Ungespundet sounds like so many things other than a beer. Nevertheless, it is indeed a style of beer and it’s a style that has been appreciated for so long that maybe, like us, you questioned your status of beer nerd for never having heard of it.
To define, Ungespundet or ‘unbunged’ is an Upper Franconian style Kellerbier, one of the oldest and most traditional beer styles still being brewed in one of the oldest brewing regions in the world”.
In the words of the beer god Michael Jackson (not the pop god) it’s “the unfiltered German Lager of your dreams. A true taste of Germany’s fast-vanishing artisanal tradition”.
With that in mind and with our Head Brewer (Ben) generously volunteering to spend his holidays doing copious amounts of liquid research on the other side of the world, we thought why not bring this style home and add a twist to it.
Knowing that harvest season was just around the corner, we saw an ideal opportunity to marry this natural style lager with fresh wet hops straight off the bine. So off went Ben at the crack of dawn to Hop Products Australia to pick up a metric truck load of fresh Ella hops.
The fresh cones were then added into the brew within hours of being picked to impart some very nice rich resin and green hop character.
The result is a lager that brings taste and character like nothing we’ve ever made before. Fermented on the cold side under atmospheric pressure (unbunged), this beer is completely unfiltered and unfined. Warm amber to light red in colour and lower in carbonation than your typical lager allows the drinker to be more sensitive to the rich malt balance in the beer. The addition of the fresh Ella hop brings a lingering green hop taste that coats the back palate and stays long after you’ve downed that last stein!
Big thanks to the team at Hop Products Australia for all their hard work and allowing us access to their fresh produce!
Cheers
