Are you 18 years old?

We use cookies to improve your browsing experience on our pages. By browsing this website, you consent to the use of cookies. If you need more information and/or do not want cookies to record your use of our website, visit our Cookies Notice.

Valaisanne gusset beer
Back

ZWICKELBIER - AN "UNROUNDED" PLEASURE

Valaisanne

If you've been studying beer a bit more intensively, sooner or later you'll inevitably run across Zwickel beer. And that's a good thing - because this specialty definitely deserves a little of your attention.

WHAT IS ZWICKELBIER?

Today, the term "Zwickelbier" stands for unfiltered and thus naturally cloudy beers, usually brewed with bottom fermentation. Depending on the type, these beers do not require a secondary fermentation process, or they are bottled immediately after the process - or served directly. The latter is, of course, preferably served in brewery pubs. However, a look back at the history of barley juice shows that originally, Zwickelbier did not refer to a specific type of brew at all. Rather, it referred to a sample that the brewmaster took from the barrel. Thanks to it, he could convince himself of the quality of the maturing beer. Or he had a good excuse for a sip in between, just as you like to interpret it. To tap this sample, he used a specially designed tap - the Zwickel tap.

In terms of beer, we live in an enormously fortunate time: we have a wide range of the most diverse varieties and brewing styles from all over the world to choose from. So why do we take the liberty of saying that, with all this variety, Zwickel beer deserves your attention? Because it can be described in good conscience as a distinctly "drinkable" experience, to which the naturally cloudy appearance also contributes. Most Zwickel beers score with a balanced interplay of aromas from hops and malt. Nevertheless, they retain certain rough edges, which gives them a distinct, unconventional character.

Valaisanne Zwickel beer: bottle against mountain background

LESS CARBONIC ACID - BECAUSE "UNROUNDED"!

Last but not least, you should treat yourself to a Zwickelbier at least once, because it's probably the first "unspun" beer of your life. What does that mean? The bunghole is used during fermentation in a keg to release pressure as needed, which is created by the formation of carbon dioxide during the brewing process. It is usually closed with a spigot called a "bung." If, on the other hand, the bunghole remains open, this is referred to as unbung beer. This contains correspondingly less carbon dioxide because it can escape more or less unhindered. We'll be happy to receive your thank-you note if you're asked about it in the next pub quiz!

Incidentally, people often use the term Kellerbier as a synonym for Zwickelbier. But while the two have a lot in common, they also have small differences: Kellerbier is usually a bit more heavily hopped and is stored a bit longer before it is ready for tasting.

If you now feel like trying a Zwickelbier, we recommend the interpretation of our friends from Valaisanne. After all, there could hardly be a better source for a beer full of character like the Zwickelbier than a brewery from the Valais, which is always careful to transfer the idiosyncrasy of its homeland to its products.

