Ben Palmer
@johnzee7.bsky.social
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.
November 11, 2025 at 8:56 AM
I'm currently drinking the Alt Berliner Dunkel in the Eschenbräu brewpub.
It is tasting deliciously spooky 👻
It is tasting deliciously spooky 👻
October 31, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I'm currently drinking the Alt Berliner Dunkel in the Eschenbräu brewpub.
It is tasting deliciously spooky 👻
It is tasting deliciously spooky 👻
Ketwurst, the East German snack that nearly went into extinction.
It's a hollowed bread roll filled with sausage and ketchup. It doesn't look overly appetising but it tastes pretty good.
It's a hollowed bread roll filled with sausage and ketchup. It doesn't look overly appetising but it tastes pretty good.
October 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Ketwurst, the East German snack that nearly went into extinction.
It's a hollowed bread roll filled with sausage and ketchup. It doesn't look overly appetising but it tastes pretty good.
It's a hollowed bread roll filled with sausage and ketchup. It doesn't look overly appetising but it tastes pretty good.
Last month I competed in the German Aeropress Championship 2025. And I was knocked out in the first round.
But I still really enjoyed the learning experience and being cheered on by fellow Aeropress brewers @louisekrennmair.bsky.social and @silentdan.bsky.social ☕
But I still really enjoyed the learning experience and being cheered on by fellow Aeropress brewers @louisekrennmair.bsky.social and @silentdan.bsky.social ☕
October 10, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Last month I competed in the German Aeropress Championship 2025. And I was knocked out in the first round.
But I still really enjoyed the learning experience and being cheered on by fellow Aeropress brewers @louisekrennmair.bsky.social and @silentdan.bsky.social ☕
But I still really enjoyed the learning experience and being cheered on by fellow Aeropress brewers @louisekrennmair.bsky.social and @silentdan.bsky.social ☕
Some photos from my recent trip to Sheffield and Bakewell 📷
I've lived abroad for nearly 10 years now but there is something very comforting about returning to this region in the UK.
I've lived abroad for nearly 10 years now but there is something very comforting about returning to this region in the UK.
October 5, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Some photos from my recent trip to Sheffield and Bakewell 📷
I've lived abroad for nearly 10 years now but there is something very comforting about returning to this region in the UK.
I've lived abroad for nearly 10 years now but there is something very comforting about returning to this region in the UK.
Tomorrow I'm competing in the German Aeropress Championship 2025.
I've been making some final adjustments to my competition recipe this afternoon and the coffee is tasting good, so let's see what the jury thinks tomorrow.
I've been making some final adjustments to my competition recipe this afternoon and the coffee is tasting good, so let's see what the jury thinks tomorrow.
September 27, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Tomorrow I'm competing in the German Aeropress Championship 2025.
I've been making some final adjustments to my competition recipe this afternoon and the coffee is tasting good, so let's see what the jury thinks tomorrow.
I've been making some final adjustments to my competition recipe this afternoon and the coffee is tasting good, so let's see what the jury thinks tomorrow.
Most weekends I join a local group ride in Berlin. Yesterday we cycled along the former Berlin Wall, now East Side Gallery. I'm at the front of the group wearing a white helmet.
Cycling has been such a great way to explore Berlin and revisit some classic locations.
Cycling has been such a great way to explore Berlin and revisit some classic locations.
September 21, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Most weekends I join a local group ride in Berlin. Yesterday we cycled along the former Berlin Wall, now East Side Gallery. I'm at the front of the group wearing a white helmet.
Cycling has been such a great way to explore Berlin and revisit some classic locations.
Cycling has been such a great way to explore Berlin and revisit some classic locations.
Happy Oktoberfest from Berlin 🥨🎡🍻
September 20, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Happy Oktoberfest from Berlin 🥨🎡🍻
There is a pub in Berlin where you can order a Czech Dark Lager and hermelin and still get change from 10€.
Thank you @europeanbarguide.bsky.social for the recommendation!
Thank you @europeanbarguide.bsky.social for the recommendation!
September 11, 2025 at 5:52 PM
There is a pub in Berlin where you can order a Czech Dark Lager and hermelin and still get change from 10€.
Thank you @europeanbarguide.bsky.social for the recommendation!
Thank you @europeanbarguide.bsky.social for the recommendation!
Homebrewing today with @akrennmair.bsky.social.
It has become an annual tradition that we brew a Czech Dark Lager with a double decoction mash, Saaz hops and lager yeast.
It has become an annual tradition that we brew a Czech Dark Lager with a double decoction mash, Saaz hops and lager yeast.
September 6, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Homebrewing today with @akrennmair.bsky.social.
It has become an annual tradition that we brew a Czech Dark Lager with a double decoction mash, Saaz hops and lager yeast.
It has become an annual tradition that we brew a Czech Dark Lager with a double decoction mash, Saaz hops and lager yeast.
We also have a small hop garden at the VLB Berlin, which is also in Wedding!
September 4, 2025 at 6:35 PM
We also have a small hop garden at the VLB Berlin, which is also in Wedding!
German hop harvest update:
Peak maturity has been reached in Berlin-Wedding, one of the lesser known growing regions.
These beauties were spotted in the car park of my local Getränke Hoffmann drinks store.
Peak maturity has been reached in Berlin-Wedding, one of the lesser known growing regions.
