European Beer News (Issue 22)

by Jim Dykstra

New Year, New Beer

Escondido-based Stone Brewing, the first American craft brewer to build an operate a brewery in Europe, began selling beer on December 7. The brewery, housed in Berlin, is contributing to a rising tide in German beer drinking where the Reinheitsgebot takes a backseat to experimentation.

"We've always looked across the pond as, 'That's where the real beer comes from,' said Stone founder Greg Koch. "And now people are looking to the United States and the craft brewing culture we've developed here, and saying, 'Wow. That beer over there in the U.S. ... that's pretty awesome. We want some of that, too.'"

This perceived change in preference is supported by a K&I Brand Research study, which shows the Bavarian purity law to be "increasingly irrelevant" to young consumers. In the study, 60 percent of the over-60 demographic identified the Reinheitsgebot as "very important," compared to only 25 percent for participants under 30 years of age.

Come Together

In the true collaborative spirit of brewing, a Jewish microbrewery joined forces with German craft brewer CREW Republic to make beer. Herzl Beer, inspired by an exhibit from the Jewish Museum of Munich entitled "Beer is the Wine of This Land," will work in tandem with CREW to make a beer to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reinheitsgebot, passed into law in 1516.

“We are currently working on the recipe in communication with the guys in CREW Republic and in February, my partner and me will arrive in Munich and start the brewing process," said Herzl co-founder Maor Helfman. "The beer will be ready for consumption by April, in time for the Reinheitsgebot anniversary exhibition at the museum."

Top Photo Courtesy: Stone Brewing Co., Bottom: Herzl Beer