Going Green: Berghoff Brewery Unveils A Hop Forward Pilsner And IPA

By Ben Kramer in Food on May 8, 2015 3:10PM

Via Berghoff

First timers can be found in various forms, like drivers, tweeters and lovers. They can also include breweries and more specifically, Berghoff Brewery. Having released a Hop Forward Pilsner and IPA on May 5, the brewery is starting its first foray into producing hoppy beers that’ll be available year round.

This launch is part of owner Ben Minkoff's vision to revamp the image of the 127 year old brewery towards more craft styles while still holding onto its German roots. With a young, American craft beer audience invested in hops it made sense to dream, scheme and unveil these two new year round brews.

Though “Hop Forward” is in the Pilsner’s title, that doesn’t mean one’s going to get an intense hop feel, like having a thrash metal show in your mouth (some of you may be disappointed by that). No, Minkoff says Berghoff’s approach on the Pils was “We never had come out with a Pilsner, so we wanted it to be traditional, yet we wanted to do an American Craft twist on it.” That “American Craft twist” is merely the addition of four German hops (GR Merkur, Saphir, Opal and Melon) that add some bitterness and aromatics to the beer. They don’t bury the Pilsner’s dry, crisp characteristics, being felt more so towards the end of the beer.

Via Berghoff

Much like the Pils, the IPA also wants to seduce a hop-loving crowd but not with just an “American Craft twist.” Minkoff and his team (composed of the likes of Randy Mosher and John Hannafan) wanted to create something that would differentiate itself from all the other IPAs on the shelves. Their result is a 60 IBU brew that’s medium in body, bitter, a little sweet and contains some fruity aroma and taste.

Claiming a combination of American and German hops, Minkoff says, “that fruitness you get, that’s from the Falconer’s Flight and Chelan hops” - the American side in the IPA. On the German side, Minkoff says the team used Hallertau Blanc hops which, “gives that nice bitterness to it.” The use of American and German hops comes as no surprise, as it’s the breweries way of trying to tie together its European heritage and venture into Americanized styles.

With both beers now available in six pack form (IPA canned, Pilsner bottled) you can find it at any store at the price of $7.99, a price Minkoff desired because of its affordability. If you’d rather try the beers individually, several restaurants are holding tastings of the beer today, May 8, including Kroll’s at 1736 S. Michigan Ave.