Brauerei Hofstetten - Granitebock

Tonights review is of a Doppelbock straight out of Austria.  Granitebock, brewed by Hofstetten, is made through a very unique brewing method that utilizes hot stones, granite stones to be exact, to brew the wort!  Using Google Translator I was able to get some bits of information from their German website that gives me a description of the process.  "To come up to temperature, we start this process with glowing granite purposes.  The stones are heated over an open fire and then cooled abruptly in the wort.  The beer ingredients caramelize and the yeast receives optimum fermentation conditions".  If you read that description with a German accent it makes it sound much more authentic.

The beer is a very clear, deep ruby red when held to the light.  A creamy, caramel-colored foam persists throughout my pint.  Sweet malty aromas are immediately present after I finish pouring.  Dark fruits, caramel and a whiff of alcohol create an inviting profile.  Flavor-wise, very malt forward.  Lots of caramel, toasted bread, and an earthiness from the hops.  The caramelization characteristics are really accentuated here.  I like it!  The body itself is very chewy and not too sweet.  I also find hints of black tea as it warms.  The alcohol also becomes more present but does not have any averse affects on this bocks drinkability.

Overall - I really enjoyed this doppelbock.  I found the novelty (if you can even call it that) of having this beer brewed with searing hot granite stones make my drinking experience of this Austrian beer much more fulfilling.  The nice bonus is that the bottle holds more than a pint of beer so you are able to go back for seconds!  Its not a wallet buster either at roughly $4 a bottle.  I recommend picking a bottle up just to say you had a beer that was brewed with granite stones!  Oh, and the beer itself is pretty tasty as well.


Purchased from The Four Firkins.