Tucked away in the corner of a shopping mall in Lake Zurich, Roaring Table crafts some of the finest beer in Illinois. They possess the prowess to craft world-class examples of traditional lagers and ales. Be it a British pub ale, a German altbier, or a Baltic porter - they’ve never shied away from celebrating lesser-known beer styles. This type of resolve is a rarity, and it inspired us to ask them to collaborate on a kellerbier. This rustic lager style is revered in Franconia, a region of Germany that boasts more breweries per capita than any other place in the world!   

Kellerbier takes its name from the German word keller, the “cellar” where lagerbier is stored. While Munich breweries are known for their biergartens, Franconia is renowned for its bierkellers. The forests and countryside outside of towns like Forchheim are dotted with breweries, where visitors stop at the bierkeller, gathering around long tables to enjoy food and beer. Kellerbier is often served straight from the barrel - unfiltered, unpasteurized, and unadulterated tradition that’s endured for centuries.

We crafted our kellerbier with a variety of malts from Weyermann Specialty Malting. This world-renowned Franconian maltster has been in operation since 1879. Heirloom floor malted Bohemian pilsner malt and Vienna malt impart notes of honey and biscuit. Weyermann Munich and CaraRed malts were employed to impart reddish orange highlights as well as a touch of deeply caramelized malt character.  

To balance the malt sweetness, our Franconian Kellerbier is hopped with Perle, along with three of the four classic “noble hops” - Saaz, Tettnang, and Hallertau Mittelfrüh. The product of centuries of hand selection and cultivation, these noble varieties not only endure, but they’ve also served as parents for many of the modern varieties that are prized today.

The first documented evidence of hop cultivation in the Hallertau dates to 768. Centuries later, it remains the largest hop growing district in the world and produces the majority of hops grown in Germany. Mittelfrüh translates as “middle-early” a reference to the middle-early period of the hop harvest which tends to produce the finest quality hops. Famous for its florality, Mittelfrüh is susceptible to disease and low yields, which has led to breeding efforts in search of hardier cultivars like Perle that offer similar flavors and aromas. While it now makes up only a small percentage of the hops grown in the Hallertau, it remains highly sought after, as many consider it the finest German variety.

The Tettnang hop growing region is named for the Southern German town of Tettnang, which abuts the northern shore of Lake Constance near the border with Switzerland. Tettnang is revered for its aromatic qualities and famous for imparting subtle citrusy notes. It pairs nicely with Saaz, the beloved Czech hop known for its spicy and grassy hop character.  

Rustic Resolve is a full-flavored reflection of diligent agronomy, exceptional malting practices, and thoughtful recipe construction. Fill a stein with this rustic Franconian lager and join us as we raise a toast to the crew at Roaring Table. Prost!