Ben Palmer's Avatar

Ben Palmer

@johnzee7

British and German dual citizen living in Berlin. Brewing scientist and PhD candidate at VLB Berlin. Former brewer and maltster. Posts about beer, cycling and Germany.

551
Followers
218
Following
452
Posts
09.10.2023
Joined
Posts Following

Latest posts by Ben Palmer @johnzee7

Preview
Brewdog scheitert in Deutschland: Schließung aller Standorte angekündigt Aus für Brewdog Deutschland: Nach Schließungen meldet der Craftbier-Riese Insolvenz an – Löhne bleiben aus, alle Standorte machen dicht.

BrewDog Germany filed for insolvency (article in German): www.morgenpost.de/berlin/artic...

28.02.2026 11:28 👍 9 🔁 3 💬 2 📌 0
The Tour de France route of West Berlin in 1987. Picture from: https://procyclingmaps.com/product/tour-de-france-1987-livre-de-route-officiel-official-roadbook/

The Tour de France route of West Berlin in 1987. Picture from: https://procyclingmaps.com/product/tour-de-france-1987-livre-de-route-officiel-official-roadbook/

Good news for German cycling fans via @tagesspiegel.de: the Tour de France Grand Départ 2029 might be coming to Berlin 🚴🇩🇪

The last time this happened was in West Berlin back in 1987.

www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/berlin...

26.02.2026 08:26 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

I mostly just post pictures of the beers that I'm drinking but sure, thanks for the follow back!

25.02.2026 19:53 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Lautering a 100% Wheat Malt Mash - Daft Eejit Brewing In which I briefly describe how I managed to lauter and sparge a 100% wheat malt mash without any stuck sparge using a historic technique.

After a long and exhausting brew day (triple decoction mashing 😐) of a historic recipe involving 100% wheat malt, I wrote a brief article how I managed to lauter and sparge the mash without any issues, using a historic lautering aid.

dafteejit.com/2026/02/laut...

#homebrewing #beerhistory

21.02.2026 18:20 👍 15 🔁 6 💬 0 📌 0
Two 0,5 L glasses of Eschenbräu Rauchbock

Two 0,5 L glasses of Eschenbräu Rauchbock

Feierabendbier with @silentdan.bsky.social at the Eschenbräu brewpub in Wedding.

The seasonal Rauchbock tastes like Bamberg.

18.02.2026 19:29 👍 16 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Post image Post image Post image

Some Berlin kneipen (pubs) have been around for more than a hundred years and they’re still going strong…

www.slowtravelberlin.com/around-berli...

17.02.2026 15:05 👍 21 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0
Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico

Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico

Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico, 2022. A satirical novel about a millennial expat couple who move to Berlin.

My favourite quote: "Wedding, in the west, existed only very faintly on their mental map, even though with every year it seemed to take on more substance, as if slowly coming into focus."

17.02.2026 08:57 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 2 📌 0

I grew up in neighbouring Dore Village and neglected these pubs in my formative beer drinking years.

Your posts have provided inspiration to revisit some of the local pubs when I visit my parents there next month.

15.02.2026 13:59 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

My pal @fredcook.co.uk has been writing about darts boards in Bristol pubs.

There seem to be quite a few pubs with dart boards in Bristol serving draught Bass. Is this just a coincidence or are these somehow intertwined?

15.02.2026 11:27 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0

“The dartboard itself is a fairly old school Nodor Supabull 2. It had clearly been rotated a few times, but still had life left in it. That said, due to the chunky wires, staples and certain well-used patches, bounce outs were a theme of the night.”

09.02.2026 09:47 👍 6 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

Looks like an excellent day out!

It was nice to see Cameron Mason sending it on the first few laps too.

08.02.2026 11:05 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Amazing! How was the atmosphere? I looked out for you on Discovery+ coverage but no success.

07.02.2026 17:10 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
🔔 Pub Dartboard Review - The Bell · Fred Cook

I'm starting a series of pub dartboard reviews! First edition. The Bell:

fredcook.co.uk/2026/02/03/T...

