Our Brewing Focus

German Style Beers in Auburn CA

If you’ve spent any time exploring craft beer in Northern California, you’ve probably noticed one thing:

There’s no shortage of hops.

And hey—we like a good IPA too. But not every beer needs to punch you in the face with bitterness to be interesting.

If you’re looking for German style beers in Auburn CA, or just something clean, balanced, and easy to enjoy, that’s exactly what we focus on here at Two Ass Brewing.

Not All Craft Beer Is About Hops

Craft beer has come a long way—and somewhere along the way, “more hops” became the default setting.

But there’s another side to beer that’s been around a lot longer:

  • Crisp lagers

  • Smooth amber beers

  • Dark, roasty pints that don’t weigh you down

The kind of beers you can:

  • Have a conversation over

  • Order a second round of

  • Actually finish without needing a palate reset

That’s the lane we like to live in.

What Defines German Style Beer?

German-style beers are built on a few simple principles:

  • Balance over extremes

  • Malt character that actually shows up

  • Clean fermentation

  • Drinkability above all else

That doesn’t mean boring—it means intentional.

Instead of chasing intensity, these beers focus on:

  • Bread-like malt flavors

  • Smooth finishes

  • Subtle hop character

  • Consistency from sip to sip

They’re built for drinking—not just tasting.

Our Approach at Two Ass Brewing

While we enjoy all styles of beer, we saw an opportunity in Auburn to do something a little different.

There are a lot of excellent breweries here making hop-forward IPAs and hazy beers. We wanted to balance that out by focusing more on the malt side of the spectrum.

We take a lot of inspiration from traditional German brewing and aim to cover the full range of color and flavor:

  • Light straw-colored beers like Kölsch

  • Golden and amber lagers and ales

  • Richer, darker styles

We celebrate the grain and take care to make sure those flavors don’t get lost.

And just as importantly:

Body matters.

These are beers meant to feel complete—not thin, not one-dimensional, and not just built to chase trends.

Beers You’ll Find Here

Here’s a look at what you’ll typically find on tap:

Light, Crisp, and Easy Drinking

  • Coltisch – Kölsch

    Light, crisp, low on hops with bready malt and a clean white foam finish

  • Sazzy – American Pilsner

    Bright and refreshing with a subtle hint of lemon tartness

  • Mellow Mule – Light American Lager

    Built for all-day drinking—smooth, approachable, and easy going

Classic German-Inspired Lagers

  • Danke Esel – German Pilsner

    Noble hops with a balanced malt body—clean and classic

  • Marz – American Märzen

    Smooth amber “Oktoberfest-style” beer with light toffee malt flavors (on year-round)

Malt-Forward and Balanced Ales

  • L’Ane Rouge – American Red Ale

    Bready malt backbone with a light West Coast hop aroma

  • Uptown Porter – Brown Porter

    Creamy dark roast character without the heaviness

For the Hop Crowd (We’ve Got You Too)

  • Ale of the Gods – West Coast IPA

    Citrus-forward hops supported by a strong malt backbone

Rotating and Seasonal Beers

We like to keep things interesting throughout the year, rotating in seasonal and specialty beers that stay true to our malt-forward approach.

  • Joyous Jenny – Festbier (Fall)

    Smooth, bready, and slightly richer—our take on a traditional Oktoberfest-style beer

  • Jumping Jack – Helles Bock / Maibock (Spring)

    Bready, golden, and a little stronger—classic spring lager

  • Dark Donkey – Black IPA (Fall / Early Winter)

    Dark roast character meets West Coast hop brightness

  • Burly Burro – Imperial Stout (Usually in Colder Months)

    Creamy, bold, and full of deep roasted malt flavor

  • BAM – Mandarin Blonde Ale (Late Fall)

    Brewed when the fruit is ripe—bright citrus layered over a clean malt base

  • BABs – Blonde Ale (Warmer Months)

    Light and crisp with a bit more malt backbone than your typical blonde

  • BML – Light Mexican Lager (Summer)

    Built for hot days—clean, refreshing, and easy drinking

  • Dunkel Eselbock – Dunkles Bock (Winter)

    Dark bread flavors with a rich, smooth finish

  • Doc Brown – American Brown Ale (Other Seasons)

    A blend of hop character and deeper malt complexity

  • Year Round Rotating Hazy / New England IPA

    Juicy, pillowy, and hop-forward—because we like to keep everyone happy

Built for Approachability (and Discovery)

One thing we hear all the time:

“I don’t usually like craft beer… but I like this.”

That’s exactly what we’re going for.

We want to create a space where:

  • Macro beer drinkers feel comfortable trying something new

  • Craft beer fans can explore styles they don’t always see

  • Everyone can find something that works for them

A lot of folks start with something like a light lager or pilsner…

and then work their way into more complex styles.

We’ve heard:

  • “I like pilsners, but your festbier opened my eyes.”

  • “I didn’t realize how much I liked porters until I tried yours.”

  • “This is smooth.”

Those are the moments we’re after.

Why These Beers Work So Well in Auburn

Auburn is an outdoor town.

Between:

  • River days at the Confluence
  • Trail hikes and Cycling
  • Walking with your dog
  • Downtown events
  • Long afternoons in the sun

You don’t always want something heavy or aggressive.

You want something that:

  • Refreshes

  • Satisfies

  • And lets you enjoy the moment

These beers are built for exactly that.

How We’re Different (On Purpose)

We’re surrounded by great breweries—but many of them focus heavily on IPAs and hazy beers, with just a few other styles mixed in.

We flip that approach.

We focus on:

  • Malt-forward beers

  • Traditional lagers and ales

  • Balance and drinkability

And we take quality and consistency seriously.

There’s nowhere to hide in styles like pilsners—every detail shows.

We’re proud to brew beers that are consistently clean, balanced, and enjoyable.

We’ve even picked up awards for styles like our Märzen and porter—beers that don’t always get the spotlight, but deserve it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you serve IPAs?

Yes—we have at least one or two options like Ale of the Gods. But our focus is on balanced, malt-forward beers.

What’s the difference between a lager and an ale?

Lagers are typically cleaner and smoother, while ales often have more pronounced yeast or hop character.

What’s a Märzen or Festbier?

Traditional German styles often associated with Oktoberfest—smooth, malty, and incredibly drinkable.

Are your beers traditional or modern?

A mix of both. We take inspiration from classic styles but brew them in a way that fits our approach and our community.

And One More Thing…

We like to say we’ll never serve a half-assed beer.

And we mean it.

Come See What “Drinkable” Really Means

If you’re looking for German style beers in Auburn CA, or just a place where the beer is built for enjoying—not analyzing—

Come grab a pint with us.

You might just find your new favorite.

Bring a friend, try a flight, and stay for another round.

👉 New here? Start with our beer lineup