Stuttgarter Schwaben Brau?

[barley ben]

So I got this mug from my late grandpop's house. It's a .5L glass. The typical german mug with the dimples in it. Just happens to be my favorite beer mug but I don't know what this kinda beer is. I believe he got the mug when he was over there in WW2, since it was the only time he was every in germany. Not to say he was a Busch man or what ever else was on sale. Just kinda courious if anybody knows if this is good stuff or if you can get it in the US. Personally I have never heard of or obviously ever seen any of it. The logo on the mug says"Stuttgarter, Schwaben Brau, Meister Pils". Anybody got any info, good or bad?

[steveh]

Well, this thread should probably go under the Collector's Corner, but since it's about good beer too, we'll jump on it! ;)

Stuttgarter Hofbrau is one of the big 3 (if I recall correctly, there's 3) breweries in, of all places, Stuttgart Germany. Stuttgart is in the German state of Schwabia, thus Schwaben Brau.

I've only sampled their Volkfestbier, a Marzen in the newer, golden style of fest bier - very tasty brew. I imagine that their Pils is similar to Dinkel-Acker, also of Stuttgart, a very nice malt and hop balanced Pilsner in the German rendition of the style.

Someone else may be able to lend some info here, but I didn't think that glass was used for German .5 liters or full liter mugs until after WW2 - clay Krugs being the preferred vessel.

Incidentally, I have a full liter Stuttgarter mug (Mass) and it's unique in that it doesn't have the dimples most often seen in German liters. Straight sides divided into 8 (10?) planes.

S.

PS - I don't think Stuttgarter Hofbrau is available in the U.S., they probably have enough business to fill in and around their home-town!

[barley ben]

I was more or less telling you about the mug that sparked my interest. I am actually concerned about what kinda beer it was. I don't know a whole lot about German beers, with the exception of the ones that are always available over here. Always looking for something new to try. And looking for what to expect and wether it's worth looking for. Thanks for the info on it. Oh yeah, you are probably right about the WW2 thing. Believe me, I'm no scholar in German beer. Love to learn though!!

[steveh]

Originally posted by barley ben
I am actually concerned about what kinda beer it was.

So, from my rambling blather did you get that the beer labeled for the mug is a Pilsner? Stuttgarter Hoffbrau makes many other styles too, but Pils is pretty popular in Germany.

SH has a web site, all in German, but you can get to the list of their beers and make out each one pretty easily: http://www.stuttgarter-hofbraeu.de/02_sort/fs/fs_sortiment.htm

S.

[barley ben]

Yeah, I did know it was a pilsner. From what I can tell though, I will have to head over there to try some. Someday... And the last part of my question was, so is it a quality beer in your opinion? Like I said, I like learning about different beers even if I can't drink them.

[steveh]

If I can base an opinion off the quality of the SH Marzen, I'd say that their Pils is probably pretty darn good. According to the marketing at their site, it's the "best in the land." But we've heard that before, haven't we? Seriously, stumbling on my remedial German through the web-site, I can't find how long SH has been around (there's a date on their eagle crest, is that on your mug?), but I'd bet it's centuries - and I never had a beer in Germany that wasn't high quality - small or large brewery.

I have two friends living in Stuttgart and need to start planning a vacation to visit them...then on to Munich to visit another friend. If beer and friendship aren't good enough reasons to visit, there's also the food, beautiful countryside - and the Frauleins as well!

S.

[barley ben]

There is a crest at the top of the logo which isn.t really there anymore. The glass has been beat around quite a bit. Can only read what kind it is and thats about it. The crest is almost gone. Just a partial outline of it left. Oh well, just have to get me some when I get over there. Possibly this spring.

[steveh]

Originally posted by barley ben
Oh well, just have to get me some when I get over there. Possibly this spring.

It's a dirty, thankless job, but someone has to do it! :)

S.