles in the near future, because if anything is guaranteed with a Maisel beer, it’s that it’ll be around for years to come.