150 years of Weiherer beer - what an anniversary and what a party! It's unbelievable how many beer lovers came to Weiher from 14 to 16 June to celebrate the big anniversary with us. Regular guests, guests of honour, customers, friends and collaboration partners travelled from near and far to experience a spectacular weekend. The weather gods were merciful right from the start on Friday. While it rained for most of the week, the sun peaked through the clouds on the first day of the festival in the evening. The first guests arrived shortly before the weekend. First and foremost the collaboration partners from overseas, Matt Cole from Fat Head's Brewery in Cleveland, Ohio and Alexandre Bazzo from Cervejaria Bamberg in Brazil, who travelled several thousand kilometres to Weiher with friends and family. Together with the duo "M&M", they also filled our brewery courtyard with powerful vocals. Not only the well-known "Prosit" resounded several times, but also German and international folk songs were sung together - more or less confidently. A perfect start!
Our Roland sums it up: "What a party. Special thanks go to our fantastic team and the many volunteers! Without you, something like this would not be possible and we are grateful and proud to have you!“
Saturday was probably the most impressive day of the festival. On this day, as on all the other days, the little Weiher fans got their money's worth with a children's carousel, bouncy castle, wheel of fortune and face painting. They were probably not yet interested in the fact that our two managing directors Roland and Oswald were able to welcome the "who's who" of political celebrities to the ceremony from 2.30 pm. In addition to District Administrator Johann Kalb, members of the Bundestag Emmi Zeulner, Lisa Badum and Thomas Silberhorn as well as state parliament member Melanie Huml, Upper Franconian District Vice President Thomas Engel and the mayor of the municipality, Regina Wohlpart, did us the honour. In their humorous, genuinely Franconian speech, Roland and Oswald spoke above all about the development of the brewery over 150 years and about their family: Without the courage and diligence of their parents Anni and Erwin Kundmüller, the business would never have become what it is today. The two of them ran the brewery, which was founded by Michael Bayer in 1874 with one type of beer, very successfully and with great passion for over 44 years before handing it over to the brothers Oswald and Roland in 2013. There are now 34 types of beer, from classics such as lager to unusual special brew series, which are brewed with partners from Brazil and the USA, for example. The development of the "36 Kreisla" was also particularly exciting. The first district beer is the result of an initiative by District Administrator Johann "Hans" Kalb and was brewed with us for the first time in 2015. It was also the district administrator who emphasised the social values in his speech alongside the well-known craftsmanship.
Johann Kalb: "We are proud of you! What you do here is sensational in all areas. It's raining award after award for your beer, but that's not all. You are also socially active and have always initiated great campaigns. In addition to our district beer, I remember, for example, the Ukraine beer or the We don't throw away beer campaign during Corona, when you even gave away your good beer. The new chronicle, where the proceeds go to the Sternenzelt children's hospice, is another example that is typical of the Weiherer. They are active, great on the market, but also very social.“
The 150-year chronicle, which is sold for just €3, will still be available in the pub after the festival weekend and the entire amount will continue to be donated to the Sternenzelt children's and youth hospice in Bamberg.
In her congratulatory speech, Melanie Huml, who is also involved with the children's hospice, mentioned the successful symbiosis of innovation and tradition at Kundmüller Brewery, which makes the great successes possible in the first place, and concluded with a short "Keep up the good work!". MdB Lisa Badum smiled and said that even in political Berlin, Franconian beer was the "star of the evening". In addition to the political guests, the Managing Director of the Bavarian Association of Private Breweries, Stefan Stang, also congratulated the company on its achievements and 150 years of Weiherer beer in his speech.
Stefan Stang: "I can only congratulate you on what has been and is being created here! I wish you and your brewery all the best and every success for the future. We at the Bavarian Association of Private Breweries are proud of such members!"
The ceremony and speeches were followed by the real star of the evening: the special "Weiherer Festbier" brew was jointly tapped by two former beer queens. With loud cheers from the Radio Bamberg duo Fabi and Stego, who were broadcasting live from Weiher, Sabine Bergert and Melanie Streit showed why they were rightly allowed to wear the crown. They skilfully tapped the first beer, which the guests were able to enjoy with all kinds of well-known Weiher delicacies, such as beer-braised roast, Schäuferla and knuckle of pork in beer sauce. Before the Franconian cult band "Dochrinna" entertained the crowd directly from a Weiher lorry on the evening of the second day of the festival, it was time for a blessing from on high: Pastor Christian Montag inaugurated the new catering kitchen and the new bottle filler of our brewery in a wonderfully entertaining manner.
The final Sunday lived up to its name and was all about family and tradition. In addition to the play facilities, the younger guests enjoyed the large playground right next to the beer garden. As on all days, there was a large selection of Franconian delicacies, snacks and the best from the grill. And, of course, Weiherer beer in all its flavours and fruity Weiherer lemonades. The numerous guests also enjoyed a traditional Weißwurst breakfast with the band "Die Zucchinis", coffee and cake and live music with Suzan Baker and Dennis Lüddicke at the end. On the last day of the festival, master brewer and Franconian beer legend Georg Lechner still filled many bottles of the special festival brew by hand. These could be drunk directly or taken home by the guests as an unusual souvenir of the anniversary celebrations. Before that, however, many people went on the new self-guided tour "Neigschaut", which was completed just in time for the festival weekend. We think it's a great idea that allows guests to explore the brewery and its 150-year history on their own with their smartphone all year round.
Our Oswald says about the party:: "We are overwhelmed! I'm still lost for words when I think about this incredible festival weekend. A huge thank you once again to everyone who celebrated with us. Your encouragement only increases our motivation, even after 150 years, and we are already looking forward to the next festival and every visitor to Weiher. Thank you!"
