Carlsberg Re-brews the Original 1883 Lager

Using sophisticated techniques, Carlsberg Research Laboratory has re-brewed the world’s very first quality lager. It is brewed with original pure yeast developed at the Carlsberg Lab, which revolutionised the world’s beer brewing in 1883. The yeast has surpassingly survived 133 years in a beer bottle in the brewery’s old cellars, and leading brewing experts have now managed to re-brew what is considered the father of most modern day lager beers.

The Danes are famous for bringing many great things to our shores – NOMA and Rene Redzepi, Crown Prince Frederik, the Opera House and some of the finest chairs we’ve ever sat in. But probably their more significant gift is from the humble Carlsberg Brewers, who gave us lager.

Today, 95 per cent of the beer drunk in Australia is lager and 133 years since its invention, the Carlsberg Brewery in Copenhagen has created a one-off lager, authentically re-brewing it as it was in 1883.

Centuries ago, brewing beer was an unpredictable process that often resulted in undrinkable beer due to the phenomenon called ‘beer sickness’. However, in 1883, Carlsberg revolutionised quality beer with its ground- breaking discovery of pure yeast, which made it possible to make quality beer from every brew.

As beer sickness was a widespread problem back then, Carlsberg gave the pure yeast, aptly named ‘Saccharomyces Carlsbergensis’, away for free to other brewers. Today, most lager beers in the world originate from that pure yeast discovery, including major international brands.

The re-brewed beer is unsurprisingly rare; only 400 750ml bottles are available in Australia.

 “This brew is an amazing sip of history. To think the green bottle beer that is so recognisable today first came from the discovery of pure yeast in a science lab more than 130 years ago. That’s genius,” said Carlsberg Australian brand manager Marcela Whelan.  That genius,” said Carlsberg Australian brand manager Marcela Whelan.

“Without it, we wouldn’t have the type of beer that is now 90 percent of the world’s market,” said Whelan. The Carlsberg re-brew is not available for purchase in Australia.

TASTING NOTES

Beer type: Appearance: Aroma:

Taste: Strength:

Dark Munich Lager
Warm brownish glow since it is brewed with Munich and a hunt of crystal and chocolate malt Roasted, caramelised and malty aromas from the floor-malted Munich malt blend, smooth with the floral hoppyness from Mittelfrüh hops
Light caramel sweetness with a smooth bitterness and a low carbonation melting with the roundness from the long cold fermentation and maturation on the oak barrels
5.8% vol.