Interview with Hopf managing director: That's why you don't need a light beer next to the wheat beer
Created: 06/08/2022, 09:00
By: Sebastian Grauvogl
To a successful evening: (from left) Hopf boss Tilo Ruttmann, Miesbach's mayor Gerhard Braunmiller, Florian Schörghuber (member of the Schörghuber family that owns the family) and Paulaner boss Andreas Steinfatt toast each other at the Hopf brewery festival in Miesbach.
The highlight was a performance by cabaret artist Chris Böttcher.
© TP
Why is there no Helles vom Hopf?
Brewery boss Tilo Ruttmann explains on World Beer Day what the situation on the markets is currently like - and how it could continue.
Miesbach
– On the eve of World Beer Day (5 August), the Hopf wheat beer brewery celebrated its 100th anniversary with around 500 invited guests.
Quasi the end of the public festival days, which took place in June before the Miesbacher Volksfest with a lot of audience approval.
High time to talk to brewery boss Tilo Ruttmann about the current situation on the beer markets.
Mr. Ruttmann, light beer is also becoming increasingly popular outside of Bavaria. When can we finally pour ourselves a Hopf Helle?
Tilo Ruttmann:
It won't come to that.
Our specialty is and will always be wheat beer, and we want to stick to that.
Apart from that, we couldn't easily integrate a Helles into the production process in Miesbach.
But there is no need anyway, because with Hacker-Pschorr we have an excellent light beer in the Paulaner Group, which we like to serve in the festivals and inns we supply.
How is sales going at the moment? Are you back to pre-pandemic levels yet?
Tilo Ruttmann:
Not quite yet.
You have to know that two-thirds of our sales are generated in retail and one-third in gastronomy.
In the Corona period, we generated a double-digit plus in the first area, but this could not fully compensate for the slumps caused by the closed economies.
The thirst of the people should actually be all the greater now that everything is open again and festivals are taking place in every place.
Tilo Ruttmann:
That may be the case, but now there is another problem that is slowing us down: the lack of staff in the catering trade.
Some inns only open in the evening, others have additional days off, some even remain closed.
Of course we feel that very much.
Also interesting: Hopf is belatedly celebrating its 100th anniversary
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And with the energy crisis, the next factor of uncertainty is just around the corner. Should we be prepared for rising beer prices?
Tilo Ruttmann:
To make a statement about this now would be to literally look into a crystal ball.
At least we in Miesbach could switch to oil when there is a shortage of gas, and we have already filled the tank as a precaution.
But the question is what will happen to our suppliers.
The malthouses, for example, can only work with gas.
Not to mention the production of the labels and glass bottles.
Could you do a bit of pre-production now?
Tilo Ruttmann:
No.
We neither have the storage capacity for this, nor would that be compatible with our quality standards.
Keyword quality: How do you see the trend towards craft beer? Competition or rather enrichment?
Tilo Ruttmann:
Definitely the latter.
These beers have a very intense taste, so you don't immediately order more after a 0.3 liter bottle.
The classic wheat beer or Helle is much easier to drink, and you can drink it to quench your thirst.
Basically, however, the craft beer manufacturers have once again focused more on the art of brewing.
This is good for the entire industry.
As a regional brewery, we can only benefit from this, because that is exactly one of our strengths.
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