University clinic, arcades, botanical garden - Erlangen stands for many things, but beer doesn't initially come to mind when most people think of the smallest of Bavaria's major cities. This fact is a deficiency that the Bierothek® Erlangen has set out to remedy. As the first point of contact for all lovers of exceptional beers, the Bierothek® is Erlangen's first specialty beer store. The house beer of the Bierothek® Erlangen was developed with the mission of brewing Erlangen's own beer.
A real Erlanger original
In order not to just name any beer as the Erlanger beer, Bierothek® founder Christian Klemenz has come up with something very special: a beer that is bursting with local color and whose name should be familiar to every Erlanger, even without an explanation. The Pinsl is a homage to a real Erlanger original, none other than the Erlanger artist Erhard Königsreuther is the namesake of this beer. Erhard Königsreuther was a native of Erlangen and made a name for himself through his work as an artist and the open publication of his works of art in exchange for beer. In addition, the original city has proclaimed itself the “mountain king”, i.e. the king of the Bergkirchweih festival that takes place annually around Pentecost. The nickname “Pinsl” was derived from the beer lover’s artistic work. The self-crowned King of Erlangen was well known and everyone knew that Pinsl liked to drink a beer or two. If he didn't have the necessary change, Pinsl would offer his paintings for exchange. So some people from Erlangen came into possession of an original Pinsl and were able to indulge their passion for barley juice.
A celebratory beer for the mountain king
The Pale Märzen would probably have been worth a painting for Pinsl. The festival beer is brewed in Hallerndorf near Forchheim. Just like Pinsl, the beer of the same name combines opposites: it is surprisingly traditional Franconian and at the same time refreshingly unconventional and different. As a Franconian festival beer, Märzen is a beer specialty that was brewed for celebratory occasions. The hops create the modern twist: a lot of hops are used to brew the pale ale, which brings a rich aroma of fruity, floral notes to the beer. As a native of Erlangen, Pinsl was also a real Franconian and yet wonderfully different and individual. Erlangen is at the epicenter of Franconian beer culture and it was about time that a real Erlanger beer was brewed. We raise our glass to the curious Erlanger artist Pinsl and the fact that he gave Erlangen a beer - or at least the name and inspiration for a beer.
Cheers, Pinsl, to you!
