A local Jerusalem Microbrewery just won a contest to collaborate with a German brewery to create an international beer blend that will celebrate Jewish contributions to beer and brewing throughout history, especially German history. 

The story begins about a year ago. Bernhard Purin, Director of the Jewish Museum in Munich, and Conrad Seidl, the “Beer Pope” of Austria, visited Israel on a search to find a craft brewery in Israel that they could partner with. They wished to collaborate and create a German mixed with an Israeli beer, in honor of a new exhibition that is set to run throughout most of 2016 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reinheitsgebot, Germany’s and perhaps the world’s first beer purity law.

Following an exhaustive three month search, a winner was chosen, much to the surprise of the brewers. The winner was Herzl Beer of Jerusalem. “We barely knew that we were in the competition,” said Herzl Brewer Maor Helfman. “When we sat for the first time with the director Purin, he explained to us that the project was going to happen, and that we were one of the breweries that was under consideration. Then we heard three months later that we had won.”

Doug Greener in his beer blog of Israeli craft beers said that of special interest to Bernhard and Conrad was “Herzl’s Embargo beer which is a 6.7% ABV porter flavored with Cuban tobacco leaves.”  

Other regular beers brewed by Herzl as listed with Greener’s special pinache include:

“IPA . . v’Zeh — A 7% India pale ale.

Shesh Achuz Kapara – A mild, red, British-inspired ale, 6% ABV.

Dolce de Asal – A strong (8%) Scottish style ale made with honey and spice.

Bira Levana (White Beer) — A 4.9% “steam beer” (California common), made with lager yeast and fermented at ale temperatures.”

Helfman told Arutz Sheva that “this is a huge step for us. It is a huge compliment to be recognized internationally. They went around to all of the Israeli craft breweries and tried different beers. To know that they enjoyed ours the most is a big feather in our cap.”

Helfman believed that the recognition was due to the uniqueness of the styles of beer that Herzl Brewery produces, which is unlike the regular selection that craft breweries in Israel produce.

“Purin chose our beer as it was the most unique. We do things a bit differently from other craft brewers. Our recipe is different and our beer is not exactly mainstream. It is more for people who enjoy beer, who have tasted beers from all over the world and who enjoy the unique craft beers of different places.”

Helfman admitted that he and his partner Itai Gutman are a bit crazy when it comes to beer, but that is to be expected based upon their background.

Helfman and Gutman met after both of them had traveled to Scotland to intern at the Brew Dogs Ale House. Helfman assumed he was the first Israeli to do so, but the owner told him that someone named Itai had beaten him by a month. Somewhat deflated, Helfman returned to Jerusalem, headed to a bar in Nachlat Hashivah quarter of the city, and met a barman named Itai. They quickly put two and two together, and even discovered that they had attended the same high school.

They then decided to partner with each other and create some of the most unique craft beer in the country.

“We are bit crazy when it comes to our beers. It isn’t an easy job to make money with, but thankfully we are getting by,” said Helfman.

The collaboration will hopefully be a big boost to the brewery that calls itself the smallest microbrewery in the country.

The new collaborative brew will be introduced in April 2016 at the Munich Jewish Museum at an exhibit called “Beer is the Wine of this Land: Jewish Brewery Tales.” The exhibit aims to honor the important role that Jews played in the beer industry and hop trade throughout history. The exhibit will go all the way back to ancient Israel, trace beer history through the Torah and Talmud, and then continue on with Jewish hop traders, brewers and brewery owners in Munich. It will end with the modern explosion of craft breweries in Israel.

Sadly for us Israelis, the cooperative beer will only be on sale at the museum restaurant and in selected bars and shops in Munich.

The Herzl Brewery is a home grown Jerusalem brewery located in the industrial section of Talpiyot on HaSadna street number 5.