4. Festival der Bierkulturen 2013 in Köln

It's time to start making your plans to be in Köln (Cologne) on May 25 & 26, 2013 for the Festival of Beer Culture. This is the fourth iteration of this event, which has been a trailblazer in Germany for craft beer. Below is the German version, with my translation just under each sentence. The real interesting part is the line up this year: De Molen, a small craft brewer which makes some great beers fro Holland, Fritz Ale, a German guy named Frizt who homebrewed and has now gone pro, and a few interesting breweries from Scotland, Belgium and Switzerland. I'll be there and hope others will, too.

Braustelle/Bürgerzentrum Ehrenfeld​

​

4. Festival der Bierkulturen 2013

Klassische und innovative Bierspezialitäten auch jenseits von Reinheitsgebot und Kölschkonvention​

(Classic and innovative beer specialties beyond the RHG and Kölsch conventions.)​

​

Sa. 25.5. 14-22 , So. 26.5. 12-18​

(Saturday, May 26, 2 - 10 pm. Sunday, May 26, 12 - 6 pm.)​

​

Liebe Bierfreunde,
(Dear beer friends,)​

Vielfältigkeit statt Eintönigkeit steht auch beim 4. Festival der Bierkulturen im Vordergrund.
(Variety instead of monotony in the foreground of the 4th Festival.)​

​

Etwa 15 kleine und unabhängige Hausbrauereien kredenzen ihre eingenwilligen, mitunter auch mutigen Bierspezialitäten, die man in Supermärkten oder im herkömmlichen Getränkehandel meist vergeblich sucht.
(About 15 small and independent House-breweries serve their maverick, occasional and brave beer specialties that you search for in vain in supermarkets and drink-markets.)​

Die Auswahl ist groß: würzige Kräuterbiere, säuerliche Lambik- und Geuzevariationen, vollmundige Starkbiere, stark gehopfte India Pale Ale und weitere Bierkreationen versprechen ganz neue und besondere Geschmackserlebnisse.
(The range of choice is large: spicy herbal beers, sour lambiks and Geuze variations, robust Starkbiere, strongly hopped IPA and other beer creations that promise an fully new and special taste experience.)​

Dass Bierbrauen nicht nur was für Profis ist, zeigt die Vereinigung der Haus- und Hobbybrauer mit ihrer beliebten Live-Brauvorführung.
(That beer brewing is not only for pros is demonstrated by the Club of Home and Hobbybrewers in their live brewing demo.)​

Die teilnehmenden Brauereien:
(The participating breweries​

- Alzeyer Volkerbräu aus Alzey

- Black Isle Brewery aus Munlochy, Schottland (Scotland)

- Brasserie Trois Dames aus Sainte Croix, Schweiz (Switzerland)

- Braustelle / Freigeist Bierkultur aus Köln

- Bayerischer Bahnhof aus Leipzig

- De Molen aus Bodegraven, Holland

- Fritz Ale aus Bonn

- Hofbrouwerijke aus Beerzel, Belgien

- Lahnsteiner Brauerei aus Lahnstein

- Mc Müllers aus Linnich-Kofferen

- Nomad aus Tschechien (Czech Rep.)

- Oud Beersel aus Belgien


Die Bierhändler Bierkompass und Bierzwerg stellen weitere Brauereien vor.
(The beer dealers Bierkompass und Bierzwerg present further beers.)​

Eintritt: 5,00 € inklusive Festivalglas​

(Entrance fee: 5,00 €, which includes a Festival [commemorative] glass.)​

​

Hope to see y'all there. It's quite easy to get there taking the subway or S-bahn from Köln Hauptbahnhof, afterwhich it's a 4 minute walk to the community center. There'll be NO Kölsch beer here, so if you're looking for that, you can find it in downtown Köln in the Kölsch bars.

Anyone else planning on coming?

 

So, no one wants to join me in Köln in the end of end of May? Or is it too soon to make plans? Or is it too far?
Ok, there's another beer festival, this time in München on March 8 - 10. And there are a lot of brewers attending, mostly German but also from other Euro countries. It's the Braukunst Live 2013.

