Weltenburger Anno 1050 4Pk

Weltenburger Anno 1050 4Pk is a Bavarian Märzen-style lager brewed at 5.5% ABV, sold in a four-pack format. Scored 90 points by Tastings.com in 2017 and awarded a DLG Silver Medal in 2020, this malt-forward beer traces its lineage to a monastery that has been brewing since the year 1050.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.5%  |  Origin: Bavaria, Germany  |  Style: Märzen  |  Brewery: Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg

Production & Heritage

Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg sits on the banks of the Danube near Kelheim, Bavaria, and claims a brewing tradition dating to 1050 — a title contested by Weihenstephan Abbey. Anno 1050 is brewed with Hercules, Pearl, and Tradition hops alongside a blend of light and dark barley malts, yielding its characteristic golden-amber color and malt-driven profile. The bottled Weltenburger range is produced under contract at Bischofshof brewery in Regensburg, while other expressions are brewed at the abbey itself.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Caramelized malts and toasted grain dominate the nose, followed by a lightly floral character and hints of bread dough. A gentle fruitiness — distant apple and soft peach — emerges as the beer warms slightly in the glass.

Taste: The entry is lightly sweet with pale malt and a biscuit quality that quickly builds into caramel and toffee at mid-palate. Toasted grain provides backbone throughout, while subtle spicy hop notes and a whisper of citrus keep the sweetness in check. The overall impression is exceptionally clean for a malt-emphasized beer.

Finish: Medium-long and lightly dry, with lingering honey and bread notes. A touch of residual malt warmth rounds out each sip without becoming cloying.

How to Drink Anno 1050

Pour into a traditional Bavarian half-liter mug or a tulip glass at around 45–48°F to let the malt complexity open up fully. Anno 1050 also holds its own in beer-forward mixed drinks: a Radler, where the caramel malt offsets fresh lemon juice; a Shandy with ginger ale, which plays off the bread and honey notes; or a Beer-a-Rita with lime and a salted rim, where the malty sweetness replaces the typical lager blandness with genuine flavor.

Best For

• Introducing friends to traditional Bavarian beer styles beyond pilsner
• Pairing with a weekend bratwurst or pretzel spread
• Hosting an autumn gathering or Oktoberfest-themed dinner
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast interested in monastic brewing traditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Anno 1050 taste like? Anno 1050 leads with caramel and toasted malt sweetness, layered with biscuit, honey, and a touch of toffee, finishing lightly dry with subtle spicy hops.

How does Anno 1050 compare to Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest? Reviewers have noted that Anno 1050 shares a similar malty aroma with Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest but delivers a fuller, more malt-emphasized body. Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest tends to be lighter in overall flavor intensity by comparison.

Is Anno 1050 good for Märzen beginners? Yes — its clean, malt-forward profile and moderate 5.5% ABV make it an approachable entry point into the Märzen style without overwhelming bitterness or alcohol heat.

Where is Anno 1050 made? Anno 1050 is associated with Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg near Kelheim in Bavaria, Germany, though the bottled version is contract brewed at Bischofshof brewery in Regensburg, also in Bavaria.

What foods pair well with Anno 1050? Roasted pork or Schweinshaxe, where the malty sweetness complements rich meat; soft pretzels with mustard, a classic Bavarian match; aged Gouda or Gruyère, whose nuttiness echoes the toasted grain; grilled bratwurst, which benefits from the beer's light dryness; and apple strudel, whose fruit and pastry notes mirror the beer's subtle peach and biscuit character.

What sizes does Anno 1050 come in? Anno 1050 is commonly available as a four-pack, the standard retail format for this expression in most markets.

Is Anno 1050 worth the price? Anno 1050 positions in the mid-range import tier, and its 90-point Tastings.com score and DLG Silver Medal suggest quality that punches above typical supermarket Märzens — solid value for a beer with genuine monastic heritage.

Why Anno 1050?

Few beers carry a provenance that reaches back nearly a thousand years. The combination of Hercules, Pearl, and Tradition hops with both light and dark barley malts produces a Märzen that rewards careful attention — malt-rich but balanced, sweet but finishing dry. Its 90-point Tastings.com rating and 2020 DLG Silver Medal confirm what the glass already suggests: this is a well-made, traditional Bavarian lager rooted in one of the oldest continuous brewing operations in Europe. For drinkers seeking a Märzen with substance and legitimate historical depth, Anno 1050 delivers on both counts.