The name of the drink is meaningful: edelweiss blooming high in the mountains symbolizes the purity and pristine nature, ecological impeccability and safety. The manufacturer wanted to emphasize the naturalness of the product: there are no synthetic colors or flavors in the recipe – only hops, wheat and barley malt with top-fermenting yeast and spring water from alpine sources.
The excellent quality characteristics of Edelweiss – rich flavor and delicate aroma, are confirmed not only by the growing number of Austrian ale fans, but also by the famous product quality tester – the DLG society. The jury of the Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft gave the drink the highest score for 4 years in a row, from 2008 to 2011.
Brand and manufacturer history
Launched on the market in 1986, Edelweiss is the product of Kaltenhausen, the oldest brewery in Salzburg, whose first authentic recipe dates back to 1476. The brewery was founded by the mayor and judge Johan Eisenheimer. His descendants successfully continued the business, and for many years the brewery remained the only company in Austria that produces unfiltered beer.
For several centuries, the Kaltenhausen brewery was a family business, and after the First World War it became part of a joint-stock company, remaining the leading producer of Austrian beer. Already in 2009, the shares of Brau Union Osterreich AG, together with the rights to the Edelweiss brand, were bought by the international corporation Heineken International.
Types of beer “Edelweiss”
The trademark is represented by six items:
- Edelweiss Hofbräu (4,5%) – an aromatic amber-colored drink with a mild taste, spicy sourness and a gentle banana aftertaste;
- Edelweiss Hefetrüb (5,3%) – unfiltered beer of bright golden color with the aroma of ripe fruit, spicy taste and a slight hint of hop bitterness in the aftertaste;
- Edelweiss Dunkel (5,3%) – a classic dark beer of a rich reddish-chestnut color, with a barley malt aroma and cinnamon-vanilla flavors;
- Edelweiss Gamsbock (7,1%) – the strongest drink of the brand, an excellent example of white (wheat) beer, with a golden color and a pronounced malt flavor;
- Edelweiss Alkoholfrei – non-alcoholic beer, not inferior in taste and aroma to traditional beer, the taste is dominated by shades of prunes, banana and caramel;
- Edelweiss Weissbier (4,3%) is a white unfiltered beer, which is produced only for export to the market of Eastern Europe and Russia. Light golden drink with characteristic sediment flakes at the bottom of the bottle. Malty aroma with notes of wheat toast, dried banana and cloves. Spicy persistent aftertaste. Serve chilled to +6-7 °C. As an aperitif, add a slice of lime. As an accompanying drink for lunch or dinner, it goes well with Bavarian dishes – pork ham, sausages, knuckle, spicy appetizers and cheeses.
