German craft beer

BraufactuM has had a cooler in Galeria Kaufhof Hannover since early 2011.

For the first couple of years there were a couple of girls who occasionally gave out free samples of the beer.

Has anyone seen anything similar in other places where BraufactuM have a stand?

 

No free samples, but in 2011 I think some staff with "knowledge", meaning some cards with descritptions, giving really bad advice to costumers. They clearly never tasted those beers properly, which is a shame, because how do you want to communicate the quality of a product without having experienced it?
It is like a vegan server at a steakhouse........

 

It would appear as if quite a few of the newer breweries popped up in the North (particularly Berlin and Hamburg). I think quite a few of the Bavarian breweries already existed prior to them turning their eyes to craft, as did a few others (like Häffner/Hopfenstopfer). I would actually be very much interested in seeing their pubs, haven't gotten to any of those so far.

I have tried BrewBaker's Berliner Weisse, though. Not bad but I think it's a style that you have to be into given its sourness. Not sure whether there's much complexity to get out of that kinda style, either.

 

The BrewBaker Berliner Weisse was the only traditional Berlin style I saw being served at the recent Berlin Craft Beer Festival. The two dozen or so other beers brewed by the new Berlin breweries were pale ales, IPAs, DIPAs, RISs (or some pils, helles, export). Looks as though Stone will be continuing in that trend.

 

I think Berlinerweisse, good ones, can be very complex. Poor ones just taste like sour, watery lacto

 

Personally, I have yet to have what I would consider a "good" one from a U.S. brewery. I have high hopes for Bogk's version, but it seems all but impossible to get ahold of.

 

Huh, do you have any recommendations in that area?

Well, those are pretty much the trend styles so I guess that's not too surprising.

 

Nope. Nor is it too innovative or creative.

 

Not sure whether I'd necessarily say so for these trend styles. There are certainly some breweries that bring something interesting to the table like incorporating mostly German hops and malts or trying a hybrid between German ingredients and the usual suspects in U.S. variants but I have no idea how many of those are out there. I think the best German IPA I've tried so far has been Braukunstkeller's Amarsi. Then again, I'd also question how "innovative" correlates with "good" (whatever that may mean to the drinker). Not sure how "innovative" SNPA is, I'd still take it over most German PA and IPAs.

 

Just thinking that with such a long and storied brewing tradition as you have in Berlin (the article references 100 breweries in 1900), more of these brewers would find the time to explore traditional (lost) styles...as well as the multiple variations within those styles.

 

I honestly don't know, I'd guess there are certainly brewers out there who would like to do something like that but they are possibly questioning to which degree it would be feasible. I mean, some of them may actually do that - just not for sale to the general public. I mean it's not like this phenomenon is restricted to Berlin. Bavaria seems to be only region where brewing has remained somewhat stable over the centuries.

 

try the "hans müller backbonesplitter",if you havent yet.
it overtook amarsi as my fave german ipa

 

Will do, I have been pondering trying that one. Thanks for the rec.

 

Anything from De Garde's Bu series (berlinerweisse inspired) though they are all spontaneously fermented, are wonderful!

 

I have a friend here who used to live in Oregon, and he loves De Garde. I heard they are having problems with people hoarding beers at releases recently, so I doubt they'd be easy to come by.

Must make it to Oregon someday sooner rather than later....

 

I think back in the day SNPA was probably rather innovative, the fact that I will still happily drink some, and that I agree I would take it over most, probably all, German IPAs does say something too.
Alemania makes some good stuff, but I have found them all over the place as far as quality and consistency.

The Amarsi is good, but I am rather perturbed/would love an explanation on the 14€ bottles of their ba beers with wood block/wax and seeing it as little more than profiteering am not buying anything from them. Shit that is more than the stupidly priced Hair of the Dog 35.5 cl bottles in the US.

 

September 12 this year would be a good weekend... I am admittedly biased, but if you make it there will surely be 2-3 De Garde beers on tap and I can guarantee getting you more.
Brews for New Avenues
And it depends on the beers and hoarding, but I think they effectively just killed that. This weekends release is rsvp/ticketed and you are guaranteed 1 bottle, and are only allowed to buy 1 bottle, of each beer being released.
The next day beers will be on sale again at a limit of 1/person.
So someone could get 3 bottles, in theory, by driving 90minutes out to Tilamook three days in a row, if supplies last.

 

That's probably true, but there's always kind of a time component to "innovation". I just think being "original" and "innovative" is somewhat overrated - same thing goes for music - a topic in which I've had that discussion quite a few times. Haven't yed had any Alemania products.

Oh, I definitely agree with that. So far the Amarsi was also the only thing I ever bought from them. What's Hair of the Dog?

 

lol, i got their rum BA,but im gonna let it sit a few more months.
amarsi price is o.k though