geselle auf der walz

In many skilled trades, journeymen have the opportunity to go on a journeyman’s journey after completing their training. This period, which traditionally lasts three years and one day, is called a "Walking Journey" (Walze) and is often subject to strict regulations. Many craft sectors stipulate that the journeyman must be under 30 years old and single. They must be debt-free and must travel at least 50 kilometers from their hometown. Furthermore, on the journeyman’s journey, they wear the clothing of their guild and generally do not spend money on transport or accommodation. Instead, they walk, hitchhike, and work in craft businesses for room and board. While the journeyman’s journey was once a prerequisite for obtaining a master craftsman’s certificate, today this special period is seen as an opportunity to develop one’s personality and craftsmanship, as a continuation of an old tradition, and as a monument to artisanal honor and freedom.

The Paderborn brewery honors its wandering journeymen with a fine beer that tastes especially good after a day’s work. Geselle auf der Walz is a light lager with a clear, sunny yellow color, adorned with a generous head of fine-pored foam. The brew boasts a mild character and a balanced blend of soft grain, gentle hops, and harmonious bitterness. It’s easy to drink and unpretentious.