Franconian Beer Message Board
Pension Karin, Breitengüssbach |
| Posted by Fred Waltman on 2013-05-15 12:03:42 |
| OK, the "inside scoop" as the tabloids say. Karl Hümmer (the husband of Karin) is the brother of the owner of the "big" Hümmer in Breitengüssbach and worked there as a brewer for over 30 years. When the brewery at Hümmer closed, he wanted to keep brewing so he built a brewery at the hotel. BTW, "Pension" to me suggests a small establishment, one step above a boarding house but they have a large modern(-ish), three story building with a large garden and a swimming pool. The house has a large sign reading "Pension" on the roof that I guess is for the nearby autobahn. Anyway, the brewhouse is 150 liters and Karl brews twice a week. Currently he has a Zwickl and Weizen but he is expanding the range and has both a Pils and a Schwarzbier (named 1642 after the founding of the "big" Hümmer) lagering. He gave me a sample of the latter and it was very good and very roasty. He uses open fermentation for the primary (a big stainless steel cube inside a walk in fridge) and has maybe 20 (I assume 150 liter) horizontal tanks in his lager keller (also a walk in fridge) He has a commercial keg washer (I'm guessing 50 liter kegs) and a single bottle at a time filler (I think he only does 2 liter and up bottles but I am not sure). He says that all the beer is sold there. Oh, he has a couple of big-ass stainless immersion chillers plus (I think water) jacketed vessel he called his "kuhlschiff." He uses water from his own spring for cooling and cleaning because the municipal water is "too expensive" I was there just after noon and the place was pretty deserted but I could smell brewing and wandered into the brewery and he immediately offered to sell me a beer. I don't know if you would be successful if you walked in the main entrance and asked for a beer, but it wouldn't hurt to try :) I guess the only thing missing from a "real" brewery is he didn't seem to have his own beer coaster. I took a bunch of pictures and will post them when I get a chance. |
| Followups: |
 Pension Karin, Breitengüssbach by Mark Andersen on 2013-05-15 13:22:12 |
| Pension Karin, Breitengüssbach by Uncle Jimbo on 2013-05-15 18:42:26 |
| Pension Karin, Breitengüssbach...batch size by Nick B. on 2013-05-16 01:57:27 |
| Hopfen Customs by Nick B. on 2013-05-16 02:19:06 |
| Pension Karin, Breitengüssbach...batch size by Fred Waltman on 2013-05-16 02:37:52 |
| Pension Karin, Breitengüssbach...batch size by Nick B. on 2013-05-16 05:07:50 |