Dreher Classic – Hungarian Lager
As some of you might remember from my previous blogs, I like to feature different beers from Central and Eastern Europe each Friday or what I like to call it as “Beer Friday.”
Today’s featured beer is Dreher Classic which is a premium lager from Hungary.
Overview
Dreher Classic is a premium lager from Hungary and is one of the most well-known Hungarian beers in the world. Other brands of Dreher include Dreher Bak, a full-bodied dark beer and Dreher 24 a non-alcoholic beer.
History
Dreher Breweries was founded by Antal Dreher (creator of the Vienna lager style) in 1862. It is the oldest brewing company in Hungary.
The modernization of the company began in 1993 when South African Breweries made its first European investment and purchased Köbánya Breweries. Situated on the historic stone mines in the suburbs of Budapest, many of the original buildings are still used and have kept their unique antiquity and character, belying the advanced technology within.
Over the past ten years, SABMiller has invested more than 25 billion HUF into Dreher Ltd., providing the company with the plant and infrastructure necessary to ensure the highest quality and consistency, whilst using traditional recipes
The Dreher brand has gained international recognition and success over the years. Most recently in 2007, it was awarded 3 gold medals at the Monde Selection, which is the world’s most prestigious quality competition, pushing the number of its gold medals collected so far up to 15.
Dreher Classic also was awarded the International High Quality Trophy twice, in 2004 and 2007, and Dreher Bak achieved the same in 2006 for outstanding quality in three consecutive years.
Taste Profile
Dreher Classic has a slightly bitter taste with a pleasant hop smell. Its refreshing effect is boosted by its rich CO2 content. The color is golden yellow with a thick and long lasting head.
How to Serve
Dreher Classic should be served chilled.
Dreher Beer Museum
Dreher Breweries has a museum open to the public daily in Budapest, Hungary. Visitors can see displays of brewing and bottling, watch a film about beer-making, and enjoy a generous tasting session. Visitors must be 18 years of age or older.
Further Information
For more information about Dreher, you can visit the official Dreher website as listed below. The website has a section on Hungarian beer history, recipes, as well as a virtual beer voyage of the Dreher Brewery.
Dreher Brewery Ltd.
www.dreher.hu
Category: Beer
Does anyone have information on where to buy Dreher beer in NYC? I would love to have some, it has been years!
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This is an age old questioned I have searched the answer for. Where to buy Dreher beer in the U.S. I once tracked a case to somewhere in NJ, but did not believe it was there and was shortly going to Hungary, so I did not want to drive from Virginia to NJ, but I would have had it not been for my trip to Hungary.
I live in Germany now and once went to Hungary without a passport before they opened their border and could not get in. I could not find Drher or any Hungarian beer on the Austrian side of the border. Bottom line is that despite my searches online and in stores, I have never found any Hungarian beer outside of Hungary.
When I drive to Hungary, I bring about three cases of Dreher back with me. Tesco is typically the cheapest place and there is a Tesco in Gyor, which on the way back to Austria on the route through Viena. There is just no other way.
I have expanded my horizans to finding other beers to suit my taste. Heiniken is about the closest common beer. Tyske, a Polish beer is also good. Of the German beers, a good Helles meets the bill. Augistiner or Spaten seems to be the best and around Oktoberfest time their special brew is best. Dreher Classic is still the best, but in Germany I can get by. As for my time in America, I recommend bringing back a six-pack of cans and that is about all you are going to get back.
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