ZIPFER:
The Beer
In the green rolling hills and meadows forty miles north-east of Salzburg, lies a quiet little town called Zipf. With its clear, fresh spring water, it has gained a reputation as the home of one of the finest breweries in Austria, the ZIPF brewery.
It's a new brewery by German/Austrian standards, begun in 1858. However,
what is rarely mentioned is that a lager, or bottom-fermented beer, which
is light in color, is in itself relatively new. This first modern lager
beer is attributed to the Austrian brewmaster, Anton Dreher. He first brewed
this revolutionary, new, light-colored beer at his own brewery in Vienna
(Schwechat) in 1841. His technique was followed a year later by a brewmaster
in Pilsen, Bohemia, (now the Czeck Republic) for their "Pilsner"
beer. From this time, 1841, Austria has been renouned for its brewing tradition,
and by the early 1900s Anton Dreher had built the world's greatest brewing
empire of its time. One of Dreher's breweries outside of Austria was in
the Bohemian town called Michelob with others in Budapest (Hungary), and
Trieste (Italy), all part of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
The Germans have their "famous" Reinheitsgebot of 1516,
but no one mentions the Austrian's purity law as found in the Codex Alimentarius
of the Hapsburg period. (The Hapsburgs were the ruling family of Austria
and the Austrian/Hungarian empire, 1278-1918, and the Holy Roman empire
from 1438-1806.) It also states that only water, hops and grains may be
used in the brewing of a beer. The distinction from the German law is that
" grain" in this sense may include not only barley, and wheat,
but also rice. It further states, however, that never more than 25% of the
grain may be rice. Hence, here too the Austrian purity law mandates only
pure ingredients with no additives!
Zipfer is now available in the following two packages., - Regular and Premium.
Regular: The Zipfer in the BIG, 22.4 oz. bottle is brewed according
to the traditional Austrian Vollbier receipe. According to the Zipfer
brewmaster, it has the flavor most preferred by the Austrians. A poignant
aroma, call it tangy, followed by a zesty, hearty, full-bodied taste. Rich
in flavor with a pleasant, lingering finish. Zipfer is dry, tart and refreshing.
Premium: This Zipfer in the tall, slender bottle is brewed according
to the German Reinheitsgebot or purity law. It is the lighter of
the two Zipfers with a smooth, mellow, refreshing, refined taste followed
by a creamy after-taste. It's rich and clean. The finest of the Austrian
blond Pilsner-style beers, - an ideal complement for your favorite meal.
Serve at approximately 46 degrees fahrenheit.
Robust, hearty, full-bodied,
high in alcohol (5.4 % by volume),
and rich in flavor.