It's fun to read what they have on their English page describing the reason for the festival:

German beers are famous throughout the world. The number of local breweries is unique, the quality and variety of speciality beers in this country is unmatched.​

On the other side: While other countries since decades (!) enjoy prospering beer specialty markets, a lively public exchange and spectacular national festivals like Stockholm, Copenhagen and Denver, there simply used to be no equivalent to all this in Germany.​

As a result, German beers and brewers are celebrated like rockstars elsewhere – but hardly known to a broader public in their own country.​

This is not only a funny anachronism: this is totally unacceptable. Our mission is to contribute to a substantial change!​

We proved once that we can lead a festival to the very top: by making the FINEST SPIRITS Festival become a cult event, the biggest consumer festival for premium spirits in GER / AUT / SUI and, thus, one of the big shows of this kind in the world.​

Based on a broad experience, a proven track record and supported by important breweries and beer associations, we staged the premiere of “Braukunst Live! Festival” in Munich in April 2012.​

​

The list of participants:
MÜNCHEN:

• Staatl. Hofbräuhaus München (PREMIUM PARTNER)
• CREW AleWerkstatt (Fraunhoferstr.)
• Forschungsbrauerei (Perlach)
• Richelbräu (Neuhausen)

BAYERN:

• Auerbräu (Rosenheim)
• Ayinger
• Bürgerbräu Reichenhall (u.a. mit Alpenstoff)
• Camba Bavaria (PREMIUM PARTNER)
• Gutmann (Titting)
• Jacob (Bodenwöhr)
• Klosterbrauerei Baumburg (Altenmakrt)
• König von Flandern (Augsburg)
• Lammsbräu (Neumarkt/Oberpfalz)
• Georg Lechner (Biermuseum + Autor “Lechner’s Liste”)
• Maxbrauerei (Altenstadt)
• Neuschwansteiner Castle Cru
• Riegele (Augsburg)
• Rittmayer (Hallerndorf)
• Schimpfle / Löschzwerge (Augsburg)
• Schneider Weisse (PREMIUM PARTNER)
• Schönramer (Petting)
• Sitter Bräu, 1. Bier- und Wohlfühlhotel (Bayerischer Wald)
• Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

DEUTSCHLAND:

• Bayerischer Bahnhof (Leipzig)
• Braufactum (Frankfurt)
• Braustelle Köln / Freigeist Bierkultur
• Fritz Ale (NRW)
• Hachenburger Selection (Rheinland-Pfalz)
• Hochdorfer Meistersud (Baden-Württemberg)
• Propeller (NRW)

INTERNATIONAL:

• Braucommune in Freistadt
• Brewfist – Italien
• de Molen – Holland
• Fuller’s – London
• Hofstetten – Österreich (Austria)
• Huisstekerij H.ertie – Belgien (+ NRW, Deutschland)
• Robinsons – UK
• Samuel Smith’s – UK
• St. Austell – UK
• Stift Schlägl – Österreich (Austria)
• Stiegl – Österreich (Austria)
• Trumer Privatbrauerei – Österreich (Austria)

I haven't decided whether I'll be able to make it, but I'm going to do my best to find a way there. Hope some of you can make it here or to Köln.

 

I just bought train tickets to go to München for the Braukunst Live 2013. LungeRehm and I (plus another friend of his) will being hitting the place March 9, so hopefully we'll be able to see you there.

I assume I'll be in Köln for the Festival der Bierkulturen on the Saturday, too. For those who're in Germany, this is well worth visiting. It's not a dopey Bierzelt (beer tent) with drunk idiots (á la Oktoberfest), it's for folks who are really into beer.

 

I said all that above with you in mind. But, you've got to admit the BrauKunst Live Bierfest is cool, eh? Too bad none from R-burg are participating. I'm most interested in drinking the "International" selection, for those are harder to come by here in D-land.

