Hamburg 2026

The group outside Wildwuchs

Hamburg 2026

As a result of a chance meeting on the Queen Mary when returning from New York, the kernel of idea was formed. Eventual after months of planning, this BHS overseas trip took shape. On board the famous Cunard liner was a Hamburger resident who was keen to show anyone with an interest in beer and brewing around his hometown. So on 10th and 11th September a group of 10 members, led by Ken Smith, arrived by various transportational means in Hamburg. In advance, Ken had made contact with a number of Hamburg brewers who were happy to show us their breweries. The resulting itinerary structured the four days to include not just the breweries but also some group meals and much needed free time.

Friday 11th September

The group met up for pre-dinner drinks at Ratsherrn Braugasthaus Altes Mädchen in Lagerstrasse for an introductory meeting and a few beers from our hosts brewery, which they could see through the huge glass wall from the main bar.

Saturday 12th September 2026

The brewery museum

The group made their way to Lüneburg by train. This is a well preserved medieval town with much architectural history. The group made their way to the Lüneburg Brewery Museum. Located in the historic brewhouse of the Krone Brewery, a former tower brewery. The museum showcases over 500 years of local brewing history. Our formal guide for the morning explained the principles of the gravity fed process and introduced us to the preserved equipment – however, as Ken had known in advance, he did it in German! Thankfully Ken’s Queen Mary contacts, Günther and Elvira, were on hand to translate for us. A task harder that it might at first have seemed as our German host was keen to explain everything in very great technical detail.

The Lüneburg Brewery Museum courtesy Mick Connors

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The group then adjourned to another old brewery building in the same street. This was Mälzer Brau, maltsters and brewers. A historic building dating back to 1540 with its own in-house brewery. Just before the group settled in for lunch and a few beers, they were invited to visit their exclusive dungeon! A place where various rites and ceremonies had taken place over the centuries. Sensibly, with lunch looming, no one asked for more graphic details!

Mälzer Brau courtesy Mick Connors

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The afternoon was free for individual wanderings then an evening meal had been booked at Brauhaus Nolte. This location is a traditional, cozy rustic brewery specializing in organic beers. The tour was conducted by the owner/head brewer. Clearly proud of what he was doing and what the previous generations of his family had done on the same site. Unfortunately, Ken realised too late that this brewhouse was on the opposite side of town, and as it turned out, up a long, long hill. A lesson learnt in long distance event planning even with the assistance of Google Maps!

Nevertheless, a number of the group took on the challenge, arriving to be greeted by the head brewer and great grandson of the founder. It was a relief to Ken that our guide spoke perfect English! He showed the group around the set-up, squeezed into a very tight spaces, with the final lagering tanks housed under the main bar, which carried on serving while the tour unfolded!

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  The last 3 generations of the brewing family appear proudly on the reverse of their drip mats
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Brauhaus Nolte courtesy Mick Connors

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Sunday 13th September 2026

The next day the group returned to Ratsherrn Braugasthaus Altes Mädchen in Lagerstrasse for a more in-depth look at their processes. Our guide gave the group some familiar history of brewing and the processes involved. The group had a very short walk around the modern, compact and highly visible brewery. They were closely watched, with some curiosity, by the drinkers in the bar.

Inside Wildwuchs

Ratsherrn courtesy Mick Connors

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Monday 14th September 2026

The next day, Monday, was also the last. The group ventured out to the Hamburg suburb of Wilhelmsburg to visit Wildwuchs Brauwerk. This was Hamburg’s first fully certified organic brewery with a focus on sustainability. Again, there was a short tour around a compact organic brewery.

Wildwuchs courtesy of Mick Connors

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Ken had booked a “Farewell Hamburg” dinner at Hacker-Pschorr in Hamburg, a cramped, atmospheric, traditional German restaurant.

All in all an exhausting and interesting visit that utilised the Hamburg public transportation network to its full extent. Sadly, none of the breweries visited were aware of the BHS and as a result, all tours were charged at standard tourist rates.