Away we go

It feels weird not to be abroad for New Year's -- the first time in two decades. The nearest I'm getting to a jolly jaunt in some chilly European city is a frosty German winter lager.

Der Hirschbräu Winter-Festbier is one of a range commonly available in these parts, but I had not noticed this one before. The festivity is limited to just 5.6% ABV, though the colour is a warming chestnut amber: we're at the darker end of the Märzen spectrum here.

A gentle waft of weedy noble hops is all it shows for an aroma, and the texture is full and smooth, verging on sticky but staying drinkable. The dark malt leads the flavour, with mild notes of treacle and toast. The hops add a peppery seasoning, like rocket, balancing the sweetness. Balance is really the theme here, to the point of the beer being a little boring. Everything runs like Teutonic clockwork, with no drama or distinguishing features.

This was far from an exciting or intense experience, but it did provide a sense of drinking ordinary central European lager in central Europe, and for that I was appreciative.