The Ernst Barre Private Brewery is a brewery in the East Westphalian town of Lübbecke in the north-western German district of Minden-Lübbecke. It was founded by Ernst Johann Barre in 1842. Along with its immediate competitor, the Herforder Brauerei, it is one of the largest breweries in East Westphalia, and is thus of regional importance. The brewery is located at the southern end of the pass over the Wiehen Hills between Lübbecke and Hüllhorst, at the base of the Reineberg hill, and has been in the same family for generations.
History and regional importance
The brewery not only supports numerous festivals in the region, but it has even founded a festival of its own, the Bierbrunnenfest, which has been celebrated in Lübbecke since 1954. Incredibly, this involves serving thousands of litres of beer to the general populace - at no charge whatsoever. Barre Bräu is not just popular in the Lübbecker Land, but also further north on the North German Plain, and in the district of Herford, to the south of Lübbecke. Barre Bräu is also exported to Taiwan and China. Barre Bräu is brewed in accordance with the purity law of 1516, and the brewery is a founding member of the Die Freien Brauer initiative, an association of medium-sized private breweries in Germany and Austria. According to its own sources, Barre Bräu produced of beer during 2010, which is just over 2% of the annual output of Germany's largest brewery. However, Barre Bräu has a reputation for quality and operates very successfully in its niche market.
Barre Maibock is only available in spring; all other types are sold year-round.
Features
The brewery runs its own museum, Barre's Brauwelt. The museum opened its doors in 2001, and is the only one of its kind in Ostwestfalen-Lippe. The impressive sandstone-and-brick building housing the museum was among the first to be built when the brewery was established, and it was used as a brewing and storage cellar until the mid-1980s. The exhibit shows a complete production facility, including numerous carefully restored brewing machines and tools used in beer making, and gives a good overview of the brewery's history. Experienced guides provide visitors with interesting information about the art of beer brewing during the 19th and 20th centuries. The brewery's products can subsequently be sampled in the adjacent restaurant.
