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Oettinger is a German beer that was the best-selling beer in Germany from 2004 to 2013, and today is second only to the Krombacher brand. The trademark rights belong to the family company Oettinger Brauerei GmbH, headquartered in the Bavarian city of Oettingen. Production facilities are located in Gotha, Mönchengladbach and Braunschweig. The annual productivity of the enterprise is about 7,2 million hectoliters. Products are exported to more than 100 countries, licensed production is organized in Bosnia, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan. Since March 2013, all Oettinger beers have been labeled “GMO Free/Non GMO”.
Historical reference. The official founding date of the company is 1731, although the history of the brewery in the Swabian city of Oettingen can be traced back to the first half of the 1956th century. Bavarian producers strictly adhered to the requirements of the Purity Law, which regulated the composition of beer and the issue of pricing. In the XNUMXth century, the Fürstliche Brauhaus zu Oettingen (“Princely Brewery in Oettingen”) became a cooperative factory, and in XNUMX came under the control of the Kollmar family of hereditary brewers. The company was transformed into Oettinger Brauerei GmbH, headed by Otto and Günter Kollmar.
Starting in the 1970s, when the era of supermarkets began, Gunther developed a new corporate strategy: he organized direct sales channels aimed at the widest range of consumers. Oettinger beer is supplied to the retail trade without the participation of wholesalers, by means of its own trucks. The company fundamentally abandoned marketing and image advertising, does not cooperate with restaurants. These measures made it possible to significantly reduce the manufacturer’s costs, make the prices for the brand’s products competitive, and turned a small Bavarian plant into the largest producer and leader in beer sales in Germany.
The success story was continued by Günther’s son Dirk Kollmar, who became managing partner in 1993. After the death of Günther Kollmar in 2013 and Dirk Kollmar in 2014, the company went through a financial crisis over ownership structure. Three years later, the case was settled in arbitration: the Bavarian branch, headed by Günther’s widow Ingrid Kollmar, gained control of 75% of the company’s shares, the Thuringian branch got a 25% stake.
Awards
International Forum “Beer”, Sochi:
- 2009 – 2 gold (Oettinger Weiss, Oettinger Pils) and silver (Oettinger Bock) medals.
International professional competition “Best Beer of the Year”, Moscow:
- 2011 – Bronze (Oettinger Weiss) medal.
Tasting of Beers of the World magazine:
- 2012 – 2nd place (Oettinger Pils) in the pale lagers category, “Top Recommended” rating.
Monde Selection, Brussels:
- 2015, 2016 – Gold (Oettinger Weissbier Original) medal;
- 2017 – Gold (Oettinger Weissbier Original) medal and International High Quality Trophy.
International tasting competition of the German Agrarian Society (DLG):
- 2013 – 2 gold (Oettinger Weissbier Original, Oettinger Kellerbier) and silver (Oettinger Vollbier Hell) medals;
- 2015 – “Prize for long-term product quality” (Oettinger Brewery);
- 2016 – 6 золотых (Oettinger Alt, Oettinger Dark Hefeweizen Naturtrüb, Oettinger Bock, Oettinger Pils, Oettinger Schwarzbier, Oettinger Export) медалей;
- 2017 – 3 золотые (Oettinger Weissbier 12 Natural Cloudy, Oettinger Alt, Oettinger Weissbier Non-Alcoholic) медали.
Federal German Award of Honour:
- 2016 – the highest award for outstanding product quality.
InterFood Astana, Kazakhstan:
- 2016 – Gold (Oettinger Pils) medal.
How to drink Oettinger Weissbier correctly
The famous Bavarian “white” beer stands apart from other varieties: there is a whole ritual associated with pouring and drinking it. In order for the taste of Oettinger Weissbier to be fully revealed, the manufacturer gives the following recommendations:
- put the bottle on its side and roll it around the table several times;
- rinse a tall glass with a massive bottom with cold water;
- pour two thirds of the contents of the bottle into a glass;
- twist the bottle vigorously, holding it vertically;
- pour the remaining beer into the glass.
Types of beer Oettinger
Oettinger Weissbier Original, 4,9%
The flagship product of the brand is a real Bavarian wheat beer, awarded the prestigious gold medal of the German Agrarian Society (DLG). It is poured into a glass with an amber-yellow color, cloudy in the light. The dense foam cap rises easily and stays on for a long time. The aromatic range is bright, typical for Weissbier: shades of wheat malt, banana, dried apricots, cloves. The body is moderately light, the carbonation is soft and extremely natural, resulting from the fermentation process. The characteristic yeasty sourness is clearly felt in the sweetish-malty taste, notes of dried apricots, melon, tangerine go in the background. The drink perfectly refreshes and quenches thirst in hot weather; you can serve Weisswurst sausages, pickled cheeses, and baked trout with it.
Oettinger Pils, 4,7%
One of the brand’s bestsellers is a classic German-style pale lager. In the manufacturing process, the infusion method is used, unlike other varieties produced by the two-way method. The color in the glass is golden-straw, the foam is dense, of medium durability, but the “focal” lacy film keeps on the surface for a long time. The aroma is clean, sweetish-malty, with tones of slightly toasted white bread and a hoppy sulphuriness characteristic of German pils. Full body textured with medium carbonation. The taste has a malt base, in the background there are notes of fresh pastries, citruses, corn sticks. Quite assertive hop bitterness, continuing in a long dry aftertaste. A very drinkable beer that can accompany a meal or simply enjoy on a hot day.
Oettinger Light, 3,6%
Light lager is produced under license at the production facilities of the Belarusian JSC “Krinitsa” – it differs from the similar German product Oettinger Leicht in a slightly higher strength: 3,6 versus 2,8%. The drink owes its rich golden color to the roasted malt included in the recipe. The foam is snow-white, with small bubbles, does not sink for long. The aroma is predominantly malty with hints of hops and white grapefruit in the background. Medium-full body, soft carbonation. The taste is less watery than expected at an initial gravity of 10% and a low degree. The aftertaste is short, sweetish-caramel and drying. A good option for table beer, it is also suitable for a beach holiday.
Oettinger cellar beer, 5,6%
Unfiltered “Kellerbier” (“cellar”) style beer with natural haze. In the mug it looks dark amber, with reddish gleams, the creamy foam is finely bubbling, of medium persistence. The aroma has corn-grain, fruit tones, a slight touch of dampness, characteristic of unfiltered yeast. The body is quite full, smooth, velvety, alcohol does not stick out. The taste is sweetish at first, with tones of caramel and fruit candies, then leavened sourness and restrained bitterness of hops appear in it. The drink can be served with Tyrolean beef sausages, bacon rolls, soft goat cheese.
