University hospital, arcades, botanical gardens - Erlangen stands for many things, but beer is not what comes 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 port of call for all lovers of exceptional beers, the Bierothek® is Erlangen's first specialist beer shop. The Bierothek® Erlangen's house beer was developed with the mission of brewing Erlangen's own beer.
A real Erlangen original
In order not to simply declare any beer to be an Erlangen beer, Bierothek® founder Christian Klemenz came up with something very special: a beer that is bursting with local colour and whose name should be familiar to every Erlangen resident even without explanation. The Pinsl is a tribute to a real Erlangen original, none other than the Erlangen artist Erhard Königsreuther who is the namesake of this beer. Erhard Königsreuther was born in Erlangen and made a name for himself through his work as an artist and the open release of his works of art in exchange for beer. In addition, the city original declared himself the "mountain king", i.e. the king of the mountain church fair that takes place every year around Pentecost. The nickname "Pinsl" was derived from the beer lover's artistic work. The self-proclaimed king of Erlangen was well known and everyone knew that Pinsl liked to drink a beer or two. When he didn't have the necessary change, Pinsl offered his paintings for exchange. This is how some Erlangen residents came into possession of an original Pinsl and were able to indulge their passion for beer.
A festival 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 modern twist is provided by the hops: a lot of hops are used to brew the Pale Ale, which brings a rich aroma of fruity, floral notes to the beer. Pinsl was also a true Franconian as an Erlangen native and yet wonderfully different and individual. Erlangen is at the epicenter of Franconian beer culture and it was about time that a real Erlangen beer was brewed. We raise our glasses to the curious Erlangen artist Pinsl and to the fact that he gave Erlangen a beer - or at least the name and inspiration for a beer.
Cheers, Pinsl, to you!
