About
Berghoff’s history as a beer brand goes back over 120 years, and in that time it has developed a reputation of high quality and consistency. The first batch of Berghoff beer was brewed in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1887 by Herman Berghoff and his three brothers. Herman’s desire to expand the market for the family’s beer led him to sell the product at the Chicago World’s Fair where it received high acclaim. Since then, Berghoff has continued its success and relevance in the Chicago market and beyond.

As the craft beer market has evolved, the brand has received fresh, exciting updates. Berghoff changed its brewing location and is now proudly brewed at Point Brewery in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Berghoff has also refreshed itself with updated recipes and packaging. With consulting from brewing experts Randy Mosher and John Hannafan, Berghoff’s new, top-notch beers are ready to satisfy consumer demand. As the brewery looks to the future, Berghoff beer will continue to evolve as trends change, but will always maintain its roots as an authentic German-style brew whose history and tradition will never be forgotten
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Berghoff Brewery, Inc. owns 1 brewery/brand:
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McDermottDrink (4736) reviewed
Original Lager from Berghoff Brewery, Inc.
22 years ago
6/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
Bottled. Original rating; 7/30/04. Slightly offputting, yet there’s some attraction to it. There’s nice golden pour, certainly darker than any mega-lager. There’s minimal bubbling under a thin head. Taste seems a bit "old-timey;" I would have guessed a pre-Prohibition lager with minimal adjunct, but their website doesn’t suggest this. The site also says they’re now using Spalt and Tettnang hops instead of "domestic." At 20 IBU’s, twice that of their pilsner, I can taste it. This is a beer that wants to be liked, but it demands an attitude adjustment by the drinker.
New rating; June 7, 07. Had a bottle with lunch at the Berghoff Café on my birthday today. Maybe it’s because it was a hot day, but I feel much better about this. I did remember not liking it as much 3 years ago, but things have improved (new brewery ownership? Who knows). The yeasty bite (or was that iron in the brew water) is gone. Color tends closer to a pils than before. And a nicer balance with appropriate hops makes this a much more refreshing beer. Slightly dry finish, went well with a BBQ pulled pork sandwich. So yeah, I’ve notched my rating up a few tenths from 2.6, and happily, too.
Tried from Bottle on 30 Jul 2004 at 08:22
Silphium (4337) reviewed
Famous Bock from Berghoff Brewery, Inc.
22 years ago
5.5/10 — Appearance 4 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 4 Overall 6
Pours deep red (deeper than the Lakefront Bock I just sampled) with just a few bubbles hinting at carbonation. Caramel, wet socks, and rotten fruit aroma. Rather thin-bodied with caramel and candy-like fruit. A bit flat. Not bad but fairly boring.
Tried from Can on 10 Jul 2004 at 00:48
Silphium (4337) reviewed
Hefe-Weizen from Berghoff Brewery, Inc.
22 years ago
6.1/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
This hazy orange beer pours with a slight off-white head and a banana aroma that borders on circus peanuts as well as tangy/bitter wheat notes. The body is rather weak, though, with a thin flavor profile of circus peanuts and artificial banana. Rather tangy/fruity finish. Too candylike for my tastes.
Tried from Can on 09 Jul 2004 at 22:57
McDermottDrink (4736) reviewed
Solstice Wit 2004 - 2012 from Berghoff Brewery, Inc.
22 years ago
5.5/10 — Appearance 4 Aroma 6 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 6
Draft, at the Berghoff Cafe, Chicago. Beer is more yellow and clear than other wits I’ve had; probably filtered for retail sale. First sip is a big lemon zest that’s a little suprising. Then you get the more subtle notes of banana and clove, and other fruit traces. Good clean finish. This is hardly what I believe to be the wit style, but it’s a refreshing lawnmower beer.
Tried from Draft on 02 Jun 2004 at 16:07
McDermottDrink (4736) reviewed
Genuine Dark Beer from Berghoff Brewery, Inc.