 

Which one? I'll be at both, each time on the Saturday.

 

One more reminder: Braukunst Live! is next weekend. Anyone going? Would love to meet up on Saturday.

Also, Paxbräu said they'll be there too. Only time for you to be able to try his Doppelbock Hell Fosenöchter. He's already sold out the 1,000 liters that was brewed for February.

Others I'm looking forward to is Maisel and Friends, and Fritz Ale.
Here's the full list as of today.
MÜNCHEN

• Brauerei im Eiswerk
• CREW AleWerkstatt (Fraunhoferstr.)
• Forschungsbrauerei (Perlach)
• Staatl. Hofbräuhaus München (PREMIUM PARTNER)

BAYERN

• 1. Dampfbierbrauerei Zwiesel
• Ale Project (Erding)
• Auerbräu (Rosenheim)
• Ayinger
• Bürgerbräu Reichenhall (u.a. mit Alpenstoff)
• Camba Bavaria (PREMIUM PARTNER)
• Drei Kronen (Scheßlitz, Franken)
• Göller (Zeil am Main)
• Gutmann (Titting)
• Eder & Heyland’s / Schlappeseppel
• Hinterhofbräu Aichach
• Hofmark
• Hofmann (Pahres, Franken)
• Hösl (Mitterteich)
• Jacob (Bodenwöhr)
• Klosterbrauerei Andechs
• Klosterbrauerei Baumburg (Altenmakrt)
• Klosterbrauerei Weißenohe
• König Ludwig Schloßbrauerei Kaltenberg
• Lammsbräu (Neumarkt/Oberpfalz)
• Maisel & Friends
• Mittenwalder Privatbrauerei
• Lang Bräu (Franken)
• Georg Lechner (Biermuseum + Autor “Lechner’s Liste”)
• Maxbrauerei (Altenstadt)
• PAX Bräu (Oberelsbach)
• Pyraser Landbrauerei (Thalmässing)
• Rhaner (Schönthal-Rhan)
• Riedenburger Brauhaus
• Riegele (Augsburg)
• Ritter (Nennslingen, Franken)
• Schäffler (Missen)
• Schimpfle / Löschzwerg (Gessertshausen)
• Schloßbrauerei Maxlrain
• Schneider Weisse (PREMIUM PARTNER)
• Schönramer (Petting)
• Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
• Schweiger (Markt Schwaben)
• Schwendl (Tacherting)
• Unertl (Weißbräu, Mühldorf)

DEUTSCHLAND

• Braufactum (Frankfurt)
• BrauKunstKeller (Michlstadt)
• Freigeist Bierkultur, The Monarchy
• Fritz Ale (NRW)
• Hachenburger Selection (Rheinland-Pfalz)
• Hopfenstopfer / Häffner Bräu (Baden-Württemberg))
• Propeller (NRW)
• Ratsherrn (HH)
• Schoppe Bräu (Berlin)

TABAK / ZIGARRE

• Die Dallmayr Tabacladen Cigar Lounge präsentiert (unterstützt von 5th Avenue Products Trading GmbH, dem offiziellen Alleinimporteur von Habanos Cigarren), feinste kubanische sowie die hauseigenen Dallmayr-Zigarren.

Botschafterstände FINEST SPIRITS Festival

• The Duke – Munich Dry Gin
• Mike’s Whiskeyhandel / American Whiskey Academy
• Slow Drink / Munich Spirits

INTERNATIONAL

• Belhaven – Schottland
• Bierregion Innviertel – Österreich
• Bierzauberei – Österreich
• Brauhaus Gusswerk – Österreich
• Brewdog – Schottland
• Brewfist – Italien
• Brygvaerket – Dänemark
• de Molen – Niederlande
• Die Weisse – Österreich
• Fano Bryghus – Dänemark
• Fuller’s – London
• Gratzer – Österreich
• Hofstetten – Österreich
• Jopenkerk – Niederlande
• Kelburn – Schottland
• Loncium – Österreich
• Midtfyns Bryghus – Dänemark
• Orkney – Schottland
• Pilsner Urquell (PREMIUM PARTNER)
• Pivovar Nomád – Tschechien
• Robinsons Unicorn – UK
• Rogue Ales – Oregon/USA
• Samuel Smith’s – UK
• Sierra Nevada – Kalifornien/USA
• St. Austell – UK
• Stiegl – Österreich
• Strathaven – Schottland

