Rosenstadt German-style Brewery opens first Taproom “Ausschank”
German-style beer brand Rosenstadt Brewery has been contract brewing beers like Kolsch, Helles, Dunkel, and Pilsner for a decade now but never once had a location of their own to call home - until now. As first reported by the New School in June Rosenstadt has secured their first brick-and-mortar space at 2117 NE Oregon St, Portland, OR 97232 and after 3 months of refurbishing the space have quietly soft opened the taproom to the public.
Founded by Tobias Hahn and Nick Greiner, Rosenstadt is one of few Oregon breweries to stay devoted to German-style brewing traditions in styles and brand. Though their production has moved from Fanno Creek Brewing in Tigard, to Portland Brewing Co., and today brews at both Hopworks Brewing and Zoiglhaus Brewing. Over the years their beers have went from draft-only to stubby 12oz bottles to 16oz cans and 6-packs, with an impressive self-distribution business.
The Rosenstadt Brewing taproom is located in the same space that was home to Culmination Brewing until earlier this year. That beer business had expanded to take up four different suites inside the Bindery Annex community of small businesses, Rosenstadt has pulled that footprint back to 2 areas for a taproom and distribution office. The former on-site brewery is gone, but this will be the new home for Rosenstadt kegs, cans, and the defacto home base with brewing still taking place off-site.
The taproom or “Ausschank” is centered around the wood-paneled bar currently dispensing 10 drafts, and more additional faucets than the brewery can currently fill. All the beer lines were replaced from the Culmination days, as well as refinishing the cooler with wood cladding and a copper back bar. One of the coolest features for Rosenstadt is 2 side-pull Lukr faucets for tightly packed bubbles and the smoothest lager pour around.
Other functional and aesthetic upgrades include the removal of two TV screens that previously displayed beer info, Rosenstadt opting for paper menus that offer more information. They also installed a new HVAC system, upgraded plumbing and electrical, added track lighting, a new sound system, outdoor flower boxes and of course the must-have Bavarian-style glassware. They even took the old bar stools and gave them a fresh powder coating of the distinct Oktoberfest baby blue, and the bolted in high top oak tables have been replaced with German-style Bier hall seating.
The kitchen space, most recently occupied by FOMO Chicken, is in the process of being overhauled with new equipment for Rosenstadt to offer their own house food menu. But for now the brewery has teamed-up with Fressen Artisan Bakery, Portland’s premiere German bakery which makes breads, pretzels, and pastries in the German tradition by hand, while incorporating organic, local, and sustainable ingredients.
If you have enjoyed German pretzels around town, you probably have tried one of Fressen’s products. But the bakery and cafe in the Montavilla neighborhood offers much more, from sandwiches and brunch to savory and sweets. Fressen has now set-up inside of Rosenstadt’s taproom with their light cafe menu.
Pretzel
Flour, water, salt yeast, maltEmmentaler Pretzel
Pretzel, butter, Emmental cheese, picklesBavarian Croissant with cheese & peppers
Croissant, Muenster cheese,pickled hot peppers, mixed greensLeberkase Pretzel
Pretzel, Leberkase (Bavarian pork and beef meatloaf) pickles, chivesBaguette with Salami and Cheese
Seeded whole wheat baguette, butter, spicy salami, pickled onions, brie cheese, arugula, balsamic dressingPrezel-wrapped Frankfurter
pretzel dough, Pork FrankfurterAlmond Bar
Wheat flour, sugar, salt, butter, almonds, raspberry jam.
Rosenstadt beers are drinkable and balanced, just like the classic German beers most people expect and served in the same sizes with choice of 0.25 Liter, 0.5 Liter, and 1 Liter pours in appropriate glassware or mug. On the low end of strength is Rosenstadt’s Huttli light-bodied Suisse-inspired lager brewed in collaboration with Olympia Provisions Alpenrausch restaurant is just 4.6% abv and with a mild modern orange citrus note from Mandarina Bavaria hops. The Ur-Weisse is the darkest beer on the menu, a bready and lightly chocolaty beer with chewy nutty caramel and dark fruit notes with banana and clove phenols with a balanced finish and still just 5.4% abv. The strongest beer on the menu is the current seasonal Festbier, a malt-forward golden lager with aromas of almond, bread, golden raisins, and toast with a spicy floral noble hop character and crisp finish at 6.2% abv.
Rosenstadt’s Bierstube is a quaint no-frills space ideal for casual meetups and beers on the covered patio and undoubtedly the largest selection of locally made craft German-style beers in Portland. The space is family friendly and dog-friendly outdoors, in addition to beers and light snacks they have red and white wine, hop water, sparkling water and soda.
Rosenstadt Brewery
2117 NE Oregon St 97232
HOURS:
Thursday & Friday 4-9pm
Saturday & Sunday from 1-9pm