04.02.2026 10:16 👍 8 🔁 6 💬 0 📌 0

Godspeed 🫡

24.01.2026 13:22 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

I've had some decent veggie lunch at the Augustiner Keller, usually under a tenner too.

20.01.2026 11:55 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
A picture of the inside of the G. Schneider & Sohn brewery restaurant. It's very busy. There's a man messing up pouring the beer from a bottle into his stoneware mug. The woman with him looks annoyed, while the man next to them at the table points at the mess he's making. The lonely man at the end of table looks like he just wants to eat his meal in silence.

In the background, there's already a waitress coming with a towel while carrying another stoneware mug. On the next table, a woman is sat and allows a child to drink from her beer glass. Next to them, three middle-aged men are sat, looking serious, while one of them is holding up a bottle. Behind all of that, more people at sat, one elderly guy in traditional Dachauer Tracht clothing, another one in a suit, and a another one reading in a newspaper. Behind them, there's a bunch of men sat on the last table. One of them is shooting the cork of an overpressurised bottle on the head of someone else, while the others are laughing. Another waitress is carefully pouring a bottle of beer into a stoneware mug. Behind the counter, another waitress is taking down notes in a book. On the counter, 5 bottles are stood upright, with more bottles placed in a tray just below the counter.

Source: https://stadtgeschichte-muenchen.de/bilder/d_bilder.php?id=2374

A picture of the inside of the G. Schneider & Sohn brewery restaurant. It's very busy. There's a man messing up pouring the beer from a bottle into his stoneware mug. The woman with him looks annoyed, while the man next to them at the table points at the mess he's making. The lonely man at the end of table looks like he just wants to eat his meal in silence. In the background, there's already a waitress coming with a towel while carrying another stoneware mug. On the next table, a woman is sat and allows a child to drink from her beer glass. Next to them, three middle-aged men are sat, looking serious, while one of them is holding up a bottle. Behind all of that, more people at sat, one elderly guy in traditional Dachauer Tracht clothing, another one in a suit, and a another one reading in a newspaper. Behind them, there's a bunch of men sat on the last table. One of them is shooting the cork of an overpressurised bottle on the head of someone else, while the others are laughing. Another waitress is carefully pouring a bottle of beer into a stoneware mug. Behind the counter, another waitress is taking down notes in a book. On the counter, 5 bottles are stood upright, with more bottles placed in a tray just below the counter. Source: https://stadtgeschichte-muenchen.de/bilder/d_bilder.php?id=2374

I found this hilarious picture of the old interior of Schneider Weißbierbrauerei, presumably from before the rebuild 1901-1903. There's so much going on!

12.01.2026 19:54 👍 21 🔁 3 💬 3 📌 0

This might be the brewer in me talking but my dream bathroom is made entirely from stainless steel.

Hear me out: you close the bathroom door and a spray ball emerges from the ceiling. CIP treatment, including caustic and sanitising. Highly automated, zero scrubbing required.

10.01.2026 18:01 👍 6 🔁 0 💬 3 📌 0

Some Berlin pub toilet highlights, inspired by @willhawkes.bsky.social

10.01.2026 14:02 👍 14 🔁 2 💬 2 📌 0

The treasury underneath the cathedral is quite fun and the NS-Dokumentationszentrum is also worth a visit.

I would definitely recommend walking up the windy stairs towards the spire of the cathedral on a clear day.

09.01.2026 13:37 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

It's sad to see so many small, independent gastro businesses struggling.

06.01.2026 09:56 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

It's such a shame, especially after several years of semi-regular Stammtisch at Foersters.

