Brasserie Schutzenberger

8 rue da la Patrie, BP 182, 67304 Schiltigheim. Tel: 03 88 18 61 00 or03 88 33 14 67 and 03 88 33 14 88

Fairly large independent brewery (though precise figures not declared) with interesting range of quality beers. Once known a Brasserie Royale, it supplied beer to the royal court. Acquired by the Schutzenberger family in 1740 after a member married the widow of the old brewery owner. Changed its name to Grande Brasserie de la Patrie at the time of the Revolution and kept it until moving to its present site in 1866. Survived a move by shareholders to sell the brewery in 1968 which was finally sorted out in the courts in 1972. Now fronted by one of the few major female figures in French brewing, Rina Muller-Walter, currently president of the Syndicat de Brasseurs d'Alsace.

Beer List -

Any tasting notes that appear against the beers are the personal opinions of the authors. If the authors disagree on any aspect then their initials appear before their individual opinion.

Bière de Mars - 5.2% alc/vol View Label 9 Kb

Tasting Notes - Nothing special in spite of the strong resiny hop which gives a good bitterness. This is marred rather than complemented by the high level of candy.

La Bière de Noël - 6% alc/vol View Label 7 Kb

Tasting Notes - JW: Good beer with less sweetness than other Alsace Xmas beers. Nicely roasted fruity malt and surprisingly strong hop character. Excellent smooth creamy texture. KR: Not too inspiring with its essentially bland dark lager character but held up against other dark lagers by its pleasant, light (but very dark) roast elements.

Bière sur Lie - 6.5% alc/vol

Boisson de l'Extreme

Comments - For export only.

Copper - 7.6% alc/vol View Label 5 Kb

Comments - First brewed in 1990. Developed to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the brewery. Previously sold as Cuivrée.

Tasting Notes - An excellent, distinctive beer with a very full, fairly complex taste based on tangy malt with a touch of whisky. The finish particularly gets quite bitter and is very long lasting.

Ecu D'or - 6.8% alc/vol

Jubilator - 6.8% alc/vol View Label 9 Kb

Tasting Notes - Surprisingly full tasting pale beer with a good greenish oily hop character and a bitterness building to a fair strength in the finish.

Patria Brau - 3.5% alc/vol

Patriator - 7% alc/vol View Label 12 Kb

Tasting Notes - Excellent version of a Scotch Ale, though hardly typical - very fruity with plenty of licourice and a gentle hop bitterness.

Pils - 5.2% alc/vol View Label 11 Kb

Tasting Notes - Bottle: An impressive Pils with a good balance and plenty of taste yet the finish is totally hop induced. Very tasty and satisfying with the bitterness making it refreshing as well. Draught: A pils that is very full on taste in the palate in spite of a very light nose and a disappointing finish. Let down by a metallic note, particularly in the finish.

Reflets de France Bière Blonde sur lie d'Alsace - 6.8% alc/vol

Schutz 2000 - 6.5% alc/vol

Comments - Brewed in celebration of the bi-millennium of Strasbourg.

Tradition - 5% alc/vol View Label 5 Kb

Tasting Notes - JW: Fairly full tasting pilsner character with a creamy texture and plenty of hops which build gradually to dominate the finish with a lasting hoppiness. KR: Sweet, watery and only lightly bitter.

La Tütz - 4.8% alc/vol View Label 3 Kb

Comments - An ice beer.

Tasting Notes - As expected for an ice beer it is extremely full tasting for a beer under 5%. The maltiness is concentrated and there is a little fruitiness but the hop comes through surprisingly lightly prior to the finish.

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© 2001 J.Woods & K.Rigley

This page last updated Friday 25th April 2003