purple rice lager

Groups from Hamburg and Seoul came together to brew this unconventional lager. The Barbarossa I Am brewery from the Hanseatic city brought the team from the Korean brewery Eulreul on board for an exciting collaboration, brewing a beer with more than one unusual ingredient. In addition to the usual suspects—water, malt, yeast, and hops—purple rice and beetroot extract went into the brewing kettle for this creation. Subsequent aging on oak chips gave this exceptional beer the finishing touch.

The Purple Rice Lager presents itself in a delicately cloudy peach gold in the glass. A small crown of dense foam rises atop the opaque body, offering a seductive aroma of gently roasted malt. A hint of fruit and playful floral undertones harmoniously round out the olfactory first impression. The first sip presents a full-bodied palate that combines a wealth of cereal notes with elegant acidity, sparkling freshness, fruit notes, spicy wood, and a hint of earthy beets. Barbarossa’s Purple Rice Lager is a complex, surprising drink that combines the lightness of rice with a true concert of flavors.

This unconventional lager pairs perfectly with the delicacies of Korean cuisine, but also tastes great with mature cheeses or the classic Hamburg fish sandwich with herring, cucumber, and remoulade.