Hops and Barley

Friedrichshain, Berlin –

Conveniently located just a block away from the bustling Simon-Dach-Strasse, Hops and Barley is a hip Friedrichshain brewery and bar and the perfect place to duck into for a bit of down time in the afternoon and a bit of “up time” later on.

The three rustic rooms of Hops and Barley are tightly packed with wooden tables and chairs, among which the friendly staff expertly scurries to keep the drinks and pretzels coming.

A few large copper vats scattered here and there serve as the only decoration, a visual reminder that everything is indeed brewed on the premises.

As soon as the sun goes down, a pleasantly diverse clientele begins to trickle in for relaxed conversation over inexpensive drinks. As the night wears on, the music and voices get louder; by 10pm the seats are full, and many groups push their tables together to create an affable, communal mood.

Good company and conversation aside, there’s no denying that the focus at Hops and Barley is squarely on the beer, and for good reason: these handcrafted brews – especially the Hefeweizen (wheat beer) and Dunkel (dark beer) – are not to be missed.