8 of the Best Austrian Beers to Hydrate Your Body

When you think of the best beer in Europe, you probably don’t think of Austria. Fact is, Austrians love beer. And they directly test some of the best Austrian beers daily. They are discerning drinkers and are second (to the Czechs) on the list of European consumers of beer. They are even in front of the Germans who have seen increasing numbers of craft and microbrews from year to year.

Austria is home to three malt-houses and two of those count for 90% of all the malt in Austria. No wonder Austrian beers are some of the best in Europe. The Austrians also have their own hop fields, but are more likely to import German and Czech hops in addition to anything they farm at home. Needless to say, the Austrians are the most prepared and equipped to make some of the best beer in Europe.

But as in nearly every beer-crazed country, there are several micro-breweries looking to put the art back into beer making. The trouble is, you have to know where to look for them and study what beers are worth tasting. We’ve boiled away all the industrial brews and have come up with the best Austrian beers you can find on our bike trips to Austria. This is a unique list by our Ciclicmo Classico travel team, so these are secret brews that you won’t find anywhere else.

When you’re rolling along on our Austria and Czech Republic bicycle tour, get ready to taste some of the best Austrian beers in Europe. Make sure to follow your route notes, keep your helmet on, and look out for these labels:

Eggenberg: Samichlaus Classic

You may have heard of Eggenberg. They make some of the best beers in Austria. Thanks to the ancestors of Dr. Karl Stöhr (the modern brewmaster), Eggenberg is one of the most recognized names in Austrian beer circles. Centuries ago Johann Georg Forstinger had the courage and passion to take over a small brewery and build it up as a family business. The operation survived two major fires and two world wars. Yet the long-term, consistent dedication to the craft (and a little luck) helped Eggenberg stay the course.

Eggenberg hasn’t changed its recipes. Sure, they make new beers, but the traditional brews are the pillars of family tradition. We love the Samiclaus Classic: a strong, rich dark beer, full of character. They are only brewed once a year in the winter, through a complex process. This strong amber is a rarity. It can mature in the bottle for many years and becomes more complex the older it gets. It stands in the glass as a shimmering reddish brown and posses multi-layered aromas of prunes, malt and caramel.

Traumer Privatbraurei: Obertraumer Original

It would be sin to compile this list without a proper Marzen Zwikelbier. These lovelies are some of the best Austrian beers because they are medium-to-full-body brews poured directly from the barrel. The Obertraumer is an excellent example of this. Traumer produces these lagers in March (hence, Marzen). Traditionally, they were kept in cold caves until the heat of the summer prevented lager production.

The Obertraumer is one of the originals. It is a totally natural beer with subtle cloudiness. Brewed in accordance with the Austrian Reinheitsgebot purity laws of 1516 (similar to the German purity laws). It’s the way Austrian beers were originally made to be produced.

The original process leaves the unfiltered yeasts in the bottle for added taste. What results is a milder, more full-bodied beer with a multitude of nuances. The slower brewing and the longer aging phase helps the beer clear naturally and gently when poured into a tall glass. Pure bliss.

Frastanzer Natur Radler

We’re not fans of fruity drinks, but the best Austrian beers have their lemon counterparts. There is something special about the Franstanzer Radler that deserves mention here. If you’re not familiar with radler, it is a mix of beer and lemonade. Although it sounds uber-sweet, it isn’t. It has a lower alcohol content than regular ales and has a kick of lemonade for a refreshing taste. And it’s the best remedy for a scorching hot summer day biking through Austria.

Frastanzer makes a wonderfully fresh and subtle refreshment with organic quality. This is a successful mixture of fresh organic beer and naturally organic citrus juices. Just the right amount of cloudiness in the glass, you’ll find scents of citrus and melon on the nose.

Schleppe Imperial IPA

The Schleppe brewery in Klagenfurt has been maintaining brewing at the highest level for over 400 years. This bräuhaus has positioned itself as a specialty brewery and offers a high level of individuality and art in each of their beers. Schleppe offers an innovative array of varieties to accommodate many palates, making it one of the best beers in Austria.

