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Harzer Urstoff

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Unfiltered and naturally cloudy, Harzer Urstoff shows a fine yeast note and a full-bodied character at 5.0% ABV. It is brewed in Altenau, the last brewery left in the Upper Harz, with Harz mountain water and barley from the Oker valley. While the rest of the site was renewed, the brewhouse with its directly fired kettles is the part that still looks untouched at first glance.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
yeastymaltyclean
yeasty
malty
clean
Aroma
A prominent yeast character dominates the nose, bringing fresh and slightly fruity notes typical of lager fermentation.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Harzer Urstoff

◎ Appearance

Pale straw-gold with a distinctive haze from suspended yeast, creating a cloudy, inviting visual character. A modest white head forms with moderate retention and fine lacing around the glass. The natural cloudiness is integral to the beer's identity, a marker of its unfiltered tradition.

pale straw-goldnaturally hazyfine lacingmoderate head

◌ Aroma

A prominent yeast character dominates the nose, bringing fresh and slightly fruity notes typical of lager fermentation. Soft Malz undertones support the profile without aggression, while subtle noble hop character provides gentle floral restraint. The overall impression is clean and approachable, with no sharp edges.

fresh yeast notesoft maltsubtle noble hopsclean

◐ Taste

The palate enters with a full, round body that fills the mouth with gentle malt sweetness and a yeasty richness. Mid-palate maintains balance between malt presence and light noble hop bitterness, neither overwhelming the other. The finish carries modest Edelhopfen bitterness and a lingering yeast complexity that invites another sip.

full-bodiedmalty sweetnessyeast complexityrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

A clean, medium-length finish with slight spiciness from yeast autolysis that fades gracefully. The aftertaste remains malty with a touch of Edelhopfen dryness, leaving the palate refreshed rather than fatigued.

clean finishyeast spicemalty aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
76
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C. Carbonation and crispness are the main event — cold preserves both.

Stein

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

Store cold and drink fresh. Lagers are at their crispest within 3–4 months.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Harzer Urstoff

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About Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Lager?

Euro Pale Lagers are clean, refreshing lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 10–25. Soft malt sweetness, light hop bitterness and high carbonation make them supremely drinkable.

Finding a similar Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hazy, full-bodied, yeasty character as Harzer Urstoff will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Lager beers in hopIQ →Browse Germany beers →