Bierlikör

Bierlikör, or beer liqueur, is a beer-flavored liqueur, traditionally produced in the German state of Bavaria. As the term is not legally protected, individual products vary. Bierlikör can be made at home, but is also available commercially.

History

Bierlikör has long existed as a niche, side product for breweries. Old or unsold beer was frequently made into Bierbrand or Bierlikör, both of which have a longer shelf life. A reference book from 1900 mentions a "Bier-Essenz", which is combined with neutral grain alcohol and sugar to produce a Bier-Likör.^[1] The rising popularity of craft beer in the 2010s in Germany has seen a revival of Bierlikör.^[2]

Commercial varieties

Legal

The European Union directive on spirits does not define Bierlikör as a product type, nor does it list it as a protected designation of origin product. Anything sold as Bierlikör in the European Union only needs to conform to the general guidelines applicable to all liqueurs, allowing considerable room for variations in the finished products.^[3] As such, a Bierlikör must

contain a minimum of 15 percent alcohol by volume and at least 100 grams of inverted sugar per liter,
be created using ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin and/or distillate(s) of agricultural origin,
be flavored with natural, or nature-identical, flavorings, and
be labeled with the alcohol content and a list of any food colorings.

Commercially available Bierlikör typically contains between 14 and 30 percent sugar by weight.^[4]

Production

Bierlikör can be produced using fresh beer, but this is not required. The source of alcohol can be Bierbrand, neutral rectified spirit, or other conventional spirits such as rum, vodka, or Korn, or any combination thereof.

The typical beer flavor of Bierlikör can come from a number of different sources, such as beer, malt beer, malt extracts, hops, or unfermented wort.^[5]^[6]

Additional herbs and spices may be added as well, such as vanilla (or vanillin), cinnamon, and cloves.

Producers

A number of producers sell Bierlikör commercially:

Altbayerischer Bierlikör (25%)
BIERlikör 22 (22%)
HEILAND Doppelbockliqueur (22%)
Hyldegard's Bierlikör (28%)
Lahnsteiner [de] Bierlikör (25%)
Penninger [de] Bierlikör (25%)
Red Castle Brew Bierlikör (17.8%)
Schwanenwirt's Bierlikör (32.5%)
Tiersteiner Bierlikör (28%)
Westerwälder Bierlikör (25%)

Recipes

There are a number of recipes for homemade Bierlikör, mostly using a strong beer as a base (such as Schwarzbier or Bock), which is heated up with sugar and spices, cooled, and fortified with a distilled spirit.^[7]

References

^ Engelhardt, Alwin (1900). Handbuch der praktischen Likör-Fabrikation. Praktische Anleitung zur Darstellung aller Sorten von Likören, Branntweinen, Aquaviten, Arac, Cognac, Rum, Grog, Punsch-Extracten, verschiedenen Weinen und anderen Getränken (900 Recepte) auf kaltem Wege [Handbook of Practical Liqueur Production: Practical Instructions for the Production of All Types of Liqueur, Spirit, Aquavita, Arac, Cognac, Rum, Grog, Punch Extracts, Assorted Wines and Other Beverages (900 Recipes) by the Cold Method] (in German) (2nd ed.). Leipzig: Spamer Verlag. p. 37.
^ Wrage, Nils (4 August 2015). "Heiland Bierlikör: Die Erlösung des Doppelbock?" [Heiland Bierlikör: The Salvation of Doppelbock?]. mixology.eu (in German). Retrieved 14 November 2021.
^ Regulation (EU) No 110/2008 of 15 January 2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89, §32
^ DE application DE19542259A1, Robert Gmeiner, "Beer liqueur for use in cocktails and as foodstuffs flavouring", published 15 May 1997
^ Wrage, Nils (3 March 2015). "So nicht! Der BIERLikör 22" [Not like this! BIERLikör 22]. mixology.eu. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
^ "Kein Bier im 'Bayerischem Bierlikör'? Rechtsstreit beendet" [No Beer in 'Bavarian Bierlikör'? Court case ended]. Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 28 June 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
^ Mennigen, Peter (2007). Feine Heilschnäpse und Liköre. Erftstadt: Area Verlag. p. 18. ISBN 978-3-89996-196-6.

[engelhardt-1] Engelhardt, Alwin (1900). Handbuch der praktischen Likör-Fabrikation. Praktische Anleitung zur Darstellung aller Sorten von Likören, Branntweinen, Aquaviten, Arac, Cognac, Rum, Grog, Punsch-Extracten, verschiedenen Weinen und anderen Getränken (900 Recepte) auf kaltem Wege [Handbook of Practical Liqueur Production: Practical Instructions for the Production of All Types of Liqueur, Spirit, Aquavita, Arac, Cognac, Rum, Grog, Punch Extracts, Assorted Wines and Other Beverages (900 Recipes) by the Cold Method] (in German) (2nd ed.). Leipzig: Spamer Verlag. p. 37.

[mixology2-2] Wrage, Nils (4 August 2015). "Heiland Bierlikör: Die Erlösung des Doppelbock?" [Heiland Bierlikör: The Salvation of Doppelbock?]. mixology.eu (in German). Retrieved 14 November 2021.

[directive-3] Regulation (EU) No 110/2008 of 15 January 2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89, §32

[patent-4] DE application DE19542259A1, Robert Gmeiner, "Beer liqueur for use in cocktails and as foodstuffs flavouring", published 15 May 1997

[mixology-5] Wrage, Nils (3 March 2015). "So nicht! Der BIERLikör 22" [Not like this! BIERLikör 22]. mixology.eu. Retrieved 14 November 2021.

[6] "Kein Bier im 'Bayerischem Bierlikör'? Rechtsstreit beendet" [No Beer in 'Bavarian Bierlikör'? Court case ended]. Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 28 June 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2021.

[mennigen-7] Mennigen, Peter (2007). Feine Heilschnäpse und Liköre. Erftstadt: Area Verlag. p. 18. ISBN 978-3-89996-196-6.

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