Heater Allen Brewing Abzug

We are a small lager brewery

We specialize in producing distinctive all-malt lager and other German and Czech style beers. We use only the finest, most appropriate malts, hops, water and yeast in our beers. While our lagers are similar to those made in Germany and the Czech Republic, they are our own unique interpretation of the style.

Lager beers are fermented at lower temperatures than ale, using yeast that has adapted to cooler fermentations. Low temperature fermentations create fewer “yeasty” aromas, esters, and flavors that are so common in ales. We brew lagers because we enjoy their smooth malty and hoppy character.

We take no short-cuts in our beer making

This means using the best possible ingredients, from German malt and German, Czech, and Oregon hops, to McMinnville’s naturally soft water. We use a German-style step-mashing process that allows us to reduce the protein content of our beer, that when combined with long, low temperature lagering, results in maltier and naturally clearer beer without filtering.

Our beers are conditioned in the fermenter, and canned without filtration. This creates a finer ‘bead’ (smaller bubbles) and a smoother texture, but means that there may be a little bit of yeast left in the bottom of the can.

4.1%

The Viennese made several versions of their amber lagers. Beside their standard Vienna, they made a lower gravity (alcohol) version they called Abzug. Abzug means “discount” or “reduction” in German. In 1900, Abzug made by various breweries made up over half of all the beer consumed in Austria. Our recipe is comprised of roughly equal amounts Vienna, floor-malted Bohemian Pilsner and floor-malted Bohemian Dark base malts and is hopped with Czech Saaz hops. The beer is a light amber color. It has a nice Saaz hop and malt aroma, and is balanced on the palate, with a flavor that belies its 4.1% ABV, and a crisp finish. A truly sessionable beer!

-Heater Allen