Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
Collaborations are not just a U.S. craft beer thing, in Belgium St. Bernardus releases the 2025 Kombine a collaboration with Weihenstephan. An “unfiltered Helles blond beer that will be bottom fermented without bottle fermentation—while still staying true to the German Reinheitsgebot rules.” The hops are from both breweries while the famous Weihenstephan yeast will do the work.
Jack’s Abbey has a new collaboration lager with Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, with the great name of Fest of Both Worlds.
Using the original Bavarian lager strain from Munich but then combined with “modern hopping methods and some atypical hops – Sterling and Adeena.”
Who will be the Fest Winner? California, the U.S. or Germany?
The Contestants
Smog City Smogtoberfest – dark orange in color. smells hoppier than the other two. simple and crisp. lots of malt flavor here with a bit of a spice kick.
Half Acre Lager Town – pours a dark orange with a malty and orange peel taste. a bit heavy to me with caramel notes. minerality here too as well as a viscousness.
Weihenstephaner Festbier – the lightest of the trio. bubbly in the glass. a bit of malty sweetness with a tiny touch of minerality. very clean and crisp.
The Winner
I think I have to choose the SmogtoberFest. It is the lowest ABV but also the fullest of the three beers.
Weihenstephan has added a wrinkle to the festbier this year. The ever popular 16oz can. The design of the label is clean and classy and I will be looking for this in four-packs.
The famous Weihenstephaner began selling Helles in Germany. How long until it end up on our shores? And wouldn’t it be great in the summer?
I am starting to believe my own hype. I had a feeling that the N/A market was going to be a major one in 2019 and maybe beyond and now we might be able to taste how the Oldest Brewery does it when Weihenstaphan brings out their super low in alcohol offering.