My personal highlight: aromatic craft beer can be brewed in your own cellar – few equipment, passion and right portion of creativity: The story of a Zurich based Craft Beer Brewery

I was not a big beer connoisseur back in time. Dedication and curiosity taught me how to recognize the variety of flavors and tastes that beer can offer. That is how I fell in love with Craft Beers first. Their taste is aromatic, strong and full of different flavors. Some are sweet and herb, some fruity and sour.

This article shall bring you the choice of craft beer closer and introduce you to a brewery I discovered in Zurich. Just by case I got introduced to the Zurich Beer Brewery called Bear’N’stein. Pierre and Urs the owner of the brewery shared their story and passion with me.

Where everything started, who are Bear’N’Stein

Bear=Urs, Stein=Pierre, so “Urs & Pierre“ are brewing beer together for five years. In 2016 they founded Bear’N’Stein, a microbrewery in Zurich. Very soon they received positive reviews (award: Best Newcomer 2017 from the renowned beer critic Bov (www.bov.ch).

Some people store bikes in their cellar, other brow their own beer. Pierre and Urs have this passion in common since several years and I am very happy to have been invited to see these tasty drops flowing out of a big metal tank. Making beer seems a bit complex to me. Pierre reveals about the instruments needed as a hydrometer to measure the alcohol value for example or several simple cans and bowls. A crucial ingredient I found out is having chemistry knowledge and creativity!

Your individual taste for Beer?

Brewing beer means individualizing the amount of alcohol and taste for the batches you create. Pierre experiments with citrus fruits to create a sour and fruity beer. Interested to know more about the blending of beer with fruits? I found this very interesting article online.
Out in his garden grow herbs and ingredients he integrates in the beer brewing. This is where I catch a picture of hops and understand how much sophisticated work is needed.

The basic ingredients of beer are water; a starch source, such as malted barley, able to be fermented (converted into alcohol); a brewer’s yeast to produce the fermentation; and a flavoring, such as hops, to offset the sweetness of the malt.

Which ingredients are needed for Home Brewing Beer?

• Water
  Water is the most varied chemical substance we have. Elements dissolved in pure water make big contributions to beer.
• Malt extract
  This is the lifeblood of home brewed beer. Choose a malt extract based on the variety of beer you desire to brew: amber, pilsner, or wheat?
• Yeast
  Hello live organisms! They turn sugars into carbon dioxide and alcohol and are available in dry and liquid form. They top or bottom fermenting, depending on the type of beer to be created.
• Hops
  Find them as whole leaf hops, pellets and plugs in dozens of varieties. Ask specialized suppliers for the best products to choose of.

Modern brewers rely on tools developed in the field of chemistry to achieve their goals. That explains the exact and thought-out approach applied. Tools used to measure the alcohol content of beer will help ensure that an India Pale Ale doesn’t develop alcohol levels more suited to an Imperial IPA, and thus compromise the balance of the brew; tools borrowed from the chemist also ensure that the next bottle of IPA from a given brand will taste and feel the same as the one enjoyed yesterday.

Let’s have a look at the offered beer types at Bear’N’Stein

Blond Ale, Pils, IPA, Bitter Ale, Stout or for example Belgian Style the a wide range of delights are available to spoil your palate. I love the variety of flavors that every single beer offers. There is a beer sort for everyone. And they are all made locally.

Your favorite beer is…

Usually I love aromatic wit beers that are bit sweet. Pierre introduced me to a beer with a really light, fruity and sour taste that is ideal for hot summer days! The names and labels of their beers tell a story.  Some take you into a movie, some into a famous music song. Enjoying a beer evolves into a special moment of pleasure.

Two favorite beers I suggest

Smooth Criminal: Blond Ale

Taste: Fruity – bitter – herb – refreshing

Formidable: Belgian Style

Taste: Strong – sweet – fruity

Find more on their selection here

Coming soon BearN’Stein Brew Pub called BIER LAB in Zurich

Thanks to all the positive feedback and because the ambition to offer local products brewed onsite, Bear’N’Stein decided to open the first brewpub Bier Lab in Kreis 4 – Zurich. It will be located at Grüngasse 7.It is now in the middle of the preparation. Find a friendly and cozy atmosphere where people can meet for a fresh beer and admire the brewing procedure from close.

Interested in discovering the Lovefoodish food guide in town? Get some inspiration here.

My personal highlight: Living the urban nomad style in between of Langstrasse and Europaallee in Zurich by getting involved into NENI’s food philosophy and the Balagan lifestyle. Christoph Hoffmann’s & Haya Molcho’s life attitude is viral!

People who do not know this area of Zurich will love it right away. Langstrasse Kreis 4 meets Europaallee Kreis 5. The diversity is astonishing. Walking through Langstrasse you understand what I mean. It’s the most multi cultural area of Zurich including a red light district and plenty of amazing young art.
Across the other side to Europaallee you feel the new trend towards modern office spaces, local designer stores and fancy popup stores.

The best premise to open up a pocket universe

Who better than the creative heads at 25Hours Hotels could perfectly put into scene the vibrant changes of these two Zurich areas and merge them into a hotel concept? That is how 25 Hours Hotels Zürich Langstrasse was born.

