Brew Interviews

Interview with a Brewmaster

24.04.12

Interview with a Brewmaster - Hans On Brewmaster

BY: TheAbbot

t is my pleasure to introduce to you, the brewmaster from one of the most well known and well respected Weissbier breweries in the world. I had to dust off and tighten up the Comfy Computer Chair of Fame for this interview as I did not want anything out of place. The man carrying more that 140 years of tradition on his shoulder and doing a fine job of it. Please welcome to CellarMonk, Hans-Peter Drexler

Name(s): Hans-Peter Drexler

Brewery Name: Weisses Bräuhaus G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH

How long have you beer brewmaster there?
I have brewed there since 1990

Any type of formal training in brewing science or art? If not, how did you learn the craft?
Weihenstephan degree as Diploma (Degree) Brewmaster

If you will, a brief history of your brewing experience (where have you brewed)?
After finishing my studies in Weihenstephan, I worked for the experimental University brewery there for two years. I also spent one year as an assistant brewmaster in greece. I started with Schneider Weisse in 1982 as an assistant brewmaster;

How large is the brewery (# of barrels annually)?
The brewery produces 250000 Hectolitres per year (approximately 215000 barrels (US))

Brew Musings

Brew Polls

13.04.12

Go Fest Young (Wo)Man

BY: TheAbbot

phpz6V7A8AM With the approach of summer comes the acceleration of Beer Festival season. Whether it is a giant, say the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) or the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) or any of the multitude of festivals now being planned, it is time to make the tough decisions. How many can I make it too and how much am I willing to spend?

Our question to you: How many beer festivals do you plan to attend this year?

1 - not that thirsty - 6.3%

2 - getting there - 6.3%

3 - it's a three fest minumum - 56.3%

4 - I can't disappoint my friends - 12.5%

5 - What?...I like beer. - 0%

6 + I'm in training for BeerFest 2 - 18.8%

Brew Musings

Featured Brewery

03.04.12

April 2012 Featured Brewery - Weisses Bräuhaus G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH

BY: TheAbbot

CellarMonk's "Featured Brewery" for the month of April is Weisses Bräuhaus G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH. Commonly referred to as Schneider-Weisse, this brewery has a heritage dating back to 1872. The beer produced by this brewery are standard bearers in their style and are known the world over.

Schneider-Weisse History

Schneider Weisse was founded in 1872 in Munich by Georg I. Schneider. He was a royal brewer (at the time, only the monarch could brew this style). As wheat beer came out of fashion, the king decided to sell the right to brew wheat beer. Georg Schneider believed in this beer style, bought this right and started to brew Schneider Weisse in Munich. In 1928 the family bought the brewery in Kelheim, which after 1945 became the company's only brewing site. The brewery itself is the oldest wheat beer brewery in Bavaria; wheat beer has been brewed at this site without interruption since its founding in the year 1607.

George Schneider VI Today Georg Schneider VI is running the brewery in the sixth generation. Georg VI makes sure that the Original continues to be brewed according to the founder‘s recipe.

Beers

Schneider-Weisse produces a stable of beers typical for a wheat beer brewery. From the exceptional Original (Tap7) to the muscular Aventinus (Tap6), many of this brewery's products are used as benchmarks for home brewers and commercial brewers alike. As this is a traditional German brewery, there is not much experimentation. When you make some of the worlds best wheat beers, there is really no reason to go outside your expertise.

Brew Musings

Featured Brewery

20.03.12

Be A H.E.R.O

BY: TheAbbot

HEROES AREN’T BORN.
THEY’RE BREWED.

herologo

CellarMonk's Featured Brewery, DuClaw Brewing Company, is currently accepting entries for their 2nd Annual Homebrew competition. The winner of this competition has the opportunity to get their beer brewed by DuClaw.

Browse DuClaw's beers to see if you have what it takes. The entry deadline for the competion is April 18th, 2012, so get your entries in while you can.

For more information and contest rules, visit here.

Brew Interviews

Interview with a Brewmaster

09.03.12

Interview with a Brewmaster - Maryland Malt Master

BY: TheAbbot

s part of the "Featured Brewery" activities this month on CellarMonk, we are lucky enough to interview the head brewer for the DuClaw Brewing Company. Since we are covering almost every aspect of DuClaw, it was time for their head brewer, Jim Wagner, to sit down in the comfy computer chair of fame and answer some of the most important questions ever asked of a brewer. Not really, but they are good questions. So sit back, grab a HellRazer IPA (available locally in Maryland, sorry) and read on.

Name(s): Jim Wagner

Brewery Name: DuClaw Brewing Company

When did the brewery start?
1996

How long have you been brewmaster there?
1998

Any type of formal training in brewing science or art? If not, how did you learn the craft?
No…home brewing since 1991

If you will, a brief history of your brewing experience (where have you brewed)?
Started pro with DuClaw in 1998

How large is the brewery you currently brew for (# of barrels)?
It is a 40bbl brewhouse with 5-40bbl and 5-80 bbl fermenters

Is it automated or is there a lot of exercise involved in your brewery’s operation?
Very little automation….other than the mash rakes; everything is handled by the brewer