Leinenkugel to brew anniversary beer with Hofbräu München
This must be a first: a collaboration brew between a US corporate brewer and a Bavarian state-owned one, although few beer lovers will know about the ownership situation.
The Wisconsin-based Leinenkugel likes to tout its family heritage dating back to 1867. But while the brewer may be run by fifth-generation “Leinies”, it has been corporate-owned for nearly 30 years: first by Miller, then by SABMiller and now by Coors.
With a production volume of an estimated 1.2 million hl beer, Leinenkugel is three times as big as Munich’s Hofbräu, but Hofbräu is three times older. It was founded in 1589 to serve Munich courtiers a decent brew. It was only in the 19th century that ordinary Munich citizens could buy the beer too.
Although Leinenkugel these days is probably best known across the US for its Summer Shandy, a beer with lemonade flavour which was launched in 2007 and represents half its annual sales, it will mark its 150th anniversary with a beer, to be called Leinenkugel’s Anniversary Lager. The amber-coloured, Märzen-style beer, when introduced in April, will crown more than a year’s cooperative effort between the two breweries.
As befits a collaboration, the beer will be brewed simultaneously for bottles and kegs in Chippewa Falls, for kegs in Munich, while using identical formulas and ingredients. American hops will be shipped to Munich and German malt will be sent to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
Coming up with a recipe for the beer was a bit tricky. Because it would be brewed by Hofbräu München, it had to adhere to the Reinheitsgebot. But with all of them being brewers they overcame that obstacle quickly.
