Franz Xaver smells perfect… the beer, not the dead composer. Bamberg has given the world so much. Gänstaller Bräu of Hallerndorf, Germany resides on the outskirts of Bamberg, the motherland of smokebeer, and perhaps the current home of the Holy Grail (judging by the libations produced there). This smoked märzen is unlike all others. To begin with, it was so excited, it took 5 minutes to calm down allowing me to pour it all into this glass, just a bit of foam I’d say, but as this was occuring, it became evident that this was something special regardless. And I was surprised to find this labeled a märzen, which according to Michael Jackson, is the same as an Oktoberfest beer with the only difference being one alludes to March, and the other October, traditionally made out of the remaining grain ingredients after the community’s staple beer and food needs were met, because it tasted like one of the most refined normal beer ingredients found in smokebeers or rauchbiers. Not to encourage Gänstaller from changing the formula, given that I did not detect smoked tea, orange and a number of other inventive ingredients, the finished product was almost exactly as I wish all beers were. I’m not too picky about the journey, especially when we arrive at Franz Xaver as the destination. And as I down the last bit, yeah, I do think that this is an identifiable märzen, flavorful and packed with smoky beer. Congrats on the 6.8 smokestacks Gänstaller, I look forward to trying the elusive Rauch Royal.
| Brewer | Gänstaller Bräu |
| Beer Name | Franz Xaver smoked märzen |
| Brewer’s Description | A brewery specialty, this Rauch-Märzen features tones of caramel, Chinese Lapsang Souchong smoked tea, Bergamot orange, candied apple, and good ol’ bacon! Gänstaller rewrites the book on both Rauchbier and Märzen with this elegant, rich yet sessionable uber-Franconian brew. |
| Food Pairings | Hamburgers, Ribs, anything unhealthy eaten with big bites |
| Brewer Location | Hallerndorf, Germany |
| Alcohol content by volume | 5.6% |
| IBU (International Bitterness Units) | unimportant |
| Beer opacity rate 1 – 7 (light – dark) | 3.3 |
| Smell smoke? 1 – 7 (No – George Burns) | 7 |
| Smokepower taste: 1 – 7 Smokestacks | 6.5 |
| Sausage detection? Y or N | Y |
| Beer thickness 1-7 (water – used motor oil) | 5.5 |
| Overall Happiness Rating: 1-7 (low – high) | 6.8 |
It wouldn’t take much to get this dead end page up and running, and I can’t quantify how much it would help, but I feel confident making the statement that having an active website would not hurt your company, I’ll even do it for you:
What would I do without these guys? Brothers!
https://www.sheltonbrothers.com/beers/ganstaller-franz-xaver/
More about that dead composer Franz Xaver, who knew his first name? and second name? and that Amadeus wasn’t any of his real names? And even the name Wolfgang is debatable? cool:
SmokeBeerMinistry 
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