Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 03/10/2026Very interesting. Was there any variation in chemistry from the different growing regions? 100
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Happy Oktoberfest from the Zollpackhof Biergarten in Berlin 🥨 2201
Reposted by Ben PalmerBoak & Bailey (Jess & Ray) @boakandbailey.bsky.social · 19/09/2026GOOD MORNING! Here's our regular weekly round-up of good writing about beer and pubs, with notes on pubs with too many rules, Norwegian pilsner and car park hops, among other things. boakandbailey.com/2026/09/news...boakandbailey.comNews, nuggets and longreads 19 September 2026: Some PeopleEvery Saturday we round up the best writing about beer from the past week. This time, we’ve got cheaper pints, Czech pubs and Belgian folk traditions. 22413
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Am I in the Hallertau for hop harvest? No! I discovered these in the car park of a Getränke Hoffmann drinks store in Berlin. 0343
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Thank you, Nigel. I've added this to my to read list. I think it's great that @jbrewingchemists.bsky.social is active on Bluesky. 110
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 11/09/2026Yep, in the weird darts pub in Wedding. But I'm fairly sure that the one we had was infected. 001
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Thanks, Nigel! I was happy with how the presentation went. 010
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 08/09/2026It's great to be in Rotterdam for the EBC Congress 2026! I'm proud to be presenting our scientific work carried out at VLB Berlin on the topic of flavour stability in beer. 1121
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 26/08/2026I can definitely recommend the tour of the Villa Tugendhat. Recently, I learned that Mies van der Rohe also built some cheap, functional housing on my road in Berlin in the 1920s. 100
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Paulaner was the only large German brewery that increased overall production volume in 2025 according to the Barth Haas report. And I don't think that it is because their beer has suddenly gained in popularity. 110
Reposted by Ben PalmerAndreas Krennmair @akrennmair.bsky.social · 22/08/2026Hostomice Fabián 14 on tap. In Berlin, at Muted Horn. My favourite Czech Dark Lager. 😍 5673
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 09/08/2026What happens when Bristol darts expert @fredcook.co.uk comes over for his annual trip to Germany? We go to Bamberg and play soft-tip darts, of course. 020
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 05/08/2026My wife and I took the regional train from Bad Schandau to Rumburk last autumn and from there we hiked to Pivovar Falkenštejn in Krásná Lípa. It was an excellent day of beer hiking. 030
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 29/07/2026I'm excited to present some of my PhD research on thiol stability in beer at the 40th EBC Congress this September in Rotterdam. The poster title is "An investigation of thiol disulfides as a potential indicator of ageing in dry-hopped beers" www.vlb-berlin.org/en/vlb-at_EB... 0102
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 18/07/2026This weekend I'm on a Franconian brewery adventure with @fredcook.co.uk @louisekrennmair.bsky.social and @akrennmair.bsky.social We stopped for Brotzeit and beers at the Brauerei Göller in Drosendorf. 1274
Reposted by Ben PalmerLouise Krennmair @louisekrennmair.bsky.social · 17/07/2026Start of our summer holiday. We have possibly made a bad choice and gone to Bamberg with @johnzee7.bsky.social and @fredcook.co.uk First stop is Spezial, one of my favourites. 0203
Reposted by Ben PalmerFred Cook @fredcook.co.uk · 15/07/2026First leg of three trains to see @johnzee7.bsky.social @louisekrennmair.bsky.social and @akrennmair.bsky.social in Berlin. Fingers crossed for no delays 🤞 152
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 15/07/2026In our monthly Beer and Book Club, we discussed "Thin Places in Hard Concrete" by @raynewman.bsky.social It's a brilliant collection of short stories featuring memorable settings and subtle unease. Highly recommended! 041
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 14/07/2026Nice one, Jezza! Are you planning to catch any of the Tour de France on your trip? 110
Reposted by Ben PalmerBoak & Bailey (Jess & Ray) @boakandbailey.bsky.social · 11/07/2026GOOD MORNING! Here's our regular round-up of good writing about beer and pubs with vague themes around Bavarian beer culture and, oddly, that pub Lidl have opened in Northern Ireland. boakandbailey.com/2026/07/news...boakandbailey.comNews, nuggets and longreads 11 July 2026: Bee SpeakerEvery Saturday we round up the best writing about beer from the past week. This time, we’ve got Dortmunder, Helles and Obatzda. 12414
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 09/07/2026BLOG POST: A response to @boakandbailey.bsky.social's "What does Helles taste like?" through the lens of a brewing scientist. hopandschwein.wordpress.com/2026/07/09/w...hopandschwein.wordpress.comWhat does Helles taste like? A brewing scientist’s perspectiveOn a recent trip to Bristol, I met up with Boak and Bailey and local darts legend Fred Cook for some pints. Provocatively, I was asked what had happened to my blog. Since then, I’ve been sear… 0166
Reposted by Ben PalmerAndreas Krennmair @akrennmair.bsky.social · 01/07/2026My new book, Bavarian White Beer, has been out for almost two weeks, and so far, the feedback has been absolutely fantastic. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who bought a copy! Get yours now: waizenbier.de #beerhistory #homebrewing 2248
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 29/06/2026I really enjoyed this wine bar on our visit to Turin in 2024. maps.app.goo.gl/wD9b2H39vWL4... 010
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 19/06/2026I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek at Andreas's new book. It is incredibly well researched, full of fascinating stories and offers a glimpse into just how wild Bavaria could be in centuries past, at least from a political and historical perspective. Congratulations @akrennmair.bsky.social! 171
