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A trip to Radeberg and a visit to the brewery just belong together. As part of our research trip to Radeberg, we, too, visited the Export Beer Brewery Radeberg.
Continue Reading about A trip to the Export Beer Brewery Radeberg
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Beer tasting in the North – Flensburg’s beers
A short trip to the north of Germany brought us to Flensburg. Of course, this also had to include a beer tasting to try Flensburg’s beers.
Flensburg’s brewery is not far from the old town. Beers have been brewed here since 1888.
A light pilsner and a dark beer were the first two kinds of beer that were manufactured here. The brewery continued brewing beer even during the Second World War, despite some difficulties. After the war, it was given the status “Official NAAFI Brewery” and was allowed to continue brewing. However, the precious lager was only handed out to members of the allied forces whereas the German people were only given the lesser, light whey beer.
The Brewery expanded their range in 1950: Flensburg Export, Bock Strong beer, Ouick (a fruit juice), Doppelbock and Export Pils. The distribution of the beer was regulated by anti-trust laws. They were allowed to sell their beers from the Danish border to the Kiel Canal, including the North Frisian Islands. Individuals were allowed to bring their own jugs to the brewery and purchase their beer directly but over time this practice was replaced by selling beers in bottles. They used steinie bottles with clip-locks that were sold in wooden boxes of 24 bottles each.
Initiated by Hans Dethleffsen the brewery went through drastic changes in 1974. The company expanded beyond the Kiel Canal and became a well-known brand. The bottle with the clip-locks remained their signature feature. After the release of the “Werner” comic, in which the main character consumes the beer out of the characteristic bottles, the beverage became well known far beyond their previous sales territory and target group.
Flensburg beer – our test
Before our test began we sat out to purchase as many different beers as possible. Fortunately, many shops in Flensburg stock a great variety of beers.
And these aren’t even all of the different kinds of beer that are brewed in the Flensburg brewery. But enough for a first test.
My personal favourite was the spring bock beer, pleasantly smooth and light in taste. As a contrast, I tried the dark beer which was a bit too heavy for me.
The wheat beer I didn’t like at all. I know other wheat beers that I, personally, like a lot better.
The Flensburg mixed beer (Radler = beer with lemonade) was really tasty, a fantastic summer drink. I shall go and pick up some bottles of that when I am back home.
All in all, we liked it, the Flensburg beer!
If you’d like to learn more about brewing in Flensburg you can join a guided tour through the brewery. Unfortunately, one has to sign up for a tour way in advance which is not really possible during a spontaneous trip to Flensburg. That means that I will have to come back a second time!
Fans of the brand can pick up all sorts of merchandise products in the “Plop-Shop”. Happy shopping!
Werbung
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Address:
Flensburger Brauerei Emil Petersen GmbH & Co KG
Munketoft 12
D-24937 Flensburg
Guided brewery tour:
call to book about four weeks in advance
Monday to Friday between 08.00 and 17.00: 0049 (0) 461863 122
Or send an email to brauereibesuch@flens.de
Opening hours and ticket prices for the brewery tour
Monday to Friday between 10.00 and 14.00, 9.50€ per person
Monday to Friday, 18.00, 12.50€ per person
Saturday, 10.00 (between May and September only) 12.50€ per person
Plop-Shop
Near the brewery entrance
Opening Hours Monday to Friday
11.00 – 13.00 and 15.00 – 17.00
Almost an insider tip: Stone Brewing-Berlin
Update: The Stone Brewing closed in Summer 2019. Now you can visit Brew Dog in this location!
The Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens is still an insider tip in Berlin. A brewery with a restaurant was created right in the centre of the Marienpark in Berlin. We visited it and were enthused.
History of the brewery
Greg Koch and Steve Wagner opened the Stone Brewery in California in 1996. By now, their business grew to be the eighth biggest craft beer brewery in the United States. Stone Brewing made a name for itself. A tasty, mostly hop centred beer. This is good beer and its creation is a craft!
130 locations in 9 countries were reviewed and then rejected before Greg Koch and his team made the decision to come to Berlin. The premises of a former gas plant with its historic buildings offered and still offer the ideal location for Stone Brewing-Berlin. It has enough space for a 100 hectolitre brewhouse, a warehouse for bottling, packaging and distribution, for storage, event venues, a garden and a restaurant.
The brewery started operating in 2015 and the restaurant was opened in 2016.
A tour through the brewer
What is a visit to a brewery without a tour? Stone Brewing-Berlin also offers regular tours through their brewery that can be booked through their website. On this website, they also state the times and the prices for the tours. We were invited to be part of the 45-minute tour and were led into the sanctuary of brewing: to the brewing kettles!
This is where we were introduced to the art of brewing. Which are the essential ingredients of a beer according to the German Purity Law, how are they treated and what must never go into a beer. We also learned a lot about beers that are not brewed in line with the German Purity Law. There are, for example, craft beers, that get their distinct tastes from some special ingredients. These are exactly the beers that are made at the Stone Brewery-Berlin.
