Berlin – Das Bier Kapital

Arriving late last night in Berlin from Athena, Marg and Hector managed to get up to Bräugier in Prenzlauer Berg at one minute to midnight. Three new NEIPAs were on the board, however, knowing that a not so late night was required, it was straight into the God-Damn Zilla! (DIPA).

We sat at the bar, Brian was not in his usual spot. Colin was sat at the window, doing what he does. When that company departed, I was taken aback to find him standing right beside me. It had taken him a while to clock that we were there. He knew we were coming back to Berlin sometime soon, I had maintained the element of surprise. We were introduced to Bruna, Colin’s lady. Thomas, the opera singer whom we spent a pleasant evening with last year also joined us. This is how it is at Bräugier.

The talk last night was of the new premises at Ostkreuz. Open on Saturdays presently, they hope to be fully up and running by mid November. Indian Streetfood will be a key feature of the operation, but run by others.

Colin asked what other venues I planned to visit. Protokoll is my second favourite Berlin venue. Colin said he and Bruna were – going to a party – there this evening, we should meet up later.

Where is Marg? – I asked on a social medium today, only one person got it.

This afternoon was all about enjoying the city. An Italian lunch at Vesuvio (Starusberger Platz) in the heart of the former Ost Berlin (DDR) was followed by the ritual visit to the Brandenburg Gate.

Marg said she wanted to walk in a park. Unter den Linden provided the solution, but not before Hector paid homage to the two T34s parked up at the WW2 monument.

The years remain 1941 – 1945. Russia and Germany were allies between 1939 and 1941. Then UK/USA became allies with Russia. Later, Germany became a founder member of the EC/EU which the UK joined eventually, before leaving. Brexit, who thought that one up? Russia had become the USSR by absorbing all peripheral nations. They eventually seceded to leave Russia alone. Russia has gas, UK used to have North Sea gas. Now we all have Koronawirus. Hector likes T34s, the design of which influenced the Panzerkampfwagen V (Panther). So it goes.

The walk along Unter den Linden took us to the Zoological Gardens. Marg prefers animals to tanks. Our pathway was along the outside fence of the Zoo, this sufficed, animals were spotted. We saw – sheep – in a Zoo? This is a zebra.

Eventually, it was Bier o’clock, or so I thought. An RE across the city would get us to Ostkreuz faster than the S Bahn, we were ticketed for all. The delayed RE made Marg question my logic. I don’t think she appreciated how many stops we avoided by taking the train.

As described, Bräugier-Ostkreuz is directly outside the station to the north. But we weren’t going there yet. Marg felt that her lunch had caused her to miss the promised – Kaffee und Kuchen. Google showed many a Coffee Shop, all but one due to close at 17.00, it was 16.50. We found – the one – which would still be open, it was closed, for renovation. Retracing our steps back towards Ostkreuz Bahnhof, coffee was secured, no cake, Bad Hector.

At Bräugier-Ostkreuz a temporary bar had been erected at what will be, in time, the site of an open window. No, we couldn’t sit inside. No we couldn’t pay by card.

(In the last eleven days in Greece and Deutschland, I have spent less than €20.00 in cash.)

A cola for Marg, a Poor But Hoppy (APA) for Hector. It was too early for more God-Damn Zilla! The Poor But Hoppy was better than I remembered it, despite the plastic cup.

Moments after we had taken our seats at an outside table, Colin and Bruna arrived. This was not by chance. They stuck to bottled Bier which Bräugier has an abundance of. It’s a Covid connected story. They ordered the Spicy Chicken Burger which I had assumed would be a Chapli Kebab. Alas, no, too chunky. One assumes/hopes there will be more on offer soon.

I had half recognised Ostkreuz Bahnhof on arrival, never having done so in daylight.

Straßenbräu cannot be far from here? – I put to Colin. It was indeed round the corner. He also mentioned – Home – run by an English couple further up the same street. Home – has been on my list of places to visit, I hadn’t realised its proximity to Straßenbräu. Hops and Barley ain’t too far either, so having a Bräugier outlet here is classic complementary competition.

