Dry & Bitter

The brewery's logo already clearly shows the two passions of the founders of Sudden Death Brewing Co.: an ice hockey mask with crossed sticks meets mash paddles and hop cones. Olli Schmökel and Ricky Nagel are one thing above all - ice hockey fans. On a sports-related trip through the USA, the guys discovered beer that was very different from the classic bitter brew that they were served in Germany. They were very excited about the multifaceted craft beers of the States and were hooked: they wanted to drink these interesting, full-bodied and varied beers at home too. Out of necessity - good craft beer was hard to come by - their small home brewery was born and soon caused a sensation on Timmendorfer Strand. With funny names like Let Me Be Your Hero, Baby! and We Don't Give A Fudge, Sudden Death Brewing Co. took the craft beer scene by storm.

Powerful

The name says it all: Sudden Death Brewing Co. borrows a term from ice hockey for its name. Sudden Death refers to a play that can end the game in overtime with a single goal. The team that scores a goal in the first five minutes of overtime wins the game. This method shows which team has the toughest guys on the ice. Every player is on high alert and gives everything to win. It is one of, if not the most dramatic and exciting moments in the game and the motto that Olli and Ricky have set for their beers. They want to counter the strict German Purity Law and the pilsner culture with unusual, surprising beers that are so drinkable that you'll gladly drink another one. Their Tough Guy Ale or Pils Brosnan are very popular far beyond Timmendorfer Strand.

What the heck?

The Sudden Death Brewing Co. is an exceptional brewery, and not just because of its special beers: Unlike conventional breweries, Olli and Ricky did not expand their own brewing facility as demand increased, but rather took a ready-made nest, so to speak. Their brewery, known as a cuckoo brewery, moved lock, stock and barrel into an established brewery and began brewing their beer from there. According to Schmökel, it wasn't quite that easy, but after convincing the local brewer of their skills with hard work and expertise, things worked out.