Zoigl
A German beer from communal breweries in eastern Bavaria.
Zoigl is a German beer from the Oberpfalz region of eastern Bavaria, located between Franconia and the Czech Republic. The name likely comes from how people in Windischeschenbach pronounce the German words *zeigen* or *Zeichen*—both meaning "sign"—since a sign is used to show when the beer is on offer. The beer’s logo is made of two triangles: one stands for water, fire, and air; the inverted one stands for malted barley, hops, and water.
The earliest known mention of "zeigl" appears in a 1508 document from Neustadt an der Waldnaab, where it came from the German *Zeichen* ("sign") or *zeigen* ("to show"). In the Oberpfalz dialect, it was said as "zeigel." Today, "Zoigl" still refers to both the beer and its brewing tradition. For centuries, Zoigl has been made in communal breweries owned by a town or a homebrewers’ association. Until around 2000, it was only found in Windischeschenbach and Neuhaus. Because the name and logo were never trademarked, they were widely copied, leading to Zoigl being advertised all over Germany. The original beer still comes from Windischeschenbach and Neuhaus, and locals have their favorites since each brewer uses a personal recipe.
To brew Zoigl, wood is chopped and a fire is lit to heat water and barley. The mixture cools over copper, then the wort is sent to each brewer’s private cellar for fermentation. Bottom-fermenting yeast is used, and the beer is lagered. After about two weeks, the beer is moved to home pubs, where it is tapped straight from the lagering tank. It is sold in the brewer’s house, which becomes a pub until the beer runs out. From Friday through Monday, the pub hangs the Zoigl-Star on a corner of the house to signal that beer is available. In Windischeschenbach, only about nine or ten people hold "das Braurecht" (the brewing right) at any one time.
- First documented example
- 1508
- Location of first document
- Neustadt an der Waldnaab
- Original locations
- Windischeschenbach and Neuhaus
- Number of brewers with das braurecht in
- about 9 or 10
Lore & Background
The first documented example of the word 'zeigl' occurs in a 1508 document at Neustadt an der Waldnaab, having derived from the German 'Zeichen' meaning sign, or 'zeigen' meaning show. It was pronounced 'zeigel' in the Oberpfalz region. Today the word 'Zoigl' is still in use and has given its name to this style of beer production. Zoigl has been brewed for centuries in communal breweries, owned either by the town or by an association of homebrewers. Until about 2000, Zoigl was only found in Windischeschenbach and Neuhaus. The name and mark have been pilfered because they were not trademarked, leading to the over-advertising of Zoigl beer across Germany. The original comes from Windischeschenbach and Neuhaus, and people have their favorites, because each brewer has their own recipes.
Reader's Guide
The process begins with chopping wood and starting a fire to cook the water and barley to temperature. The wort is cooled over copper, then distributed to the brewers' private cellars, where fermentation takes place using bottom-fermenting yeast and lagering. About two weeks later the beer is brought to home pubs and tapped directly from the lagering tank. It is sold in the brewer's house, which effectively becomes a pub until all the beer has been drunk. The pub that has Zoigl from that Friday through Monday attaches the Zoigl-Star to the corner of his house to show he has beer available. Only about 9 or 10 people have 'das Braurecht' in Windischeschenbach at one time. The significance of Zoigl lies in its centuries-old tradition of communal brewing and its localized, un-trademarked heritage, which has led to widespread imitation but also a loyal following for the original beers from Windischeschenbach and Neuhaus.
Did You Know?
- The name Zoigl is believed to derive from a Windischeschenbacher dialect pronunciation of the German word 'zeigen' or 'Zeichen' meaning 'sign'.
- The Zoigl logo is composed of two triangles representing six beer ingredients: water, fire, air, malted barley, hops, and water.
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