South London-based Orbit Beers are releasing a Rotbier on 3rd February, the latest beer in their limited edition White Label series.
The Rotbier is a 5% German-style red lager which has it origins in Franconia. The White Label releases aim to champion the unsung heroes of European brewing culture here in the UK.
Rotbier is a malt-forward, German-style red lager (Rotbier translates to ‘red beer’), designed to bring comforting warmth to the final weeks of winter.
It offers smooth biscuit malt flavours, complemented by a light toffee sweetness and a gentle bitterness. Orbit Beers has added cherry ember-smoked malts, which lend a subtle smokey quality, reminiscent of glowing embers on a crisp winter evening. Delicate spicy and floral hop notes weave through the malt base.
“We’re excited to add Rotbier to our seasonal line-up this year,” said Robbie Sykes, Orbit’s general manager. “It’s a beer that embodies the warmth and comfort we all crave during these colder months, while showcasing the depth and complexity of German brewing traditions that we’re so passionate about at Orbit Beers. We’re confident it will resonate with both lager fans and those looking to try something new.”
The brewing process
The brewers start with a base of high-quality malts: Munich malt, BEST Special X, cherry ember smoked malt, and BEST Red X, which give the beer its sweet, biscuity, slightly smoked flavours, and red/brown colour.
Hallertauer Mittelfrueh and Pilgrim hops are added to provide a subtle bitterness that balances the sweetness of the malts. The beer is then fermented with Swiss lager yeast, resulting in a clean, smooth finish.
