Brewing Process - Quality Takes Time

Excellent beer

takes time

As a slow brewing brewery, time is one of our most important ingredients. The more time we take, the better our excellent beer becomes. Because that’s the only way our unique taste comes about. Learn more about our brewing process.

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Awards

For our ingredients

Water

In der Privatbrauerei Hirt verwenden wir ausschließlich Wasser aus unseren 24 hauseigenen Bergquellen. Das weiche, kristallklare Bergquellwasser ist ideal beschaffen und kann direkt, ohne Aufbereitung, zum Brauen verwendet werden. So bleiben alle natürlichen Mineralien erhalten und das Wasser naturbelassen – die perfekte Basis für höchste Bierqualität.
Barley

On our own fields—right at the gates of the brewery—we grow a large portion of the barley we use for our Hirter beer. Carefully cultivated and strictly controlled, it meets the highest quality standards. This regional raw material gives our beers their characteristic full-bodied flavor and forms the basis for true enjoyment.
Hops

We source our aroma hops both from organic cultivation in the Mühlviertel region and from the world's largest growing area, the idyllic Hallertau region in Bavaria. Its fine, spicy notes give each brew its characteristic freshness and unmistakable bitterness. At the same time, it contributes to natural stability and full aroma.

For our brewing process

Mashing

Crushed malt is mixed with water and heated in stages. During this process, enzymes convert natural starch into malt sugar—the basis for the later alcohol content and complex flavor nuances. Our traditional mashing process emphasizes gentle processing and gives our premium Hirter beers their rich full-bodied character and deep color—a pleasure that takes time.
Lautering and Boiling

In the lauter tun, the solid components are separated from the liquid. During the subsequent boiling in the wort kettle, hops are added several times—first for the finely bitter base bitterness, then during boiling for depth, and finally for full aroma. The organic aroma hops provide the typical bouquet and shape the unmistakable taste of our beers. Each step is carried out with care to bring out the natural aromas to their best advantage.
Fermentation and Maturation

In our fermentation tanks, the fermented wort becomes beer. The elaborate two-tank fermentation process enables particularly gentle maturation—between five weeks and six months, depending on the variety. This creates beers with harmonious taste and the highest quality. Because with us, every beer gets exactly the time it needs.
Filtration

For preserving our beers, we use double filtration. This retains all the valuable flavor components—and preserves the natural beer taste.
Bottling

In our modern bottle washing, filling, and packaging facility, up to 30,000 bottles per hour are cleaned, filled, and labeled—a crucial step in ensuring the high quality of our beers. With us, traditional brewing craftsmanship and state-of-the-art technology go hand in hand—for the highest quality, from the first to the last step.

For awards

European Beer Star

The European Beer Star is one of the most prestigious international beer competitions and honors the best beers worldwide. Several of our varieties have won gold, silver, and bronze there multiple times—impressive proof of the sensory diversity and characteristic taste that have defined our brewing craft since 1270.