Hopulist issue 5

GROUP
f
GERMANY-DEUTSCHLAND
GROUP F
GERMANY
SWEDEN
MEXICO
SOUTH KOREA
Mon 18th JUNE
Germany v Mexico
Sweden v S.Korea
Sat 23rd JUNE
S.Korea v Mexico
Germany v Sweden
Wed 27th JUNE
S.Korea v Germany
Mexico v Sweden
When you think of German beer, you no doubt have visions of steins,
Oktoberfest and perhaps even lederhosen. But the German industry has
a few surprises up its sleeves to go with the stereotypes.
Let’s get one thing straight, the Germans are very good at brewing
beer. Weissbeer was a German invention as are many other styles of beer
including Pilsners. Some of the more common, mass-produced names
like Erdinger are still well worth sampling, simply because they are very
well brewed. Moving into craft, strict German regulations have long
restricted progressive brewers but there are some names you probably
recognise such as AndUnion and Stone Brewing Berlin (although
obviously of american origin). There are also some lesser known
names worth investigating such as BRLO, Hoppebrau and Sudden
Death Brewing. Often they will have to work around the purity laws by
marketing drinks as Biermischgetränke or ‘mixed beer drinks’ but this
allows them to not only brew classic pilsners and wheat beers but also
things like fruit flavoured stouts and eccentric sours.
Our choice of German beer goes to Munich-based AndUnion and
its Friday Über IPA. One of the main reasons we plumped for this is
that it is actually quite easy to get hold of – not an uncommon sight in
supermarkets. It boasts that it is a Bavarian take on the American-style
IPA and offers a clear, hoppy and fruity experience of this beer type with
some strong malty body. We are also a big fan of how AndUnion markets
itself – the lines and designs are clean and the beer follows suit quite
nicely.
kEY PLAYERS:
Scandinavian
powerhouse SWEDEN
accounts for some of
the best craft beers
in the world which is
echoed by the success
of their export market.
Omnipollo, Brewski,
Stigbergets and Brekeriet
are just four of the big
players that, if you
haven’t already, you need
to check out on your
craft journey.
MEX|CO is the
world’s largest exporter
of beer! The craft beer
movement is therefore
battling against a
market dominated by
corporates. Although
this makes it difficult
and slow it is still worthy
of further investigation
given the opportunity.
SOUTH kOREA
has become a key player
in the Asian craft beer
scene with many of the
breweries and tap rooms
congregated near US
military bases.
ANDUN|ON
BEER: FR|DAY üBER |PA
style: |PA
abv: 6.5%
volume: 330ml
untappd: 3.63
FOOTY pred|ct|on:
Group W|nners: GERMANY
Group Runner’s Up: Mex|co