Hopfen & Malz

Hopfen & MalzHopfen & Malz
Hopfen & MalzHopfen & Malz
Store

Triftstraße 57
Berlin, 13353
Germany

+49 176 344 09 478 | map
hopfenmalz.de
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.05
Reviews:
2
Ratings:
5
pDev:
16.05%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews.
 
Rated: 3.64 by dasEbb from Germany

Apr 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.43 by dgilks from Australia

Apr 13, 2015
Photo of Smakawhat
Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland

4.75/5  rDev +17.3%
Situated in the Northern area in the city, mostly residential with not so much vibe, is this very small unassuming shop.

You will walk through getrankes all over the city but this one is not like any of them. The amount of German beer selections here is insane. There are many special goodies here including the famed Mönchsambacher Lager but it goes fast and is not always there. However, there is a plethora of German beers here you will not find anywhere else, not even in Berlin. In fact there is even a good selection of American beers here as well.

The guy who runs the shop is a jewel. He is passionate about beer and will help you find anything at all. I also wanted a simple pils glass and he was able to provide me one... and then just let me have it on the house as I grabbed 30 Euros worth of beers. He is also good for any recommendations you are in the mood for.

This an absolute MUST stop for any beer fan like myself. It is a true expression of what German beer offers, and there are other goodies too. If I had only one complaint, the store is extremely dark inside and it's hard to read the labels and products, but it's minor to what glory lurks inside.
Oct 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by leroybrown10 from Missouri

Oct 06, 2014
Photo of falloutsnow
Reviewed by falloutsnow from Illinois

4.91/5  rDev +21.2%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Hopfen & Malz was two short U-bahn rides from my hostel in Berlin. Within twenty minutes and a short walk, I found the location amidst a small mix of other stores in a mixed commercial/residential area in the Wedding quarter of Berlin, just a block away from Brauerei Eschenbräu.

The storefront has a bright, easily visible sign declaring the business name, so finding the shop is not difficult at all. Inside is a mix of refrigerators and shelves that hold the beers currently available, all of which were protected from the sun, the exposure of which can be a bit of a problem in other bottle shops in Germany. The carpet and shelves were clean.

Every beer I purchased from Hopfen & Malz was quite fresh (kellerbiers have fairly short shelf-lives, and Ludger, the owner, knows this) and well within its best-by date. Some of the beers were stored in refrigerators, further retaining/extending the quality of the beers. No beer tasted off, skunked, or otherwise exposed; this isn't a problem at the store.

Service was above and beyond exceptional. I had emailed Ludger, the owner, before my trip, and he saved several hard-to-find beers for me and also suggested several others upon my arrival. After sampling a few beers on my first visit, we walked to the nearby Brauerei Eschenbräu to sample the local brewpub's offerings and discuss many topics from beer to German politics. While I'm not sure if Ludger would be willing to do this for every international tourist who visited his shop, he did for me, and I've never received such kind and courteous service. Ludger's knowledge of German beers is excellent, and he can translate this to equally excellent service at the shop. He is able to expound upon the complex history of many German breweries, and is also very well-versed on Bavarian/Franconian drinking culture and can relate many stories and experiences. I'd return to the shop just to hear more about his travels to different small, country breweries.

The selection of beers is a well-curated, semi-dizzying (to the German beer enthusiast) cornucopia of what's available across Germany, with a special focus on Franconian kellerbiers (over 25 during my visit). Different parts of the store are devoted to lagers, pilsners, weizens, bocks, dunkels, and kellerbiers. There is also a concise, thoughtful selection of English, Belgian, and United States beers with some rarities. There were dozens more beers available that I wanted to try than was able to, meaning only that I need to go back again soon.

Beers range from about one to two euros, just slightly over prices from major grocery stores. Considering the selection and trouble that goes into obtaining the beers available, this is actually an inexpensive price.

Overall, Hopfen & Malz is an excellent bottle shop that should be on every beer-minded visitor's itinerary when staying in or traveling through Berlin. Definitely make the effort to go here, I can't recommend it enough.
Oct 11, 2013
Hopfen & Malz in Berlin, Germany
Place rating: 4.05 out of 5 with 5 ratings