Where the beer comes from the garage: visiting a special brewery

Created: 03/23/2022, 11:00 am

By: Christopher Peters

Michael Chance Graves in his garage, which the Peitinger has converted into a small brewery in recent months.

© Christopher Peters

Michael Chance Graves from Peiting has fulfilled his dream of having his own small brewery.

A visit to his garage, where the beer is served.

Peiting – It was an unusual application that the Peiting construction committee dealt with last June.

The American and resident of Peiting, Michael Chance Graves, wanted to set up a small brewery in the garage of his house at Heinrichstraße 14.

A good three quarters of a year has passed since then.

Time that Graves used to turn his dream of his own microbrewery into reality, as can be seen during a visit.

The Peitinger, who learned the craft in various traditional businesses, has been brewing his own varieties under the "Crossroads Ales & Lagers" brand since 2018.

So far, however, he has had to rely on other breweries for this - the effort is correspondingly high.

A short detour to the garage is now enough for Graves to check the fermentation process on a daily basis.

"It's a great relief," says the brewer happily.

Corona delayed the project

On the way there, Peitinger's patience was put to the test.

Not only did the room first have to be completely tiled, but due to delivery problems due to the corona pandemic, the two large tanks for the beer ordered in the USA were delayed until the end of October.

But now everything is in place.

Graves proudly shows the small brewery with the mash kettle, where the malt is mixed with warm water and heated.

The hops are added later, before the liquid is mixed with yeast and poured into the large tanks for fermentation.

Each of them holds around 240 liters.

"If things go well, brew day is over in nine hours," Graves explains.

Then patience is required, depending on the type of beer it takes several weeks

until the Peitinger can fill the beer into bottles in the bottling plant.

It is then labeled by hand.

Craft beers are his passion

In the future, Graves does not only want to serve traditional varieties such as Helles or Weißbier, which are just waiting to be bottled, in his garage.

He likes to experiment with new recipes, so-called craft beers are his passion.

In a smaller tank he has set up a Belgian quadruple.

"I like beers that stand out from the mainstream."

Of course, word has gotten around that Graves doesn't park cars in his garage, but brews beer.

Many people have already come by to see what he's doing there, says Peitinger and laughs.

And some people took the opportunity to stock up on their local beer supplies.

Much to Graves' delight.

Business is going pretty well, and recently his beer has also been available at the Jocher beverage store.

"I'm happy for a start." CHRISTOPH PETERS

Michael Chance Graves has compiled information about his brewery and the types of beer he produces on the website www.crossroads-bier.de.