Brausilvester: Austria’s Unique Beer Day

Why We Celebrate Brausilvester
September 30 is Austrian Beer Day. It holds special historical significance for master brewers. Before the invention of the refrigeration machine in 1871, brewing in the summer was very risky. High temperatures encouraged bacterial growth and made continuous cooling difficult. The brewing season therefore traditionally lasted from September 29 (Michaeli) to April 23 (Georgi). Often, brewing would even stop as early as March.

Märzen Beer: A Masterpiece of Shelf Life
Märzen beer was the last beer brewed before the summer break. It was brewed with a higher original gravity so that it could last through the summer. Back then, brewers aimed for an original gravity of 14 degrees Plato, which resulted in an alcohol content of about 5 percent. Today’s brewing systems achieve about 6 percent alcohol from 14 degrees Plato. Märzen beer was stored in cool stone cellars, often cooled further with ice. This way, the supply would hopefully last until fall.
The warm temperatures posed major challenges for brewers. While the yeast worked faster, it produced undesirable byproducts. This altered the taste and reduced the quality of the beer. Top-fermenting yeasts require temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius, while bottom-fermenting yeasts work best between 6 and 12 degrees Celsius. Without cooling, the fermentation process often stopped.

The Revolution Brought by the Refrigeration Machine
In the 1830s, Gabriel Sedlmayr of the Spaten Brewery in Munich was already using ice for cooling. A milestone was the invention of the refrigeration machine by Carl von Linde, a professor at the Polytechnic in Munich. The first refrigeration machine for beer was put into operation in the 1880s at the Spaten Brewery. This revolutionized brewing. The summer brewing ban was lifted in 1865. The refrigeration machine made year-round brewing possible at precise temperatures. Thus, “Brausilvester” lost its original meaning as the end of the brewing hiatus. Today, we make a clear distinction between top-fermented beers, such as wheat beer, and bottom-fermented varieties, such as Pilsner or Helles.

Brausilvester Today: Diversity and Enjoyment
Today, we celebrate Brausilvester as a tribute to Austrian brewing culture. The country boasts an impressive beer scene with over 191 breweries and 123 home breweries. These numbers are growing steadily. Brausilvester is the perfect occasion to celebrate the diversity and quality of local beer. Raise a glass of excellent Austrian beer to honor the tradition!