Franconian Beer Message Board
Ungespundetes vs Kellerbier |
| Posted by John Conen on 2002-10-15 14:52:31 |
| Hopefully following research in situ I can offer the definitive answer on this subject. Ungespundet means "unbunged". In the old days beer was lagered in huge wooden barrels, perhaps holding 30 hectolitres or more of beer, which had a bunghole on the top - presumably for filling purposes. This was fitted with a bung - a wooden tap. As the barrel might eventually explode with the build up of CO², this tap was left open and the barrel was therefore "unbunged", and CO² could escape. The finished beer therefore had a low CO² content. Once metal lagering tanks were introduced, these could be controlled by a pressure valve to give "gespundet beer" with a much higher CO² content, suitable for bottling or for beers of the Pils type. Ungespundet beers do not necessarily have to be filtered but traditionally would not have been and usually are not today. Ungespundet lagerbier is synonymous with Kellerbier in the Bamberg region. "Ungespundet" doesn't refer to the barrel the beer is served from. Most ungespundet beer is served from wooden barrels or "wood effect" metal barrels, without CO2 gas. In Bamberg, dispense straight from wooden or non-wooden barrels now generally tends to be kept for special occasions such as festivals. Only Mahrs and Schlenkerla use them routinely in their pubs - I can confirm both are genuine! However, you will also see them at the Kellers - I believe that Spezial, Maisel and Wilde Rose still use the real thing. Outside Bamberg many country brewpubs use dispense straight from the barrel and not only at the Kellers. It is certainly the traditional way to serve ungespundet lagerbier or Kellerbier. |
| Followups: |
 Ungespundetes vs Kellerbier by Fred Waltman on 2002-10-15 17:16:29 |