World’s oldest brewery intros beer based on 1950s label

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. — Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan is bringing a blast from the past to the beer aisle this month with the release of its limited-release Kristallweizenbock.

The 7.5%-alcohol-by-volume weizenbock is inspired by an old label from the 1950s found in the vault of Weihenstephan — which is the world’s oldest brewery, operating since 1040.

“I thought, as a brewery world-acclaimed for wheat beer specialties, brewing one wheat beer style that is hardly available is something very special,” Weihenstephan sales manager export Johannes Weiss said. “I suggested using hops with 'crystal' names … smaragd (emerald) and opal. [These hops] add fruity flavors to the beer and complement the name.”

The brewmaster, Tobias Zollo, then developed the idea and built out the malt bill and other flavor profiles. Unlike the company’s traditional weizenbock, Vitus, Kristallweizenbock is filtered and has a stronger focus on hops.

“Kristallweizenbock is a very special beer style,” Weiss said. “[It’s] a niche within a niche, but still it fits perfectly to our existing portfolio.”