Reposted by Ben PalmerAndreas Krennmair @akrennmair.bsky.social · 14/06/2026If you're looking for the perfect drink for today's Germany-Curaçao match, here's a 1970's beer cocktail for you: Isarwasser. In a 1 litre Maßkrug, combine a bottle of Bavarian wheat beer, half a litre of orange juice or orange soda (e.g. Fanta), and a shot of Blue Curaçao liqueur. Enjoy! 1175
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 17/05/2026Today I've been getting to know the locals on Hvar. 0120
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 01/05/2026Yes, that's right. I really liked it and was glad to find out that it is also available on draught in a handful of locations in Berlin. 010
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 01/05/2026Did you try the Kindl Zwickl? This is apparently one of the few Berlin pubs/restaurants serving this beer. 130
Reposted by Ben PalmerJustin on eurostar @eurostarjustin.bsky.social · 30/04/2026On this day 35 years ago, production of the Trabant car ceased. Here's a photo my brother took of a load of them in East Berlin in August 1990. #DDR #OTD 39216
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 30/04/2026www.coffeecircle.com/de/k/pink-bo...coffeecircle.comPink Bourbon Decaf Premium Kaffee online kaufen100% Arabica Bohnen aus Kolumbien ♥ Nachhaltiger Anbau & einzigartiger Geschmack ✓ Traditionelle Trommelröstung ✓Jetzt probieren! 000
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 23/04/2026Happy German Beer Day! 🍻 Today I'm presenting some of my research at the VLB on the flavour stability of hoppy beers. 0201
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 19/04/2026Please consider taking a few moments of your Sunday afternoon to appreciate this beautiful sourdough loaf baked by @akrennmair.bsky.social It definitely tastes as good as it looks. 1181
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 17/04/2026Looking forward to your feedback from my next (mould-free) batch! 🦠 010
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 17/04/2026Pre-acidification seems to be the way! I can measure the final pH and calculate roughly how much remaining volume I require for a starting pH of approximately 4.5 or lower in the new batch. 120
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 17/04/2026Hmm, that's an interesting point. This might not answer your question but our microbiology lab at the VLB Berlin has been doing some research on Kombucha, so maybe it's worth keeping an eye out for future publications on this subject? brewingscience.de/index.php/br...brewingscience.de Investigation of different aeration strategies for the production of kombucha with defined co-cultures | BrewingScience 100
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 17/04/2026Basting the SCOBY is a great idea, thank you! I'm definitely going to try this for my next batch. 010
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 17/04/2026Yes, this seems to be the case. My plan is to halve the batch size and gradually build my way back up to 3 litres. 110
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 16/04/2026UPDATE: My colleague from the VLB microbiology lab has kindly given me 500 mL of 3.2 pH kombucha starter liquid. I've been advised to reduce my batch size to increase the starting acidity and hopefully prevent early mould growth. 260
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 16/04/2026To a certain degree, I enjoy the unpredictability of making kombucha. On the other hand, the brewer in me wants to control the process and reproduce it consistently, which seems to be difficult with homebrew kombucha. 020
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 15/04/2026Are there any kombucha brewers on here? Green/white fuzzy patches of mould have grown on the surface of my third generation SCOBY. This has happened twice now and I'm not sure where I'm going wrong. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! 213
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 14/04/2026Some friends and I recently started "The Beer and Book Club". We take it in turns to pick the book and I'm picking the book for May. This might help to explain a small spike in sales of your new book in Berlin shortly after release (Thanks to @akrennmair.bsky.social for the idea!) 070
Ben Palmer @johnzee7.bsky.social · 31/03/2026German hop growing has officially been recognised as intangible cultural heritage by the Bavarian cabinet. I'm proud to support hop growers and merchants through our analytical work and hop research at VLB Berlin. www.about-drinks.com/hopfenanbau-...about-drinks.comHopfenanbau in Deutschland ist Immaterielles KulturerbeDer bayerische Ministerrat hat die kulturelle Ausdrucksform „Hopfenanbau in Deutschland“ in das Bayerische Landesverzeichnis eingetragen. 0279
Reposted by Ben Palmerpatto1ro.bsky.social @patto1ro.bsky.social · 27/03/2026As promised, hop growing in the DDR. barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2026/03/hop-...barclayperkins.blogspot.comHop growing in the DDRWhen researching my recent talk on brewing in the DDR, I struggled to find much about the varieties of hops grown. Which was rather frustrat... 2112
Reposted by Ben PalmerAndreas Krennmair @akrennmair.bsky.social · 26/03/2026Staying on the Oktoberfest theme, I wrote about the scandal of the Oktoberfest's first "giant tent" in 1898, and how it unfolded: dafteejit.com/2026/03/the-... #beerhistory #oktoberfestdafteejit.comThe Scandal of Oktoberfest's First Giant Tent - Daft Eejit BrewingIn which I wrote about how the first large tent at Oktoberfest came to be, and why it was a scandal for the Oktoberfest restaurateurs at the time. 2198
Reposted by Ben PalmerFred Cook @fredcook.co.uk · 26/03/2026🎯 New dartboard review 🎯 The seven stars in Redcliffe: fredcook.co.uk/2026/03/19/T... I've also added a handy map of all dartboard reviews so far 052
Reposted by Ben PalmerAndreas Krennmair @akrennmair.bsky.social · 22/03/2026I've blogged about beers at late 19th/early 20th century Oktoberfest many years ago. I've now been able to find complete lists of breweries for the years 1895 and 1896, which shows how much more diverse the beer choice was back then: dafteejit.com/2026/03/beer... #beerhistory #oktoberfestdafteejit.comBeers at Oktoberfest 1895 and 1896 - Daft Eejit BrewingIn which I'm presenting complete lists of breweries whose beer was served at Oktoberfest 1895/96, several of which were not from Munich. 14114