Their IPA is a stronger version of the classic Pale Ale. There are higher concentrations of alcohol and hops for historic reasons. This was a beer engineered for the long trip to India, for specific consumption by the English imperialists living there. To preserve the beer for the long arduous sea voyage, the brew-masters crafted it with a high alcohol content and large amounts of hops, giving it a self-preserving quality. The Schleppe Imperial IPA presents itself as a royal beer. The deep golden to copper color gives a foretaste of the strong body, crowned by a particularly creamy foam. You’ll find pronounced malt taste, an intense hop character and fruity-blossom flavors (like rose) which are pleasurable on the tongue.

Haufbräu Kaltenhausen Original

Salzburg’s oldest brewery must be doing something right. Local merchant Hans Elsenheimer laid the foundations of this so-called “Cold Brewery” in 1475.  The geological peculiarities within Kaltenhausen are ideal for the production of fine beer. Cool air flows out of the underground caves and the clearest rock spring water assists in the brewing process. Underground cold rooms permit beer storage in ideal conditions.

In 1498 the brewery became the property of the Salzburg archbishops and was named the Hofbräu Kaltenhausen. Much of the physical landscape has changed over its long history, but the idea of ​​preserving brewing traditions has remained constant for centuries. Yet the modern brew-masters are open to new techniques. So you have the mix of the traditional and modern in a picture-perfect setting.

Our favorite is the amber-colored, naturally cloudy Kaltenhauser Original. It is particularly characterful and full-bodied, yet mild and delicately hopped. The Original is a beer brewed according to the original recipe and gives a great idea of the power of tradition. With an intense malt flower and fine caramel notes, it is destined to please. Enjoy it with wild game at dinner.

Pinzgau Bräu Weizen Dunkel

The dark wheat beer! Pinzgau is not a long-time, traditional Austrian brewer. It is a great microbrewery for some excellent beers.

Although they do craft some traditional recipes (such as the Weizen and the Zwickl), the signature recyclable bottle is a sign of the brew-masters respect for the environment. But the bottle is also important because the beers are fermented 100% in the bottle. They also cultivate their own yeast in-house. So everything comes right from the brewery.

We love the dark wheat, hands down. Its aromas are roasted and malty. Your first sip reminds you of bitter chocolate because of the roasted wheat malt.

Kristall Bräueri Das Keller Biere

Our “Dark Horse” brewery comes out of the Austria’s Tyrol region, high up in the Alpbach mountain valley. After 35 years of supplying malt to other breweries, the owners of Kristall decided to test their own mettle at crafting this popular barley mix. After passing the Master brewer’s exam in 2005, they went right to constructing a new laboratory.

In May 2006 the Alpbach crystal brewery began delivering beer to surrounding inns. It was an outstanding success. In this “Village of Thinkers” – a nickname that Alpbach has received from visiting personalities – now also has its own beer. As a result, the crystal-clear Alpine water used in the fermentation process has earned the community the title “1st crystal community in Austria”. This award became the namesake of the brewery.

The Keller Biere is a bottom-fermented, amber-colored nectar. It is tough to find, but when you discover a bottle, stop everything you’re doing…and enjoy!

Brauhaus Gusswerk Jakobsgold

The Brauhaus Gusswerk is an innovative symbiosis of a beer bar and brewery. Salzburg’s Reinhold Barta – passionate brewer – is the man behind the beer-lover’s paradise in central Salzburg. After more than ten years of organic brewing experience (most recently in the large Austrian private brewery sector), Reinhold realized his organic brewery in Salzburg’s “Gusswerk” in 2007.

His goal is to make sustainable and biodynamic beer in Austria socially acceptable. The beer should be drawn from the strength of its origin, of course with purely organic ingredients and old, natural manufacturing processes that reflect the circle of nature.

You’ll find exclusively organic beer, with primarily Austrian ingredients from biodynamic cultivation. Reinhold brews in old and traditional methods, using no artificial means. There is no water treatment or other aids.

Jakobsgold is a bio-dynamic beer. It has a uniquely earthy taste and is naturally cloudy and delicious. You’ll find some honey notes with splash of caramel. With just medium body and carbonation, this is a beer to contemplate as the sun goes down.