Weihenstephaner 1516 6Pk

Weihenstephaner 1516 Kellerbier 6Pk is a six-pack of unfiltered Bavarian kellerbier brewed at 5.6% ABV by the world's oldest brewery. Scoring 91 on Beer Advocate, this cask-conditioned lager stands apart through its use of the exceptionally rare Hallertauer Record hop — now cultivated by a single farmer on just one hectare in Germany's Hallertau region.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.6%  |  Origin: Freising, Bavaria, Germany  |  Style: Kellerbier (Unfiltered Lager)  |  Brewery: Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

Production & Heritage

Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan traces its brewing heritage to 1040 AD at a Benedictine monastery in Freising, north of Munich, making it the oldest continuously operating brewery on earth. The 1516 Kellerbier was first brewed to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Bavarian Reinheitsgebot — the 1516 purity law that restricted beer ingredients to water, barley, and hops. The beer is matured in casks for several weeks with loose bungs, allowing excess carbonation to escape naturally and producing the soft, low-carbonation mouthfeel characteristic of authentic kellerbier. The grain bill combines dark Munich malt and pale pilsner malt, while the hop profile layers Hallertauer Record for bittering with Hallertauer Perle and Hallertauer Mittelfrüh for aroma. Crucially, Hallertauer Record is among the rarest commercial hop varieties still in production, with extremely limited stocks available worldwide.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh caramel malt leads, followed by stone fruit and subtle floral notes contributed by the Hallertau aroma hops. A faint breadiness anchors the nose with a gentle fruitiness that stays restrained and inviting.

Taste: The entry is smooth and malt-forward — warm, doughy bread and caramel arrive immediately. Mid-palate opens into stone fruit and apple skin, with light baking spice and a whisper of white pepper adding complexity. The body is creamy yet light, with a well-balanced interplay between malt sweetness and measured hop bitterness.

Finish: Clean and crisp, drying gently without lingering bitterness. The caramel malt fades slowly, leaving behind a soft, bready warmth that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Weihenstephaner 1516

Pour into a traditional German Willi Becher glass or a wide-mouthed stoneware mug at 46–50°F to let the unfiltered character and hop aromatics open fully. This kellerbier rewards unhurried drinking on its own, but its balanced profile also supports several beer-based serves. A Radler (half 1516, half fresh lemonade) plays off the stone fruit and caramel beautifully in warm weather. A Shandy Gaff — mixed with ginger beer — picks up the baking spice undertones for a lively twist. A Beer Mimosa pairing the 1516 with orange juice at brunch lets the malty sweetness complement citrus without overwhelming it.

Best For

• Introducing a craft beer drinker to authentic Bavarian kellerbier tradition
• Pairing with a weekend bratwurst or pretzel spread
• Gifting to a beer enthusiast who values brewing heritage and rare ingredients
• Hosting an Oktoberfest or German-themed dinner party

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Weihenstephaner 1516 taste like? It delivers smooth caramel malt and warm bread dough up front, followed by stone fruit, apple skin, and subtle baking spice, finishing clean and crisp with low carbonation.

How does Weihenstephaner 1516 compare to Augustiner Lagerbier Hell? Augustiner Lagerbier Hell is a filtered, brighter helles with a lighter malt presence, while the 1516 is unfiltered and cask-conditioned with a richer, breadier body and more pronounced caramel character. The 1516 also uses the rare Hallertauer Record hop, giving it a distinctive bitterness profile not found in Augustiner's more widely available lager.

Is Weihenstephaner 1516 good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its low carbonation, creamy texture, and balanced malt-to-hop ratio make it one of the more contemplative German lagers, well-suited to slow, attentive drinking.

Where is Weihenstephaner 1516 made? It is brewed at Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan in Freising, Bavaria, Germany, a state-owned brewery operating on the site of a Benedictine monastery that has been brewing since 1040 AD.

What foods pair well with Weihenstephaner 1516? Bratwurst or weisswurst benefit from the malt sweetness cutting through savory fat. Soft Bavarian pretzels with mustard mirror the bready, baking-spice notes. Roast pork or schnitzel match the body and weight of the beer. Mild, semi-soft cheeses like Butterkäse complement the caramel without competing. Apple strudel echoes the stone fruit and apple skin tones in the finish.

What sizes does Weihenstephaner 1516 come in? The standard format available in the U.S. market is a six-pack of 11.2 oz (330 ml) bottles, consistent with traditional German export packaging.

Is Weihenstephaner 1516 worth the price? The 1516 positions as a premium import kellerbier, priced above mass-market lagers but justified by its cask-conditioning process, use of an extremely rare hop variety, and the pedigree of the world's oldest brewery — strong value within the specialty German beer tier.

Why Weihenstephaner 1516?

Few beers carry as singular a provenance story as this one. The Hallertauer Record hop at its core is grown on a single hectare by one remaining farmer — a detail that makes every batch inherently limited in a way no marketing can manufacture. Add nearly a millennium of continuous brewing expertise and a recipe purpose-built to honor the founding document of modern beer purity, and the 1516 Kellerbier earns its distinction on substance rather than spectacle. Its 91-point Beer Advocate score reflects a beer that consistently delivers authentic kellerbier character — soft, malty, unhurried — from the oldest active brewery in the world.