Share article

More topics

From the range

Super Bock Unfiltered

Super Bock Unfiltered
Cellar beer
4.7
% ALCOHOL

Super Bock Lager

Super Bock Lager
European Pale Lager
5.2
% ALCOHOL

Super Bock 0.0

Super bock 0.0
European Pale Lager
0.0
% ALCOHOL

Super Bock Stout

Super Bock Stout
Dark Lager
5.0
% ALCOHOL

Super Bock Gluten-Free

Super Bock Gluten-Free
European Pale Lager
5.2
% ALCOHOL

Super Bock Green

Super Bock Green
Panaché
2.0
% ALCOHOL

1664

1664
European Pale Lager
5.5
% ALCOHOL

1664 blanc

1664 blanc
Witbier
5.0
% ALCOHOL

Guinness Draught

Guinness Draught
Irish Stout
4.2
% ALCOHOL

Magners Berry

Magners Berry
Irish Berry Cider
4.0
% ALCOHOL

Schneider's Helles

Schneider's Helles
Munich Helles
4.9
% ALCOHOL

Schneider Weisse LoveBeer

Schneider Weisse LoveBeer
White beer
4.9
% ALCOHOL

Schneider Weisse Original

Schneider Weisse Original
Hefeweizen, TAP 7
5.4
% ALCOHOL

Magners Original

Magners Original
Irish Apple Cider
4.5
% ALCOHOL

Astra Kiezmische

Astra Kiezmische
Alster water/Panaché
2.5
% ALCOHOL

Alhambra Reserva 1925

Alhambra Reserva 1925
European Lager
6.4
% ALCOHOL

Guinness 0.0

Guinness 0.0
Irish Stout
0.0
% ALCOHOL

Brooklyn Pilsner

Brooklyn Pilsner
Pilsner (Crisp Lager)
4.6
% ALCOHOL

Brooklyn Stone Wall Inn IPA

Brooklyn Stone Wall Inn IPA
Session IPA
4.6
% ALCOHOL

Hobgoblin IPA

Hobgoblin IPA
IPA
5.0
% ALCOHOL

Schneider Weisse Helle Weisse

Schneider Weisse Helle Weisse
Hefeweizen, TAP 1
4.9
% ALCOHOL

Astra Urtyp

Astra archetype
German Pilsner
4.9
% ALCOHOL

Brooklyn Lager

Brooklyn Lager
American Amber Lager
5.2
% ALCOHOL

Magners Pear

Magners Pear
Irish Pear Cider
4.5
% ALCOHOL

Guinness Hop House 13

Guinness Hop House 13
Hoppy Lager
5.0
% ALCOHOL

Guinness IPA

Guinness IPA
India Pale Ale
5.0
% ALCOHOL

Hobgoblin Ruby

Hobgoblin Ruby
Ruby Ale
5.0
% ALCOHOL

Grimbergen Ambrée

Grimbergen Ambrée
Abbey beer
6.5
% ALCOHOL

Carlsberg

Carlsberg
European Pale Lager
5.0
% ALCOHOL

Brooklyn Special Effects

Brooklyn Special Effects
American Lager
0.4
% ALCOHOL

Grimbergen Blanche

Grimbergen Blanche
Witbier
6.0
% ALCOHOL

Coruja IPA

Coruja IPA
India Pale Ale
6.0
% ALCOHOL

Poretti 4 Luppoli

Poretti 4 Luppoli
European Pale Lager
5.0
% ALCOHOL

Brooklyn Special Effects IPA

Brooklyn Special Effects IPA
IPA
0.4
% ALCOHOL

Grimbergen Blonde

Grimbergen Blonde
Abbey beer
6.7
% ALCOHOL

San Miguel

San Miguel
European Pale Lager
5.4
% ALCOHOL

Grimbergen Brassin de Noel

Grimbergen Brassin de Noel
Abbey beer
6.5
% ALCOHOL

San Miguel Fresca

San Miguel Fresca
European Pale Lager
4.4
% ALCOHOL

Grimbergen 0.0

Grimbergen 0.0
Abbey beer
0.0
% ALCOHOL

Grimbergen Rouge

Grimbergen Rouge
Flavored beer
6.0
% ALCOHOL

Valaisanne Sans Alcool

Valaisanne Sans Alcool
Hoppy Lager
0.0
% ALCOHOL

Valaisanne Juicy IPA

Valaisanne Juicy IPA
New England IPA
5.8
% ALCOHOL

Schneider Weisse Aventinus

Schneider Weisse Aventinus
Wheat Doppelbock, TAP 6
8.2
% ALCOHOL

Valaisanne Pale Ale

Valaisanne Pale Ale
Pale Ale
5.2
% ALCOHOL

Schneider Weisse Alkoholfrei

Schneider Weisse non-alcoholic
Wheat non-alcoholic, TAP 2
0.5
% ALCOHOL

Valaisanne White IPA

Valaisanne White IPA
White IPA
6.0
% ALCOHOL

Kilkenny

Kilkenny
Irish red ale
4.3
% ALCOHOL

Valaisanne Zwickel

Valaisanne gusset
Cellar beer
5.4
% ALCOHOL

Smithwick's Irish Ale

Smithwick's Irish Ale
Irish red ale
3.8
% ALCOHOL

Tetley's English Ale

Tetley's English Ale
English Brown Ale
3.6
% ALCOHOL