Down a steep staircase, we went to the silvery, shiny beer kettles of the brewery. Every kettle has its own special function in the brewing process – and only after the beer has undergone the process that lasts multiple days it can finally be bottled. The speciality of this brewery is that it does not only fill the beer into bottles, cans or metal barrels, but also fills it into wooden barrels to let it mature. The barrels were filled with alcoholic beverages before and their smell and the taste of the wood become part of the beer. The beer develops a special aroma.
The first brew of this brewery was started in 2015 and the annual production volume is around 35.000 hectolitres these days. The end of the tour is, of course, a beer tasting to get to know some of the specialities of Stone Brewing-Berlin.
Visit the restaurant
A 2400m² restaurant was opened in 2016 under the name Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Berlin. It doesn’t look like a typical brewery to me. The guest room is large, well lit and in a modern design. Little arrangements of very comfortable seats and tables in different sizes are cleverly dotted around the room. Trees and artificial lawn evoke the feeling of sitting in a beer garden. In warmer weather, an actual beer garden is set up in front of the building so that everyone can find just the right spot for them.
I am excited about the giant beer tap at the bar. Up to 75 different beers go into the customer’s glasses straight from the tap. The selection of beers from the tap changes almost daily. There are seasonal beers, guest beers from other breweries and of course the typical Stone Beers. Checking the menu on the day of our visit got my beer-loving heart beating a little faster. I found Pale Ale, India Pale Ale, Belgian beers, sour beer, herb beers and dark beers. Good thing that glasses as small as 0.1l can be ordered; that makes it easier to taste more.
A good beer goes well with good food. The menu at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens Berlin is very varied. Starters like BBQ Pulled Pork Filo Dough Spring Roll or Stone Style South American Ceviche are on the menu. The mains are like a journey around the world – from Fish & Chips to Korean Style Pork Ribs with apricot: only the most exciting dishes make their way on to the menu. We got to try a few dishes and I was happy with them. It’s not the standard brewery food that can be very greasy and heavy at times. We were served balanced meals of high quality. We liked it!
Stone Brewing meets Opera
A special project premieres at Stone Brewing – Berlin in 2018: Klassik@StoneBerlin. Starting in March 2018 a mix of opera, jazz, folk, cabaret, Latin American or baroque music can be enjoyed together with craft beer and delicious food. We got a little sneak peek into the project Opera@Stone. From late May to early July the opera “La Bohème” will be on stage. The plan sees more than 60 musicians and singers from the Berlin Street Choir involved, directed by Andrew Dickinson and conducted by Elda Laro. During our visit we got to learn about the origins of the project and we heard 4 fantastic singers perform pieces from the history of opera. I am still amazed by this little taster that we got to enjoy before we get to see the actual show in the future.
Address:
Im Marienpark 23
12107 Berlin
Germany
Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday: 12.00 – 24.00
Sunday: 10.00 – 22.00
From City of Vodka to City of Beers? What do you drink in Krakow?
Talking to locals one is under the impression that Krakow is indeed a vodka city. But over time, Krakow developed a vibrant beer culture that cannot be ignored. So, is Krakow now a City of Beers? The vodka scene in Krakow is diverse and varied. Many varieties, from Wyborowa, Chopin and Sobieski to Soplica or wisent vodka. The wisent vodka, 40% alcohol, is consumed through a grass straw to give it a very distinct taste. The steppe grass that grows in Poland turns this vodka into something truly special.
On our food tour through Krakow, we tasted some exquisite vodkas. Between the pure taste and the flavoured varieties in the Bistro Café Bar Trójkat, I found quite a few flavours that I liked.
Vodka varieties
Tasting prepared
We found ourselves in bars quite a few times after dinner, where we had pure vodka or vodka shots for 1€ each.
Just right for the stomach after the good food we had in Krakow.
Werbung
Krakow, City of Beers
We noticed a constant change in Krakow that transformed it from a City of Vodka to a City of Beers. A vibrant craft-beer scene is on the rise in the city. Little pubs that serve a multitude of interesting beers can be found all over the city.
By accident, we stumbled upon a hip scene on a seemingly pretty shabby property. But it is here, where an array of taverns, restaurants and pubs found a home. Deckchairs and benches cover the area and sometimes it is impossible to know which chairs belong to which establishment. But in fact that doesn’t even matter. You’d like something that A doesn’t serve, go get it at B and sit down at C. No one cares if “their” chairs are only used by “their” customers.
We faced a tough decision at the bar. 25 different craft beers at reasonable prices. All you can do is give some of them a try. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes not so much. I went for a cherry beer. Tangy, bitter, red.
Near the Vistula, we found our favourite pub. We still don’t know if “pub” is the best word to describe it. It offers 12 different craft beers, slow food and skateboards. We enjoyed all of their flavours except for two. We thoroughly enjoyed their 5er tray. A tray with 5 different beers in 0.25 l glasses served on a skateboard.
Craft Beer
Craft Beer - selection
The different colours of the beers were spectacular, and the different flavours catered to all tastes. From dark and bitter beers to soft, almost fruity tastes. Really tasty.
Prices for beers in Krakow, even after all our trips to different countries, remain unbeaten at 1 – 1.50€ per glass.
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Address:
Miejscówka
Józefińska 4
30-529 Krakau
