Gösser Beer review – Gut. Besser. Gösser?
Gösser is the main brand of Göss Brewery in Leoben, a Styrian city in central Austria. The origins of Gösser beer can be traced all the way back to the Middle Ages. At that time, beer brewing was common at Göss Abbey, a nunnery near the river Mur. It was not uncommon for monks and nuns to brew their own beer and wine at this point in history and the first brew master at the Abbey was documented in a 1459 deed.
During the reign of Joseph II between 1780 and 1790, the Abbey was disbanded as part of a series of reforms. The brewing ceased as a result.
However, brewing was started up at Göss Abbey again in 1860, when Max Kober, a master brewer for Zywiec Brewery in Galicia (now present day Poland) purchased it.
By 1892, Göss Abbey had become the largest brewery in Upper Styria and by 1892 it was producing around 60,000 barrels per year. In the1920’s, they began to produce beer in corked glass bottles, which enabled them to market and sell the beer outside of Austria.
Trade grew as a result, and by 1930 Göss was producing around 340,000 barrels per year. By 1973, this number had grown to around 850,000.
In 1977 Göss joined the Steirerbrau group, which merged into Brau-Beteiligungs-AG in 1991. In 2003, Göss was taken over by Heineken International Zoeterwoude.
Impressively, by 2016 Göss Brewery turned its heritage brewery into the world’s first major zero carbon brewery, powered completely by renewable and reusable sources.
Given its rich heritage, it’s no surprise that Gösser beer is Austria’s most well-known. If you find yourself on a ski slope in the Styria region, you’ll see the green Gösser flags outside almost every drinking spot.
Gösser beer is a pale lager brewed with water from the brewery’s own protected source in Upper Styria. This is combined with hops from Leutschach and malt from some Austrian granaries.
The smell is slightly metallic, with strong notes of sweet malt, hops, and a helping of citrus.
Looks wise, Gösser beer comes packaged in either a green glass bottle or can. Styria is known as the “green heart of Austria”, and the distinctive green colour is used by Göss to symbolise this. When poured it has a pale golden colour with a good amount of foam.
Flavour wise, Gösser beer has a good mix. On first sip the sweet malts really stand out, and it has a nice and creamy feel to it. The aftertaste is bitter and strong with a very hoppy finish that might not be for everyone.
Gösser beer wears its heritage proudly. It might be an acquired taste for some, but it’s a strong beer with a good flavour profile making it an easy and satisfying drink.
Rich in flavour, and rich in history. Those nuns were onto something.
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Written By Terry Bourne
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