After all these decades of drinking German beer-in Germany and outside- I have finally tested a German craft beer, which I understand is a growing trend in Germany. In recent years, I have heard many German friends bemoaning the fact that many of the larger breweries have been buying up many of the smaller village breweries in surrounding areas. They use the cute term, "industrial beer", which makes me think of Budweiser, Miller, and other American brands. Perhaps, that is the reason for the growing popularity of craft beers-as here in the US.
Currently, on my forays to Total Wines and More, I have noticed two beers on the shelf with very plain-looking labels. This is Hoppebrau, both in Weisse and Helles. This week, I bought the Helles, which costs about 4 dollars a bottle. I must say, it was quite good, on a par with the brand name German beers I have been buying. Unlike many craft beers in the US, this doesn't feature any particular aftertaste, just crisp and clean.
The Hoppe brand is part of a family-run brewery restaurant and biergarten located in Waakirchen, Bavaria near the Austrian border. It is advertised as a craft beer. As you can see on their website, they produce many varieties according to your taste.
