“A little of Austria, a lot of Vermont” is the slogan for the Trapp Family Lodge. About ten years ago they started brewing their own beer, based on the finest of European recipes. It’s been four years since they opened their state-of-the-art bierhall, a giant, beautifully constructed beer hall and brewing facility serving fine food. The cuisine is Austria meets Vermont–sausages and schnitzel with locally sourced ingredients. Who to best pair six von Trapp beers with than the grand champion of the Austrian music scene, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! We’re sticking to one brewery here. It’s Mozart and a six pack of von Trapp beer.
Radler Trail Bier and Nachtmusik
Probably Mozart’s “greatest hit,” when you wander the streets of Salzburg, this jam is blaring out of every window. The upbeat lightness of this song pairs best with von Trapp’s newest beer, their absolutely delicious Radler Trail Bier. A radler is a combination of beer and juice. This is part lager and part grapefruit juice and all parts refreshing and delicious. On a recent trip to the bierhall, the ability to eat outside and sip this radler while looking at the Green Mountains was absolutely divine, the next best thing to the Alpen countryside. The beer is light at 3.9% ABV, and the tartness of the grapefruit mixes well with the lager, making a perfect summer beer.
Helles and Piano Sonata Number 11
The violins are traded in for a piano on this classic Wolfgang track. It pairs best with the Helles beer, another one on the lighter side, in both music and beer. In Germany and Austria, many bier gartens will offer Helles or Dunkel, light or dark. The sonata is uplifting in sound. The Helles beer is light and matches well with the airy melody of the piano. I found the song and the beer familiar to my ears and to my palette. The Helles is an easy-drinking beer, with just a hint of bitterness, similar to the sonata dipping into a minor key part way through. I enjoyed this on one of the first 50 something degree days of spring in the backyard. A little Mozart and sunshine were the perfect backdrop for this beer.
Pilsner and Piano Concerto 21: Andante
Another lighter beer matches with an upbeat but contemplative piece from Mozart. Drinking and listening on a warm March day, I felt both beer and piano had a hint of springtime in them. The soft piano is at the forefront of this concerto with the orchestral instruments providing a dramatic backing. The pilsner is crisp and accompanies it well. I am dreaming of Austria while in my own backyard tasting a sip of Vermont. The pilsner just had to be part of Mozart and a six-pack of von Trapp.
Dunkel and Requiem K 626, Lacrimosa dies illa
Mozart turns to the dark side with this predominantly vocal piece. So does von Trapp with their Dunkel, or dark beer. The somber tones are complemented by the warm notes of the beer. Try a von Trapp variety pack for a true taste of their four year-round offerings, from light to dark, including this Dunkel.
Vienna and Turkish March
This is another Mozart classic that sounds as good today as it did almost 250 years ago. As one of Mozart’s best-known compositions, it would only be fitting to pair this with the von Trapp, Vienna. Vienna, the capital city of Austria, is where Mozart would rise to fame, even though he was born in Salzburg. This piano composition pairs nicely with the amber lager named after its city of creation.
Double India Pale Lager and Divertimento, K 334: Menuetto
Unlike more serious compositions, a divertimento is an entertaining and light piece of music that is often composed for fun. The violins and strings are complemented with a horn, making for an upbeat piece of music, almost hoppy if you will. What better to pair this with than the hoppiest of von Trapp’s portfolio, their double IPL. Since von Trapp brews lagers, which take much longer and are more complex than typical ales, instead of the ever-popular DIPA, or double IPA, they brew a fine Double India Pale Lager. For an 8% beer, this is crisp, and light tasting for such a robust ABV. The hoppiness pairs best with a divertimento such as this.
The von Trapp Family
Of course, the von Trapp family were musicians in their own right. They were the inspiration for The Sound of Music. After fleeing Austria in 1938, when Germany annexed Austria and after declining a performance for the birthday of Adolph Hitler, they settled in the hills of Stowe, Vermont. Eventually, they turned their property into the fine alpine lodge-hotel perched on a mountainside. The original von Trapp Singers (with Maria passing away at age 99 in 2014) have all left us, but a newer generation of musicians, first known as the von Trapp Children are keeping the tradition alive. Now grown, and known simply as the von Trapps, they released an album with Oregon-based band, Pink Martini. Here’s a track from that album as a bonus to that of Mozart.
If you can’t make it to the foothills of the Alps, the Stowe region of Vermont will do just fine. It’s simply beautiful. While you’re in Stowe, make sure to check out the Trapp Family Lodge; whether it’s to stay, to eat, or to just stop in for a beer at the bierhall. (I highly recommend the pretzels with beer cheese and the entree of three sausages, one of my favorite meals ever, literally). Just bring some Mozart with you in the car.
If you enjoyed Mozart and a six pack of von Trapp, you may enjoy other Backyard Road Trips articles about Stowe, Vermont or pairing beer with music. For more Backyard Road Trips in Stowe click here. For more beer and music pairings try, the Carpenters, Beastie Boys or emo and sour beer.
