In the world of German beer, Mannheim is not a place generally considered on a par with Munich, or even other beer cities like Dortmund. Today, I experimented with a .5 liter can I picked up at the Old World Village store in Huntington Beach, California. Introducing Eichbaum Helles.
This product is produced by the Eichbaum Brewery of Mannheim. The alcohol content is 5.0%. It has a clean, crisp taste, and while it doesn't stand out (to my taste) among imported German beers, it is what I would expect-in other words, superior to American brews, especially the major brands.
Like any good German brewery, Eichbaum has its own brauhaus/restaurant in Mannheim.
As of last October, the brewery, which goes back to 1679, was faced with financial insolvency. Apparently, it is still holding on since its products are still on the US market.
Anyway, if you are tired of the usual Munich imports and want to experiment, it is worth a try.