These beauties were spotted in the car park of my local Getränke Hoffmann drinks store.
September 4, 2025 at 4:28 PM
German hop harvest update:
Peak maturity has been reached in Berlin-Wedding, one of the lesser known growing regions.
These beauties were spotted in the car park of my local Getränke Hoffmann drinks store.
Peak maturity has been reached in Berlin-Wedding, one of the lesser known growing regions.
These beauties were spotted in the car park of my local Getränke Hoffmann drinks store.
We were on holiday in the Spreewald last year and the smoked fish sandwiches from this place were really tasty.
www.spreewaldraeucherei.de/index.htm
www.spreewaldraeucherei.de/index.htm
August 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM
We were on holiday in the Spreewald last year and the smoked fish sandwiches from this place were really tasty.
www.spreewaldraeucherei.de/index.htm
www.spreewaldraeucherei.de/index.htm
Happy Caturday from Cascade 🐈
August 9, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Happy Caturday from Cascade 🐈
Weekend trip to Bamberg with my Stammtisch group.
First stop: Brauerei Keesmann and the Herren Pils is as good as ever.
First stop: Brauerei Keesmann and the Herren Pils is as good as ever.
July 25, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Weekend trip to Bamberg with my Stammtisch group.
First stop: Brauerei Keesmann and the Herren Pils is as good as ever.
First stop: Brauerei Keesmann and the Herren Pils is as good as ever.
This beer was released in spring last year and I have still not seen it for sale outside of Munich, not even in brewery-owned restaurants. This bottle was a free sample.
It is still probably one of the best alcohol free beers that I've tried so far.
It is still probably one of the best alcohol free beers that I've tried so far.
July 23, 2025 at 6:20 PM
This beer was released in spring last year and I have still not seen it for sale outside of Munich, not even in brewery-owned restaurants. This bottle was a free sample.
It is still probably one of the best alcohol free beers that I've tried so far.
It is still probably one of the best alcohol free beers that I've tried so far.
We are hosting a work dinner this evening for some brewing scientists who have travelled to Berlin from TU München Weihenstephan.
So of course we're eating at Lindenbräu, a fake Bavarian restaurant at tourist trap Potsdamer Platz.
So of course we're eating at Lindenbräu, a fake Bavarian restaurant at tourist trap Potsdamer Platz.
July 9, 2025 at 5:33 PM
We are hosting a work dinner this evening for some brewing scientists who have travelled to Berlin from TU München Weihenstephan.
So of course we're eating at Lindenbräu, a fake Bavarian restaurant at tourist trap Potsdamer Platz.
So of course we're eating at Lindenbräu, a fake Bavarian restaurant at tourist trap Potsdamer Platz.
Our talented friend @akrennmair.bsky.social gave my wife these handmade linocuts of our cats Cascade and Fuggles for her 30th birthday last year.
The prints are hanging in our kitchen dining area so that we can enjoy a judgmental cat stare with every meal.
The prints are hanging in our kitchen dining area so that we can enjoy a judgmental cat stare with every meal.
June 26, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Our talented friend @akrennmair.bsky.social gave my wife these handmade linocuts of our cats Cascade and Fuggles for her 30th birthday last year.
The prints are hanging in our kitchen dining area so that we can enjoy a judgmental cat stare with every meal.
The prints are hanging in our kitchen dining area so that we can enjoy a judgmental cat stare with every meal.
The quintessential Berlin Beer Experience is drinking Augustiner at the Zollpackhof Biergarten with @louisekrennmair.bsky.social and @akrennmair.bsky.social
June 14, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The quintessential Berlin Beer Experience is drinking Augustiner at the Zollpackhof Biergarten with @louisekrennmair.bsky.social and @akrennmair.bsky.social
I attended a talk at the TU Berlin from guest lecturer Dr. Eng. Jonas Trummer from Murphy & Son. The topic was the application of processing aids to improve beer stability.
It is still important for brewing students to learn about such products, even if their application in Germany is limited.
It is still important for brewing students to learn about such products, even if their application in Germany is limited.
June 10, 2025 at 12:05 PM
I attended a talk at the TU Berlin from guest lecturer Dr. Eng. Jonas Trummer from Murphy & Son. The topic was the application of processing aids to improve beer stability.
It is still important for brewing students to learn about such products, even if their application in Germany is limited.
It is still important for brewing students to learn about such products, even if their application in Germany is limited.
If @akrennmair.bsky.social and @louisekrennmair.bsky.social invite you over for homemade pizza you say yes. Trust me
June 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM
If @akrennmair.bsky.social and @louisekrennmair.bsky.social invite you over for homemade pizza you say yes. Trust me
I collected my new passport today. Now it suddenly feels quite official.
May 30, 2025 at 1:16 PM
I collected my new passport today. Now it suddenly feels quite official.
Today we cycled to the Soviet War Memorial Schönholzer Heide in Berlin.
This is a huge space in a northern suburb of Berlin and it was eerily quiet.
This is a huge space in a northern suburb of Berlin and it was eerily quiet.
May 29, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Today we cycled to the Soviet War Memorial Schönholzer Heide in Berlin.
This is a huge space in a northern suburb of Berlin and it was eerily quiet.
This is a huge space in a northern suburb of Berlin and it was eerily quiet.