Protokoll Taproom – Berlin

Brewery  –   Zagovor / Protokoll

House  –  Taproom

Address  – Boxhanger Str, 110 10245 Berlin

Date of first visit  –   September 9^th, 2020

Most recent visit  – October 7^th, 2024

Ruhetag  –  open daily from 16.00, Saturdays from 14.00

URL – http://protokollberlin.de/

Located in Friedrichshain in the former East Berlin, Protokoll is a few minutes walk from Frankfurter Tor U Bahn station.

Protokoll is owned, as told by the chaps at Bräugier, by the Zagovor Brewery (Russia).

With twenty four taps, there is something for everyone.

Protokoll came highly recommended, the first of two visits, weeks apart, in September 2020 lived up to expectation. The diversity of Bier styles impressed, as did the choice of Milkshake-stye IPAs. By 2022, Hector was being recognised by the staff on entry, Halloween in 2021 being the night of big introductions. Michel is a hoot, hugs on every visit. His music choices intrigue, how many CDs has Hector ordered whilst sitting here? Rachel appears to be ever-present, no hugs as yet.

In the more recent brews, the Zagovor label appears to be less prominent, in favour of – Protokoll, the latest brews coming from the Spandau complex.

The music is played at a decent volume, none of the electro-noise of Hopfenreich.  Turkish band – She Past Away – were first encountered here, a worthy addition to Hector’s CD collection. Shoegaze – is a popular style of music played here, great sounds, and the staff are always happy to write down the more obscure tracks which apps cannot recognise, e.g. Hangman’s Chair, Wooden Shyips..

Food is occasionally served at Protokoll, as yet untried. To date, it has been about the excellent Bier:

Against Milk 6.5%  –  Zagovor (Russia)

NE Milkshake IPA

Full of the flavour and lactose, this lived up to the dream, a truly excellent Bier.

*

*

*

Bitter End  8.3%  –  Zagovor (Russia)

DDH DNEIPA

Approaching a Milkshake, this was surprisingly thin for the abv.

Good, not overwhelming.

*

*

Hot Wax  8.5%  –  Zagovor (Russia)

DNEIPA

A full on Milkshake but spoiled by the taste of the alcohol coming through strongly.

*

*

*

Algorithm Coconut 13.9%  –  Zagovor (Russia)

Imperial Milk Stout

Full on flavours, a big coconut hit on top of chocolate.

A – goodnight – Bier.

*

*

*

Stamp of Approval   8.0%  Zagovor (Russia)

DNEIPA

Full on milkshake, body, and – the taste -with a hint of the nasty hop, but not enough to spoil.

Smalti  8.0%  Zagovor (Russia)

DNEIPA

Yellow, a haze, but never a DIPA other than abv says so.

Dry, hoppy, but not what Stamp of Approval offered.

Citra Double IPA  8.5%  Protokoll

DIPA

West Coast

Yellow, slight haze, not Rowing Jack (Ale Browar, Polska), but beyond Green Devil (Oakham, England).

Nothing nasty here.

*

Mosaic NEIPA 6.5%  Protokoll

NEIPA

A full on milkshake with what is presently recognized as my favorite hop.

This was a stunning – session NEIPA.

*

*

Icons of Summer  6.6% Protokoll

NEIPA

Full on milkshake haze.

A tropical delight, Fruity.

Citra, Citra Cryo Hops.

Hop hit, Flavour, Body all perfect.

*

Oceans With No End  6.0%  Protokoll

NEIPA

Milkshake haze.

Thin for abv.

Easy drinking, smooth.

*

*

Things Can Only Get Better  6.5%  Protokoll

NEDIPA

Milkshake haze.

Citra, Sabro cryo hops.

A sense of a taste invasion, but no coconut.

*

*

Down In The Tube Station At Midnight  6.5%

Hazy NEIPA

Fill milkshake haze

Body appropriate for abv

Good hop hit

Hops: Vista, Simcoe Cryo, Citra

*

*

Wow  4.5%

Hazy NE Pale Ale

Full haze

Body better than most at this abv, or higher

Flavours spot on, delicious

Hops: Citra, Talus

(Talus not spoiling!)