Every year for Alberta Beer Week in October, the Alberta Small Brewers Association releases Unity Brew. A beer style curated by a committee of industry members and using Alberta products and companies from start to finish. Since its inception in 2020, Unity Brew has brought together dozens of Alberta breweries and industry partners to collaborate on a perfect beer recipe. Past years have seen West Coast IPA’s, Scotch Ales and Dry Hopped Lagers. This year, the chosen recipe is a classic and very important beer style; Vienna Lager.
Much like Unity Brew, the Vienna Lager was the result of two European brewers who were friends and who not only shared a passion for beer, but who also shared knowledge and wisdom with each other.
Vienna Lager’s Origins
The Vienna Lager was developed in 1841 by Austrian brewer, Anton Dreher. In some circles, he is regarded as the ‘Beer King’ and is often credited with the advancement of Pale Ale.
It was in the 1800’s that beer as we know it really came into its own. The invention of coke furnaces allowed more heat control when making malts so they were no longer roasted on a fire which usually made them dark and smoky, Pasteur discovered yeast was responsible for alcohol production and a couple friends of Dreher invented two other very classic and famous styles of beer.
As a young man, Dreher, whose father was a brewer, travelled across Europe to study brewing techniques with a friend named Gabriel Sedlmayr. It was in England, where furnace heated malts were being used to make ales like porters and stouts, that Dreher and Sedlmayr first learned about this new way to produce malt. Admittley, they also stole samples of yeast and wort in a hollowed out cane so they could study them. Returning to Austria, Dreher combined these newly discovered malting innovations to create Vienna Malt and by mixing that with traditional German lagering methods, he created the very first Vienna Lager. His travelling buddy Gabriel Sedlmayr, is credited with the founding of Munich Malt which he then used to create the first ever Märzen and Gabriel's brother, Josef Groll, used what his brother and Dreher had learned to create Pilsner Malt and, to invent the first ever Pilsner in 1842.
As Pilsner’s popularity grew, it began spreading across Europe, where in England, home of Porter and Stout, it created an uprising for being so light. Shortly thereafter, English brewers embraced paler coloured malts and the ‘Pale Ale’ was born.
Further, Dreher's invention opened the door for all amber and brown ales to follow, while his discoveries opened the door to countless other styles.
Vienna Lager’s Characteristics
Vienna Lagers are typically amber to reddish-brown in colour, with moderate strength, a smooth medium body and a malty aroma that finishes relatively dry. The use of Vienna malt gives the beer a distinct toasty and bready malt sweetness with light nutty character, while the lagering process results in a clean, moderately carbonated finish. The hops traditionally used in Vienna Lagers are of the noble variety, such as Saaz or Hallertau, contributing to a mild, spicy, and floral hop aroma. The alcohol content typically ranges from 4.7% to 5.5% ABV, making it a sessionable (A.K.A. you can drink lots of them) beer.
Vienna Lager’s Decline and Revival
In its early years, Vienna Lager was popular throughout Austria and parts of central Europe. However, by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, its popularity began to wane. This was due in part to the dramatic rise of pale lagers, such as Groll’s Pilsner, which were lighter in colour and more refreshing, appealing to a broader audience.
The Vienna Lager style all but disappeared in Europe, with only a few breweries continuing to produce it. However, it found a new home in Mexico, where it was revived by Austrian and German immigrants, including Santiago Graf and his Compania Cervecera Toluca y Mexico in 1875. It was here that Austrian immigrants and Graf brought Dreher’s brewing traditions with them, and Vienna Lager became the first commercially popular style in Mexico and the southwest. It also formed the foundation for what we now know as Mexican lager. Today, Mexican produced versions of Vienna Lager are perhaps the most popular around the world. Beers such as Dos Equis Amber and Negra Modelo, are Vienna Lagers.
Vienna Lager in the Craft Beer Revolution
The craft beer movement, which began in the United States in the late 20th century, played a significant role in reviving and popularising the Vienna Lager and other styles. Craft brewers, inspired by historical beer styles, began producing their own versions of these beers, often with a modern twist. This has led to a resurgence of interest in the style, and today, Vienna Lager is brewed by craft breweries around the world.
This October, as part of Alberta Beer Week, Unity brew will be released as part of the Alberta Craft Brewing Convention and the 2024 Alberta Beer Awards. You can usually find it on tap and in cans at any of the participating breweries below, but it goes fast, so don't miss your chance to try this local spin on a classic and historical beer invented by the Beer King himself.
To learn more about Vienna lager and other beer history and styles, follow YYCTOURS, play Beerquest or sign up for our educational Calgary Brewery Tour here.
Unity Brew Partners
Ingredients
Red Shed Malting, RahrBSG, Hogarth Malt, Canada Malting Co. Ltd. Our Hops were sourced through Hops Connect and Escarpment Laboratories.
Packaging
Canvas Craft, Crown Packaging, Vessel Packaging and KegShare
Sponsors
Connect Logistics, Crown Packaging, Alberta Hop Producers Association, Alberta Grains, and GLS.
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