Görlitz beer from the Landskron Brau-Manufaktur (Brewery Manufactory) – we went on a journey of discovery through the brewery and, of course, tasted lots of beer.
Beer is actually brewed everywhere according to a uniform process. According to the German Purity Law, the ingredients are always hops, malt, water and yeast. Nevertheless, it is always exciting to go on a discovery tour in the breweries and we always learn something new. In Görlitz we saw open fermentation for the first time.
A brief history of the brewery
It was 1869 when the Prussian king approved the construction of a brewery in Görlitz. It was not long before the then Görlitzer Aktien Brauerei began brewing beer. By 1872 there was already a beer garden with almost 3000 seats.
Despite difficult conditions during the First World War, when the malt and the horses were confiscated, the company managed to keep going. Corn was now used to produce beer.
Walther Scheller managed the company from 1928 to 1946. During the Second World War, the Wehrmacht used the long cellar corridors for its armament production. The production of beer was hardly possible, but the raspberry barrel soda, which is still popular today, could be produced and saved the company.
In 1959, the state acquired a stake in the Landskron Brauerei Scheller & Co. KG. In 1972, the company was completely nationalised and continued as a state-owned enterprise.
Since 1991, the brewery has again been brewed according to the German Purity Law and one year later the Scheller family took over the company again. In 2003, the family sold the brewery to the Holsten Group, and in 2004 the ownership changed again (Karlsberg Group).
In 2006, the brewery was sold to Rolf Lohbeck’s family foundation. Today, about 100 employees work in the brewery, producing 12 different beers.
Where did the Landskron brewery get its name?
The name of the Landskron Brau-Manufaktur is derived from the Görlitz landmark, the Landeskrone. The Landeskrone is the highest point in the city and a popular destination for excursions.
The brewery has borne the name since 1882, when the name Landskron Bier was patented.
The brewery grounds
The buildings of the Landskron Brau-Manufaktur are now an industrial monument. Since production still takes place here, it is one of the oldest producing industrial monuments in Germany. The still preserved fermentation rooms from 1869 are listed.
The former engine house has been a modern visitor centre since 2019. Here you can not only find a beer bar and a shop with various beer-related products, you can also visit a small exhibition. Those who have booked a brewery tour start their tour at the visitor centre.
The buildings on the brewery grounds are clad in red brick on the outside. Each building serves a specific purpose in beer production. For example, there is the old malt house, which is no longer used for malt production, a brewhouse and the buildings for bottling and storage.
One building in particular stands out on the tour of the grounds, the beautiful factory owner’s villa. This is where the administration is located today and where the beer tasting takes place in rustic rooms at the end of the tour. But more about that later.
Landskron Kulturbrauerei offers numerous live events that attract large numbers of visitors.
Film location brewery
Görlitz is not called “Görliwood” for nothing. Countless film scenes have been shot in the city. The brewery is no exception.
The alley in front of the brewhouse was transformed into the harbour of New York. In the film “Around the World in 80 Days”, Jackie Chan as Passepartout/Lau Xing demonstrates his fighting skills here and, of course, gets into mortal danger.
The open hand-guided brewing process
During our tour on a guided tour of the premises and with a look behind the scenes, you learn a lot about brewing beer.
In a “museum section” you can see old copper kettles that were used for brewing in the past. Today they use modern stainless steel tanks.
Something very special for us, in the Landskron Brau-Manufaktur they brew with open hand-guided fermentation. Every fortnight, huge tanks are filled in which the beer ferments. We were lucky and the vats were full when we visited. Each vat holds about 600 hectolitres.
The mixture of hops, malt, water and yeast bubbles and simmers for about 7 days. A white foam forms on which brown hop resin stains can be seen. This is removed manually with a spoon. The resulting gases are pumped out by special exhaust systems.
The young beer produced here is pumped out and stored in 12-metre-deep cellars for about 40 days, depending on the type of beer.
The beer tasting at the end of the tour
At the end of the brewery tour, you are invited to taste the Landskron beer. Don’t worry, if you still have to drive or don’t like beer at all, you can drink the brewery’s own Fassbrause or an Apfelradler. These have been big sellers for many years.
We stuck to the beer and tried some of the varieties.
Kellerbier
First I drank the Kellerbier, an unfiltered Zwickel beer. The beer has an alcohol content of 5.2 %vol. and an original wort of 12.2 %. The bottom-fermented full beer has a slightly cloudy matt gold colour and a creamy head.
I thought the beer smelled slightly fruity and a little malty. In terms of taste, you initially have the feeling that you are drinking a rather soft beer, only in the finish do you taste the somewhat bitter hops.
Pupen-Schultzes Schwarzes
The Pupen-Schultzes is a brewing speciality. As the name suggests, there is something in the beer in addition to the usual ingredients. In this case, it is sweeteners.
The brewery speciality contains only 3.8%vol alcohol and has an original wort of 9.8%. The Pupen-Schultzes Schwarzes is very dark, almost ebony in colour. The foam is rather creamy and very fine-pored. I was surprised by the taste of the beer. You can clearly taste the malt sweetness, the beer speciality is hardly bitter.
Landskron Weizen
Patrick is a self-confessed wheat beer fan. Of course, he tried the Landskron Weizen and found it really very good. I only tried a small sip and found the beer very pleasant and soft to the taste. It smelled wonderfully of banana.
The wheat has an alcohol content of 5.5% vol. and an original wort of 12.8%. The amber-coloured beer shows a clear cloudiness in the glass.
Bernstein Red Ale
One day before our brewery tour, I made a quick stop at the visitor centre at the end of a bike tour and drank the Bernstein Red Ale. For me, it was the best beer I drank from Landskron Brau-Manufaktur that weekend.
The beer has an alcohol content of 5.4%vol. and an original wort of 14%. The ale has a beautiful clear amber colour. The foam is somewhat cream-coloured. When I smelled the beer, the first thing that hit my nose was a smell of roasted almonds. Surely this comes from the malt used, which also causes the beautiful colour.
In terms of taste, I had the feeling that the beer was a little more carbonated and the hops could hardly be tasted. I found the beer to be pleasantly soft and very drinkable.
Premium Pilsner
Back at the visitor centre at the end of the tour, we had a bockwurst and a last beer of the day. Patrick now also tried the amber, while I drank the straw-yellow Premium Pilsner.
With an alcohol content of 4.8% vol. and an original wort of 11.6%, the beer was the perfect end to the day. It is drinkable and has a fine, malty taste, just like a real Pilsner should taste.
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