We took our leave, Protokoll later. Straßenbräu has been transformed. The brew-plant has been relocated out of town. This means much more, and comfortable seating. It also makes the venue the Brewery Tap, – The Source – still.

Juicy And I Kno’Wit at a modest 4.9% had the appearance of being – in the style. Fruity and Juicy, a bit thin, an OK Bier. Hommelsap, remains the best I have had from Straßenbräu.

Home was set up like a living room. Has someone been to Piwna Stopa (Poznan)? The board did not excite. I told the Irish barman that I was hoping for NEIPA. Newcastle Brown – on tap – almost tempted, but I’ve had that in Berlin previously. Gold Plank (Eschenbräu) it would be. There’s little likelihood of us going up to Wedding this trip, so perhaps my only chance for one of theirs?

Marg and I sat in comfy chairs at the rear of the establishment. It’s Halloween, we discussed if the chap at the adjacent table was guising or cross dressing.

A tram took us a couple of stops along to Protokoll, one of the two Taps for Zagovor (Russia) in Berlin.

The place was stowed. Not only were we Vaccine checked as we have been on entering every establishment, we had to show ID to match the certification. We were then given a wristband. The staff therefore had total control over who was in the bar, getting served and numbers. Colin had kept us seats, well one. Kitkat Man – as Marg would call him, vacated his, Hector was sorted.

Colin and Bruna stuck mostly to drinking bottled Bräugier. Do they have stashes across the city? Marg wanted Rum with loadsa cola, Hector needed many hands. There was no sign of – Against Milk, the – NE Milkshake IPA – that became the focal point of visits here in 2020.

Fractal (NEIPA) at 6.5% looked like the sensible starting point. After that which had preceded it, this Bier took a while to settle on the palate. In time the hops and fruitiness came through. There was more.

Bruna’s sister, Bianca, sat at the other end of the table with her friend, Marion. A very Brasilian company this evening. Marg marvelled at some of the costumes being worn this evening, especially by the staff. The tall lady who served me was wearing a particularly daring outfit, Hector the innocent didn’t clock this, too busy studying the Board.

Bier-Traveller – may be a self appointed moniker, however, this and the website does make for a bit of notoriety. Michel at Protokoll was formally introduced

I was later introduced to Tom, founder of Vagabund in Wedding (library photo), and sporting a ridiculous black wig tonight. I took the opperchancity to tell him that his recent offerings have not impressed as much as earlier brews. When the palate favoured IPA and APA, Vagabund Biers were fine, indeed I bough the t-shirt. To date, he has not brewed anything with the dry hopping required to produce an NEIPA. I showed him the various entries on Bier-Traveller.com, we found a photo of him in the background from back in 2016. Hector’s pedigree was established.

A chap I had seen behind the bar at Straßenbräu was also introduced, another brewer whose name escaped me (update 17.02.2022 – Fabian). I assumed he was the brewer, everyone else coming to the table was. Again, I was able to remind him of how his establishment has been recorded on Bier-Traveller. The new layout will be incorporated as this Blog is updated. There’s as much chance of that happening as Porcupine Tree touring again, some may say. However, there’s something mysterious going on in terms of the latter.

At some point, Hector moved up a gear to – Hazy Leaks – (NEIPA) at 6.7%. again, a full on milkshake, but this definitely had – it. The Bier sat on the palate, bursting with tropical fruitiness and there were – no nasties. DIPA and TIPA would be ignored this evening. This Zagovor Bier is what Hector sought, a fine Session Bier to be getting on with. In the end, I decided that this was the Bier for today.

The party was in full swing, photographs of everyone with everyone else. Without photos it’s difficult to remember who one has met. And next time I meet Tom, the photo to remind us we have been in each other’s company will be better than than hazy one first shown.

The clocks go back tonight, party on!