 

Part I: Prelude to BKL

Sorry for the delay in writing this up. I thought this would be the best thread for a report on BrauKunst Live! (BKL) since this is where I introduced it.
The trip to München (MH) was an adventure in itself. I was talked into talking the night train from Frankfurt (FfM) to MH, which I'll never do again. The train was supposed to leave the Frankfurt airport at 1:50 am, but was 50 minutes late (They said it was due to someone testing the emergency brakes on the German/Holland border.), so we didn't get on the train until about 3 am. The seats are old (wagons were from the 70s or 80s), stiff and uncomfortable, though they were meant to be "sleeper seats," I got maybe only 2 or 3 hours sleep, then we got into MH around 8 am. Our friend who lives in MH met us at his subway stop, we had breakfast at his apt, then slept till 1 pm. BKL didn't open till 2 pm, and we arrived there at 2:30 pm. They were crowded already when we got there. Here's a few pics. First the ticket, next some of the people I took pics of.


and the more tradional beer folks:

Here are the 3 Musketeers (us with d'Ardagnan as the photographer) at the entrance:

The venue was the MVG Museum, the museum of trams in MH. Nice, open hall, airy full of antique trams.

 

Part II: the Beers not drunk.
No way this is going to be chronological. I took some notes, but it was hard, really hard to write, hold the beer glass and stay standing upright. I had a pen and yellow highlighter with me and highlighted every beer we tried.

There were dozens, no hundreds, of beers I wish I had tried but I didn't have the time, the energy (back, feet, brain hurt) or sobriety to try them all. Here's one's I wish I got gotten around to:

• Birrifico Italiano, Boon's Oude-Geuze,
• Hinterhofbräu's "Jailhouse City Rogg ale,
• Hopfenstopfer/Häffner Bräu's Citra Ale & Jahrgangsbier 2012 (lager),
• Schoppe Bräu's Mandarina IPA, Roggen Roll PA,
• Klosterbrauerei Weißenohe's Virtac Bior (middle age's herbal beer) and their normal German beers,
• Crew Ale's IPA and "Surprise Brew,"
• TUM Weihenstefan Studentbier's BanX-Black Nude (Experimental Ale),
• Jopenkerk Bierbrouwerij's (from Holland) Joppen Hoppenbier and Jopen Koyt (Gruitbeer 1407), Mashing Pumpkins, Spanish Inquisition (Coffee/pepper stout)
• Maxbrauerei's Hopfenschweinerei (Kellerbier)
• Pivovar Nomad's "Gentelman" ale
• Ritter's Ritter 1645 (Märzen)
• Friegeist's Pink Gose, Wilde Wutz (Sour ale)
• The Monarchy's Grätzer, Grodziskie, Son of a Batch Apple Wood, & Son of a Batch Hickory Wood
• Schneider Weisse's Tap X
• Stift Englelszell's (from Austria) Gregorious (Trippel) & Benno (Dubbel)
• Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg (Austria)'s Männerschokolade (Choco stout)
• tons of stuff from Scotland,
• Bürgerbrau Bad Reichenhall's Bayerische Hoppfenvariation Polar (Export with hops)
• Loncium's (Austria) Austrian Amber Ale
• Brauerei Hofstetten's Honigbock and Champoin Bitter (Imperial Pilsner)
• Trappistienbrauerei Engelszell (Austria) Gergorius ( Trappistenbier)
• Weissbrau Schwendl's Schalchner 5-Korn (top-fermented with wheat, barley, dinkel, rye and oats) & Schalchner Weisser Bock (with choco and intensive fruit notes)
• Rogue Ale's entire lineup
• Brauhaus Riegele's Dubbel Eiche (Ripened in oak barrels)

Damn... those sound delicious just writing them up; wish I'd had them.

