Beer, Bars & Brewers #8

No hoptical illusion here (ha), it’s April and it’s hailing. Nothing left to do but buckle up and get on with it, this week in beer news: Radeberger releases gluten-free beer that’s produced with a special strain of barley.German craft brewers unite to form a new type of company, while alcohol-free beer is gaining in popularity. And Jerusalem-based Herzl Brewery made a “biblical” beer that’s as close to Jeezy as you might ever be.

Fan of Italian beer? Around in Berlin this Saturday, April 30th? Then don’t miss the opening of Italian craft beer bar Birra in Prenzlauer Berg. Expect brews from Birrificio Lambrate and more.

Alcohol-free Beers rising in Popularity

In the span of one year, from 2014 to 2015, the percentage of alcohol free-beer produced in Germany rose from 5,4% to 5,6%. Additionally, German brewers produced 1.2 million hectoliters of malt beer, which adds up to a total of 96 million liters of alcohol-free brews produced over the last twelve months. According to about drinks, every 15th liter of beer produced in Germany is free of alcohol. The most popular styles are the classic alcohol-free Pils and Wheat Beer and alcohol-free mixed beer like the ‘Radler’ has gained 30% in sales in 2015. The German Brewer’s Association supports this trend, managing director Holger Eichele says “The days of alcohol-free berving only being drunk by drivers are long gone. Instead, alcohol-free has become a lifestyle beverage that’s have became popular with many athletes”. Though one might argue that one of beer’s most powerful brewers, Mikkeler, still enjoys his beer with alcohol post race…

Die Neue Bierkultur GmbH: the Antidote to Competitive Thinking

Last week seven brewers and beer enthusiasts came together to merge into one friendly unit. Die Neue Bierkultur GmbH is made up of And Union, BRLO, CREW Republic, Jeroen Bosch, Maisel & Friends, and Stiegl. The company’s goal is to increase the availability of craft beer, specifically by making it easier for beverage wholesalers, gastronomers, and hotels to acquire said beer. All brewers remain independent and autonomous but offer their clients the advantage of a 60+ beer range. 

Radeberger releases Gluten Free Beer

Two weeks ago, the “first ever gluten-free beer marketed in Germany” was released. Radeberger produced the beer with the Kebari barley variety, which “was developed by scientists in Australia, and has a gluten content of less than 5 parts per million (ppm), well below the limit of 20 ppm recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for classification as gluten-free”. Though this isn’t the first gluten-free beer, it is the first that’s brewed with barley (other gluten free beers are usually made with rice, millet, maize, or sorghum) which means that it can officially be sold as “beer” under the German purity law. Though the Radeberger Kebari’s gluten amount is well within WHO’s limits, Australia and New Zealand’s stricter rules won’t allow for it to be marketed as gluten free, which is why producers are looking to export their barley strain.

Jerusalem-based Brewery Creates ‘Biblical Beer’

Jesus might have turned water into wine but who cares about that, when you can enjoy beer that might just taste similar to one brewed 2,000 years ago? Jerusalem-based Herzl Brewery “took what scientists claim is the type of grain used in beer production in the holy region 2,000 years ago to create the Biblical brew”. Don’t get too excited though, the beer is not set for distribution as, The Drinks Business notes, owner Itai Gutman and his buddies managed to empty nearly the entire 20 liter production. One bottle remains with no plans to make more. The 3% flat brew is said to be rich in honey and berry flavors “The experiment, which used the special grain donated by the University of Tel Aviv, was simply about ‘being able to come up with the first biblical’ beer, rather than selling it, said Gutman”.