Berlin-Prenzlauerberg:
Katz und Maus (Circus Hostel Brewing)
Friday 1st August 2015
Bob Thompson
The latest addition to the already vibrant Berlin Brew Pub scene. I have described it as in Prenzlauerberg although it is very close to the Mitte district; the old central area of East Berlin. It is just north of Torstrasse which is a semi-circular road that was built on the old city walls. Our group came out of the U-Bahn station at the wrong end and had a bit of a walk to get to the pub, see below for the right way to do it.
I was a bit wary of a brew pub in a hostel but it turned out to be completely acceptable and I would return. I was with a number of fellow travellers: Steve, Russ, Trev, Rich, Vaughan, Laurie and Richard. We turned up at around 18.40 which caused a problem for a short time.
At street level this is a normal café-bar with a few seats outside that sells national beer brands. However the brewery and the bar in the basement didn’t open till 19.00, I didn’t know this. However the waitress took pity on us and went downstairs and returned with a tray of eight beers.
We thought the beer was quite good; unfiltered and unpasteurised. It comes from a very small brewery in the cellar bar. It is described as a Pils and I suppose it is, having a medium bitterness. I understand they occasionally brew a special yet it must be born in mind that when we visited, the brewery had been open just over six months.
Upstairs in the café bar we managed to all squeeze round a large tall table. The rest of the décor is as expected with modern wooden furniture. Downstairs is completely different with a genuine cellar bar atmosphere. It’s very comfortable with leather bench wall seating. In a throwback to earlier years there are also leather pouffes.
Stools are cushioned and there is a book library and many pictures on the walls which also have diagrams of the brewing process. It is all very pleasant in a haphazard way but it works. Black brick-tiles are on the wall behind the bar and can also be found surrounding the tiny brewery around the corner. I presume this is only used during the day when this bar is closed.
This little bar is well worth a visit especially as it produces a beer that cannot be found elsewhere.
The menu is quite eclectic and includes “Twisted German Burgers” and also pies, something I’ve never seen before in this country. There are three: Chicken & Leek, Vegetarian and unbelievably, Currywurst, weird or what! There is also Potato Soup amongst the other offerings.
Important information:
Katz & Maus at the Circus Hostel, Weinbergsweg 1A, 10119, Berlin. Tel: 030 2000 3939
Open: Monday-Sunday 08.00-02.00
The downstairs bar that serves the house-brewed beer opens at 19.00
The pub is right outside Rosenthalerplatz U-Bahn station which is on line U1. This station is only two stops from Alexanderplatz, the epicentre of public transport in East Berlin.
It is important that you exit the station at the end signed for Brunnenstrasse and the tram stops. Once at the top of the steps to Rosenthalerplatz you will see the sign of the Circus Hostel across the road.