06.01.2026 09:54 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
foerstersfeinebiere on Instagram: "Liebe Freunde des Foersters,das Neue Jahr hat begonnen und schon kommt eine schlechte Nachricht.Wie haben das Foersters vor zwei Ja…" Liebe Freunde des Foersters,das Neue Jahr hat begonnen und schon kommt eine schlechte Nachricht.Wie haben das Foersters vor zwei Jahren übernommen und wollten im Sinne von Sven, der vor 12 Jahren diesen Ort für feine Bierkultur ins Leben gerufen hat, das Geschäft weiterführen. Mit Herz & Verstand haben wir Altes / Gutes beibehalten und mit neuen Idee erweitert. Wir würden aus unserer Sicht sagen, dass es nicht erfolglos war, doch leider hat es nicht gereicht. Veränderungen des Gäste- & Konsumverhaltens, Kostenfaktoren, sowie die alltäglichen Schwierigkeiten die das Business mit sich bringt, zwingen uns zu dieser schwierigen und traurigen Entscheidung.Wir geben zum 01.02.2026 das Geschäft auf und müssen das Foersters Feine Biere schließen.Wir bedauern diese Entscheidung zutiefst, danken allen Menschen die in den letzten Jahren zu Gast bei uns waren. Einen besonderen Dank an all die Stammgäste die Woche für Woche bei uns eingekehrt sind und ein Teil unseres Lebens wurden. Wir werden Euch vermissen. Vielen Dank für die 2 Jahre Foersters Feine Biere.Liebe GrüßeMarta & MikeP.S.: Natürlich gibt es noch ein AbschlussBier. Zum letzten Umtrunk begrüßen wir Euch am 30.01.26 - Fässer & Kühlschränke leeren. Aber auch an allen anderen Tagen, die wir noch offen haben, freuen wir uns auf Euch. P.P.S.: Ich werde zusammen mit dem Vermieter versuchen eine Lösung bzw. Nachfolger zu finden, so dass dieser Ort für Bierkultur erhalten bleibt. Nur nicht mit uns….

Foersters Feine Biere in Berlin is permanently closing on 1st February 2026, according to a post on their Instagram.

First Schneeeule, now this. Sad times for the Berlin beer scene.

www.instagram.com/p/DTIgjE9CLT...

05.01.2026 15:17 👍 9 🔁 6 💬 3 📌 0

Eisenhüttenstadt is a fun day trip from Berlin if you fancy some DDR charm.

bsky.app/profile/john...

03.01.2026 12:09 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Book cover of James by Percival Everett

Book cover of James by Percival Everett

5. James by Percival Everett, 2024.

This was a really nice combination of adventure, humour and emotion.

01.01.2026 11:28 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Book cover of Tokyo Express by Seichō Matsumoto

Book cover of Tokyo Express by Seichō Matsumoto

4. Tokyo Express by Seichō Matsumoto, 1958.

If you enjoy slow paced mystery and intricately studying train timetables, then this might be for you.

01.01.2026 11:28 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Book cover of I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin

Book cover of I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin

3. I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by @jasonkpargin.bsky.social, 2025.

An excellent recommendation by @evanrail.bsky.social. Both funny and terrifying at the same time.

01.01.2026 11:28 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Book cover of Stasiland by Anna Funder

Book cover of Stasiland by Anna Funder

2. Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall by Anna Funder, 2002.

Fascinating stories of normal people encountering bizarre/scary situations in the GDR.

01.01.2026 11:28 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Book cover of Any Human Heart by William Boyd

Book cover of Any Human Heart by William Boyd

1. Any Human Heart by William Boyd, 2002.

This character-driven tour of the 20th century was just excellent.

01.01.2026 11:28 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
My StoryGraph Wrap-Up 2025

My StoryGraph Wrap-Up 2025

My @thestorygraph.com 2025 reading round-up. I read 57 books in 2025, which is the most I've ever read in a year by some margin.

Here are my top 5 books that I read last year, in no particular order:

🧵📚

01.01.2026 11:28 👍 7 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

I might have to add this to my list.

I appreciate the fact that Schreckenskammer are one of the few German beer brands who are transparent about their beer being contract brewed at another site.

30.12.2025 12:47 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0