Awarded 2026/27 DAS FREIE Pilsner
A North German Pilsner with a robust bitterness and a dry character, brewed by the Gutshofbrauerei Das Freie, an estate brewery on the Gutshof Rethmar near Sehnde. The Loral hop adds a slightly peppery note and makes it one of the few Pilsners in the world with this variety.
What sets this product apart
Fresh and lively on the first sip, then the robust bitterness that marks North German Pilsners unfolds and finishes clean and long. The body stays slim to medium, so the Pilsner drinks easily without losing depth. What makes it special is the hop: Loral, a variety with an elegant, slightly peppery aroma that gives the classic Pils profile a modern nuance. Only a few Pilsners worldwide use this hop.
It all began more than 20 years ago: two brothers, their grandmother's preserving pan & the laundry room. On 21 July 2015 they opened the Gutshofbrauerei Das Freie on the Gutshof Rethmar estate near Sehnde, built up on their own initiative with the whole family. Today a ten-hectolitre brewhouse is in operation, the water comes from the Harz and the Heide, the summer barley from Lower Saxony's growing regions. And with the Broyhan, the brewery has brought back a beer style that made Hanover the beer capital of Europe in the 16th century.
Full of character. Pronounced bitterness. Certainly not for the mass market, but a great product.
Where to find this product
Available directly from the farm. Fresh and regional: straight from the source, full of flavour.
Available in selected food retailers across Lower Saxony.
