Paulaner Variety 12Pk

Paulaner Variety 12Pk is a mixed 12-pack (12 × 12 fl oz bottles) featuring four flagship Bavarian beer styles from Munich's Paulaner Brauerei. The Hefeweizen alone holds a 91 score on BeerAdvocate from over 4,000 ratings, anchoring a lineup that spans wheat beer, doppelbock, märzen, and lager traditions under one roof.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.9%–5.5%+ (varies by style)  |  Origin: Munich, Bavaria, Germany  |  Mixed Styles: Hefeweizen, Salvator, Oktoberfest, Munich Lager  |  Brewery: Paulaner Brauerei

Production & Heritage

Paulaner Brauerei traces its roots to the Paulaner order of monks who began brewing in Munich in the early 17th century, making it one of the city's storied "Big Six" breweries. Every beer in this pack is brewed in strict accordance with the 1516 Reinheitsgebot — the Bavarian Purity Law permitting only water, hops, malt, and yeast. The brewery draws naturally soft water from Munich's protected underground wells, sourced more than 700 feet deep into the tertiary layers of the Alpine foothills. The Hefeweizen in particular is produced using a traditional two-mash process that helps develop its signature wheat character, while Paulaner's early adoption of Carl von Linde's ice machines in 1881 allowed year-round lagering long before refrigeration was standard.

Tasting Notes

Hefeweizen (5.5% ABV): A mild banana aroma gives way to fruity impressions of grape, lemon, and a subtle tropical hint of mango and pineapple. On the palate, a gentle balance between sweet and bitter unfolds, with soft hops caressing the back of the tongue. The finish is refreshing and lightly effervescent with lingering wheat character.

Oktoberfest Märzen (BeerAdvocate 87): The nose leads with pilsner malt and slightly sweet cereal notes alongside a touch of toasted bread. The taste delivers toasted malt with herbal, spicy hops and low-to-moderate bitterness. It closes cleanly with a dry, bread-crust warmth.

Munich Lager (4.9% ABV): Sweet grain dominates the aroma, opening into a slightly sweet, malty flavor with a pleasant hop balance on the back end. The finish is crisp and sessionable.

Salvator Doppelbock: This is the beer that helped define the doppelbock style — expect a rich, malty body with dark fruit and caramel depth. The finish is warming and full, befitting its higher-gravity strength.

How to Drink the Paulaner Variety Pack

Each style rewards a different approach. The Hefeweizen shines in a tall Weizen glass at 45–48°F with a traditional long pour to build its cloud of foam. The Munich Lager and Oktoberfest are at their best from a half-liter Maßkrug at cellar temperature. Salvator deserves a snifter or tulip glass slightly warmer — around 50°F — to let its malt complexity open up. For cocktails, the Hefeweizen makes an outstanding Radler (mixed 1:1 with sparkling lemonade) for warm-weather drinking; the Munich Lager works well in a Shandy with grapefruit juice; and the Oktoberfest pairs with apple cider for a crisp, autumnal blend sometimes called an Apfel-Bier.

Best For

• Hosting an Oktoberfest-themed dinner party at home
• Introducing a beer-curious friend to the breadth of Bavarian brewing
• Bringing a well-rounded selection to a barbecue or cookout
• Building a personal tasting flight to compare German beer styles side by side

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Paulaner Variety Pack taste like? The pack spans a wide flavor spectrum — from the fruity banana-and-citrus character of the Hefeweizen to the toasted malt and herbal hops of the Oktoberfest, the crisp grain-forward Munich Lager, and the rich, dark-fruit warmth of the Salvator Doppelbock.

How does the Paulaner Variety Pack compare to Spaten's lineup? Both are historic Munich "Big Six" breweries adhering to the Reinheitsgebot, but Paulaner's pack is distinctive for including the Salvator, widely credited as the original doppelbock, which adds a high-gravity option that most competitor variety packs lack.

Is the Paulaner Variety Pack good for beginners? Yes — the Munich Lager and Hefeweizen are extremely approachable at moderate ABVs, while the Oktoberfest and Salvator offer an educational step up for anyone ready to explore richer German styles.

Where is the Paulaner Variety Pack made? All four beers are brewed by Paulaner Brauerei in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, using naturally soft water drawn from the city's protected deep underground wells fed by Alpine geology.

What foods pair well with the Paulaner Variety Pack? The Hefeweizen complements a Weisswurst breakfast or citrusy salads; the Oktoberfest stands up to roast pork, pretzels, and aged Gruyère; the Munich Lager pairs naturally with grilled sausages and lighter fare; and the Salvator matches hearty dishes like braised short ribs or dark chocolate desserts.

What sizes does the Paulaner Variety Pack come in? The standard format is a 12-pack of 12 fl oz (355 ml) bottles containing three bottles of each style.

Is the Paulaner Variety Pack worth the price? It positions in the premium import tier and delivers strong value by bundling four distinct, well-regarded Bavarian styles — including the BeerAdvocate 91-rated Hefeweizen — in a single purchase rather than requiring four separate six-packs.

Why the Paulaner Variety Pack?

This 12-pack is one of the few imported variety packs that genuinely represents the range of a single world-class Munich brewery rather than padding with filler styles. The inclusion of Salvator — the doppelbock that gave the entire style its name — sets it apart from competing German mixed packs. With a BeerAdvocate 91-rated Hefeweizen at the lighter end and a monastery-lineage doppelbock at the heavier end, the pack covers more ground than most. Every bottle is brewed under the Reinheitsgebot with deep-well Alpine water, making this a legitimate cross-section of Bavarian brewing heritage in a single box.