22 years ago
7.1/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
Draft, Berghoff Cafe at O’Hare Airport. I may be overly generous in rating this, but after schlepping heavy carry-ons though Terminal 1, this is tasting pretty good. Thin head does not stay around long. Beer is a nice deep browm, red in the light. Has a good, deep malty taste with a light German hop balance. A bit gassy going down, but then again, I’m a little stressed, waiting to board three different planes to fly to freakin’ Russia. But the cafe is an excellent stopover in the distant Concourse C.
Sampled at the Billy Goat on Michigan Ave., Chicago, Dec. 20, 04. The Billy Goat has replaced Schlitz as the "Billy Goat Draft: on tap. Here it tastes pretty nice and goes well with the decor. Slightlly peaty here and darker than I remember. Nice hop finish compounded by the usual odd Berghoff yeast bite. Still a fine session beer.
Tried from Draft on 25 May 2004 at 17:43
McDermottDrink (4736) reviewed
Famous Bock from Berghoff Brewery, Inc.
22 years ago
6.6/10 — Appearance 10 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
This was served on draft as a "seasonal" at the Chicago Berghoff’s restaurant, so it may be a different beer than the bottled. When tapped, delivers a nice, cascading head that leaves neat rings of foam as the glass emmpties. A very inviting dark brown beer in the glass, with the taste of a fine dark malt character. Mostly a brown sugary taste with a hint of fruit complexity (yeast?). No bitter or astringent taste for a beer this dark. Finishes a bit on the light side, but very, very drinkable.
Tried from Draft on 03 May 2004 at 19:55
jgb9348 (12478) reviewed
Genuine Dark Beer from Berghoff Brewery, Inc.
22 years ago
4/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 4 Flavor 4 Texture 4 Overall 3
Dark amber/brown in colour with a thin off-white head. Aroma of vinegar, toasted malt and nuts. Medium-bodied; Strong bitter flavour of nuts and malt-little hops and no sweetness. Aftertaste bitter and unrefined. Overall, sub-par, but good to find something different at O'Hare! I sampled this beer on draught at Berghoff's at the C Concourse in Terminal 1 of Chicago O'Hare (ORD) on 25-February-2004.
Tried on 03 Apr 2004 at 01:05
Clarkvv (17430) reviewed
Genuine Dark Beer from Berghoff Brewery, Inc.
22 years ago
6.8/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 5 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
2004 draft. Light brownish with some auburn tinges, lightly hazy with a decent off white head. Flavor is very light and has lots of light fruit. Raspberries, blueberries, light plums. Hint of anise as well. Very understated, but yet not thin. Still a good mouthfee, soft and creamy. Great aftertaste of lingering berries. Maybe a hint of black malt on the finish.
Tried from Draft on 26 Mar 2004 at 09:07
Clarkvv (17430) reviewed
Famous Red Ale from Berghoff Brewery, Inc.
22 years ago
5.8/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
2004 draft at O'Hare! Haha, this was certainly odd to try at an airport. Good yellow-beige color, mildly hazy with a small white head. Aroma is sweet, with tons of caramel. Flavor is equally strong of caramel, very sweet and almost syrupy. Hops and a slight sharpness that is not altogether pleasant. Still, not all that bad and much better than I expected. Pretty tame, unadventurous mouthfeel, smooth, lightly watery with a medium body.
Tried from Draft on 26 Mar 2004 at 09:03
McDermottDrink (4736) reviewed
Hazelnut Winter Fest Ale from Berghoff Brewery, Inc.
22 years ago
6.4/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Draft, at the Berghoff. Normally, I don't like nut flavors in anything; coffee, even brownies. Don't know why. But this beer is quite all right. A nice coppery color under a thin head. A hazelnut/marzipan smell is definietly present. The nutty taste acts to complement a mild hop profile and a nice toasty caramel malt taste that leaves a sticky moustache behind. A note of cherry(?) toward the end. I'd think this should go in the listing as a fruit or spice beer. Either way, the Berghoff in the Loop sells drafts for $3.25, a great bargain for any big city's overpriced downtown.
Tried from Draft on 18 Jan 2004 at 10:07