Christoph Hoffmann, CEO of 25Hours Hotels and his team cooperated with local architects E2A and the interior Design Studio Aisslinger from Berlin. A fancy, stylish but very practical and surprising surrounding is the result.

Since art is an important topic in this Zurich area you get to see big pieces of art spread all over the house.
An in-house atelier lead by the Zurich artist Esther Eppstein has its base in the hotel. Esther invites and promotes young artists and coaches them on a defined project.
Find a Kiosk curated by local Media publisher KEIN & ABER VERLAG. Get selected books or fancy accessories.

This is 25 Hours Hotel Zürich Langstrasse

• 170 rooms in the categories M, L and XL as of 270 CHF
• meeting space for up to 80 people on various floors
• NENI Restaurant with eclectic east Mediterranean meze inspired by Chef Haya Molcho. The menu includes meat dishes from the charcoal Josper-Grill
• Cinchona bar with fancy Highball drinks by Jörg Meyer
• Artists studio „Message Salon Embassy“ lead by Esther Eppstein – artist in residence
• Zurich Publisher Petter Haag from Kein & Aber Verlag with an inhouse Kiosk & Books
• trainspotting-sauna incl. gym
• club floor to relax with analog game room as a polaroid flipper box, sound lounge
• ue boom bluetooth speakers and FREITAG Bag in all rooms
• iMac work stations
• free of charge mini car and bike rental
• a hearty and service oriented staff that makes you feel home away from home

Accommodation

Find 170 modern and stylish, urban designed rooms in the sizes M, L, XL and 2 suites. The rooms follow different themes on different floors. Live the topic “Red Light”, “Belle Etage” and “Penthouse” brought into scene with extravagant, appealing wallpapers designed by local artists. Natural materials are combined with warm colors and stylish, functional furniture. The hotel cooperates with the famous Swiss furniture brand De Sede, too.
I love the bath tube overlooking Zurich’s Primetower or the glassy open shower where you live the modern open space. Find all details for booking a room here.

Food & Drinks

The cherry on the top is the NENI Restaurant following the life philosophy of Haya Molcho and her 4 sons. An eclectic east Mediterranean cuisine is created inspired by a Street food style from Telaviv and the world. Get a variety of light and flavorful lunch and dinner menus.
Try the Balagan style, which means that you order several plates and share them together!
The open bar at the kitchen invites to catch an insight how Chef Peter Schüler and team prepare the food for you. Or just talk to the guest next to you.
A uniqueness of 25 Hours Hotels food concept Langstrasse is the Josper Grill. Get local quality dry aged meat grilled on a 100% charcoal grill.

The house bar Cinchona is where world experienced Barkeeper Jörg Meyer introduces guests to a new trend of “day drinking”. Taste the daily changing variety of Highball drinks with best local Vermouth, Sherry or port mixed with tonic water and citrus fruits. The two big ice balls keep your drink at the right temperature and coolness.

Seminars, Events working spaces

A cozy corner with a chimney invites to relax and read a book on the main floor. The hotel offers a lot of space to relax and work. Spaces can be rent and used for conferences or private events, too.
The club floor on the first floor throws you back in time. Find analog game room as a polaroid flipper box or a sound lounge and additional working or event spaces.

My personal highlights

Getting to know Haya Molcho and feeling her passion for food is delightful. She is a person full of energy and ideas transmitting the Balagan style. On of her sons laughs and confirms, that she is really Balagan. This Hebrew word means: sympathetic chaos! NENI is a word play out of her 4 sons names. Nuriel, Elior, Nadiv and Ilan. The name reflects their philosophy of life. NENI is a passion paired with openness and love for food. Eating is always done at a large table with the whole family and many friends. That is what you feel when talking to Haya Molcho in person. That is also what you feel when entering at NENI Restaurant at 25 Hours Hotels.

The Molcho Family runs several NENI restaurants within the 25Hours Hotels in Europe. They make sure the NENI philosophy is lived in every NENI Restaurant. The Kitchen team at 25Hours Hotels gets regular coaching on how to prepare and maintain the NENI food philosophy alive.

Thank you for using the Lovefoodish food and travel guide.

My personal highlight: Variety of filter coffees and best eggs benedict

COFFEE is located in Kreis 4 at Grüngasse 4. The name says it all, very straight forward, it’s a coffee place with the roast from the established Swiss roaster Stoll. Their filter coffee selection is variegated so that everybody can find the right flavor. The place has a lovely vintage style interior and a nice window front that brings in much of light.

The owner are Shem Leupin and Thomas Leuenberger. Shem is a ex Swiss Barista Champ and a coffee roaster, he knows how to prepare your coffee.

Thomas is an experienced Chef and creates healthy and creative food for you, all Vegetarian.  The dishes you find are prepared fresh and at the moment of ordering.

Brunch

Their signature dish are the Coffee Zurich Eggs Benedict. The home made sauce hollandaise is fantastic and prepared at the moment. Find also cakes and home made sandwiches.

On Saturday’s you get a special brunch menu. We had a parsnip cream with fermented apples, homemade cheese, grilled lettuce, some marinated mustard seeds, decorated with cheese crackers and the last mandarines of the season. Thomas makes everything by himself. His dedication in explaining every single ingredient is much appreciated from every guest. It was an explosion of flavors. Light and super fresh.
Go there for brunch and discover more delicacies for your belly!

www.coffeezurich.com