Traditionally, German beer is a sure thing, following a few, very distinct and well-known styles. That’s because of the 500-plus-year-old Reinheitsgebot, the “German Beer Purity Law” that dictates only water, hops and malt go into a beer. However, brewers Peter Esser and Sebastian Sauer of Germany’s Braustelle have taken some liberties, and begun to produce several lines of beer that don’t hew to Bavarian tradition. That’s good news for beer drinkers, because there are several new beers to explore.

Nine of these innovative brews are currently pouring from the taps at Bierstube in Old City. You’ll find drafts of several beers under the Freigeist name, including a porter brewed with peated malt, and a few under the offshoot beer line called The Monarchy, including a gose brewed with salt, coriander and applewood. Check out the full list below and head over to expand your beer palate.

• Freigeist Peated Abraxxas: A modern interpretation of the Abraxxxas; brewed with peated malt (update: no longer available)
• Freigeist Peated Porter: Porter, brewed with peated malt
• Freigeist Sauer Porter: Collaboration beer with Jester King; 100% smoked malt beer, inoculated with Jester King Das Überkind
• Freigeist Pink Gose: Gose, brewed with salt, coriander and hibiscus flowers (update: no longer available)
• Freigeist Black Smoke: A dark smoked ale
• The Monarchy Gratzer: A mostly authentic recreation of an old Polish beer style which died out in 1993; 100% oak-smoked wheat malt, 35 IBUs from Polish hops
• The Monarchy Son of the Batch (Apple Wood): An interpretation of a dark gose, brewed with salt and coriander; also brewed with Apple wood (update: no longer available)
• The Monarchy Methusalem: Adambier; strong sour Altbier
• The Monarchy Year of the Dragon: Vintage Ale; brewed with jasmine rice within the Year of Dragon (update: no longer available)

Photo via Flickr/walknboston