If you aren’t familiar with Freigeist Bierkultur yet then you need to catch up. You want to be one of the Kool Kids right? Sebastian Sauer is bringing old forgotten styles back as well as introducing new ones that fly in the face of the Reinheitsgebot. Sebastian will be bringing these to Carnivale Brettanomyces and was kind enough to answer a few questions.

Dambeer: Concerning the Reinheitsgebot: Do you get a lot of opposition from the more traditional brewing houses and older German beer drinkers or have they begun to accept some of your unique beers and ingredients?

Sebastian: No, we don’t get so much opposition here as we would if we were based in Bavaria. Some people down in Bavaria don’t like what some breweries are doing and we are certainly part of that group.

Dambeer: What countries or brewer/breweries inspired you to break from the traditional German brewing practices into what you make now?

Sebastian: Pretty much the whole international brewing scene inspired me to do what I do. In the beginning, it was Belgium and the visitors of Belgian beer festivals and later other influences came into it. Although, we still brew mostly in the traditional German practice in bringing back historical German beer styles.





Dambeer: Where’s a great place to go or thing you love to do in Germany that isn’t in all the guidebooks?

Sebastian: Best Kellerbier places in Franconia: Roppelt in Hallerndorf-Stierbarlimbach and Witzgall in Hallerndorf-Schlammersdorf. Another a fantastic place to visit is Goldochsen-Brauerei in Schrozberg-Spielbach, it’s around 70 years old.





Dambeer: Did you have someone in your family or maybe a close friend that you credit towards helping develop your creativity and somewhat rebellious spirit?





Sebastian: Nope.

I love that final answer by Sebastian, sometimes you just develop things all yourself.

Dambeer: Thanks Sebastian. I just had your Kolsch in San Francisco and loved it. I’ll see you in Amsterdam in June, looking forward to it.



Sebastian: Okay. Cool man, see you soon.