Berghoff Brewery Releases Berghoff IPA and Hop-Forward Pilsner
27 Apr 2015 --- On Tuesday, May 5, the ever-evolving Midwestern brewery Berghoff Brewery, Inc. will release two brand new year-round offerings, Hop-Forward Pilsner and Berghoff IPA.
It marks an exciting next step for Berghoff and owner Ben Minkoff as they hope to further establish the classic brand’s newfound place among the nation’s top craft breweries – and these releases will coincide with Chicago Craft Beer Week (May 14 through May 24), which will afford local drinkers a wealth of opportunities to sample the new Berghoff styles. At the same time, Berghoff’s popular summer seasonal Solstice Wit will be making its triumphant return to bottle shops and bars throughout the Midwest.
The brewery will host three great opportunities for drinkers to get to know these new beers during Chicago Craft Beer Week: on Friday, May 15, Berghoff will host a tap takeover with Baderbrau at Prost (2566 North Lincoln Avenue); then, on Wednesday, May 20, they will host a second takeover at Kroll’s South Loop (1736 South Michigan Avenue); finally, on Thursday, May 21, they will pour five beers, including Stock Ale, Rock ‘n Bock, Hop-Forward Pilsner, Berghoff IPA and Solstice Wit, and pair them with delicious bites in the inaugural Berghoff Beer & Bites Craft Beer Pairings Event from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. in the Century Room at The Berghoff (17 West Adams). Hop-Forward Pilsner will be on special all evening for just $4, with special appearances from guest brewing experts Randy Mosher and John Hannafan. Mosher will be selling and signing copies of his latest two craft beer books, Beer For All Seasons (Storey, 2015) and Mastering Homebrew: The Complete Guide To Brewing Delicious Beer (Chronicle, 2015); and tickets are available for only $25.
“We’re very excited to debut two new styles by rounding out our core lineup and giving our fans even more great beers to enjoy all year with Hop-Forward Pilsner and Berghoff IPA, our spin on a modern yet classic IPA,” says Minkoff, whose family has owned General Beverage Distributors in Wisconsin for the past 80 years and purchased the Berghoff brand in 1994. “We understand the intense popularity and enthusiasm for hoppy beers continues to grow and we want to be players in that exciting market.”
Berghoff’s new releases are meant to stay true to the brand’s deep German roots, while appealing to modern palates. Hop-Forward Pilsner is brewed with four varieties of German hops (GR Merkur, Saphir, Opal, Melon) and serves as an accessible introduction to Berghoff’s German traditions. Berghoff IPA seamlessly marries German Hallertau Blanc hops with two varieties of American hops, including Falconer’s Flight and Chelan, for an appropriately bitter but very drinkable version of the standard-bearing style that has become a favorite among craft beer drinkers. Solstice Wit, a refreshing summer seasonal, is an easy-drinking ale brewed with sweet tangerine and sour Seville orange juices for a subtle summer-y flavor that is perfect for picnics and barbecues.
Minkoff consulted with Randy Mosher and John Hannafan to create the top-notch German-style beers brewed at Berghoff’s production facility located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Mosher is an acknowledged craft beer expert, whose books include: Beer For All Seasons (Storey, 2015); Mastering Homebrew: The Complete Guide To Brewing Delicious Beer (Chronicle, 2015); Tasting Beer (Storey, 2009); and Radical Brewing (Brewers Publications, 2003). Mosher, an accomplished designer, has also contributed to Berghoff’s updated packaging and brand messaging. Hannafan, who until recently ran his own successful Chicago-based brewery and brewing consultancy firm, is now the director of education at the world-renowned Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago.
The first batch of Berghoff beer was brewed in 1887 by Herman Berghoff and his three brothers, Henry, Hubert and Gustav. Demand for their beer grew with astonishing speed, and by 1890, the brothers were producing 90,000 barrels of lager annually. A showcase at the 1892 Chicago World’s Fair put Berghoff on the national map, expanding their reach into new markets and introducing hundreds of thousands of new drinkers to their authentic German-style beers. During World War I, the brothers cemented their brewing company’s place in American history, changing their slogan from “a real German brew” to “a real honest brew” in honor of their adopted homeland. In a bold show of American ingenuity, Berghoff produced soft drinks, including a root beer and a malt tonic, throughout Prohibition; the brewery was the first to return to production and sale of alcoholic beers when the Volstead Act was repealed, pouring at The Berghoff, the bar with the first liquor license to be re-granted in Chicago.