 

Part III: Beers Drunk

First, forgive me for not taking better notes. I tried juggling a pen, the list of beers, a yellow highlighter to mark the beers I'd had, the glass of beer itself and sometimes 2 glasses. All that while just trying to remain upright and standing.

Schneider Weisse's Tap 5 was very good. As part of the entrance ticket, it was a freebie, so I couldn't turn it down. It was my first Schneider's in quite some time, so I was looking forward to it. It didn't disappoint. It was hoppy, somewhat lemony, only hints of bubblegum, overall very balanced and slightly bitter at the end.

Staatliches Hofbräuhaus München's Eiskalt gehopfter HALLODRI. It says it is a 6% Festbier, very nice with melon and lemon flavors, almost pure Simcoe, but not too much malt. Very good but I'd hoped for something to go with the hops. This was also free as part of the entrance tickets.

Freigeist's Peated Porter was also very interesting. It was full on peaty/malty all over the tongue, not smoked malt, though. I liked it, but maybe only as something to mix it up once in a while, but my friends hated it. It had a thick, silky feel and went down well.

Ratsherren's Iggy Hop was another fun beer. A weizen at 5.6% with Simcoe. Yes, Simcoe-lemony and a little weizen, but it was too dry for me. I enjoyed more talking to a guy from this brewpub in Hamburg, who invited me to stay in the pension above the pub for free when I visit, but I think he was pulling my leg and didn't get his business card.


Fanø Bryghus from Denmark was hit and miss. Their Fanø Havgus was a 2.7% Session IPA but so bitter as to be nearly undrinkable. There weren't many beers I wanted to water the plants with this day, but this was one. Their Oyster Stout also disappointed as it was too thin. However, their Pikkulintu IPA was maybe one of the best of the day. You could taste the Citra and Simcoe hops clear as a bell, and at 11%, the alcohol was really well hidden. A WOW beer.

Gerbrüder Maisel & Friends has 3 I wanted to try, but I only got around to the Mar's Chocolate Stout. Another WOW beer, tasting like dark bitter chocolate melting all over freshly cracked barley, with hints of blackberries. Maybe the best Chocolate Stout in a long long time.

Pivovar Nomad came from the Czech Rep. and I'm glad he did. I wish I could've tried all 5 on offer, but only got the Karel, a “Czech IPA,” which was a 7.6% citrusy wonder, dry hopped with Czech hops, Smaragd I bet. Another WOW.

Pax Bräu was also there I had only 2 of the beers. At first I tried the Salix Ale, the oly one not on the beer calender. It says it was lautered over a wicker basket but I didn't taste anything like that. It was a slightly sour, very well rounded ale, though. The best part was getting to talk to Andreas Seufert. I told him how I had ordered the monthly Abo how much I loved the beer and he said, “You're Tony” and also said my last name. I asked how he knew it. He said he looks at everyone's Facebook who likes Pax, and I was coincidentally wearing the same t-shirt this day that I'm wearing on my FB profile. That's getting to know every customer, eh.

I really wanted to try the Imperial Peppermint Stout from Pax, but he told me we couldn't drink it until 6 pm because he needed to finish up the keg of another beer first. I cajoled him without success, but at 6 pm I wasn't disappointed. It really tasted like an After Eight chocolate, only better because of the beer/malt flavors added in. WOW WOW. I asked how he added the mints, either as dry hop or extract. He said he just dumped in “eine Menge Blätter,” or “bunch of leaves” in the boil. This was my favorite beer of the day, really. It was thick, silky, smoth, and hid the 6.8% really well.
I bought a Pax Bräu t-shirt, too.
-----> Will continue later -------->

 

For more pics, or at least professional pics, go here to BrauKunst Live! page.
Or at neubierig.de. & here.