History

Hausbrauerei Altstadthof was founded in Nuremberg and has from the outset focused on ecology and craft. Since the opening in 1984 in the historic Rotbierbräuhaus in Nürnberg's Altstadt, the company has committed to brewing exclusively with organic raw materials and quality standards. In 1984 Altstadthof was the first brewery/restaurant in the area to exclusively use organic ingredients, and in 2005 brewers Reinhard Engel and Max Engel began distilling in their own AYRER`s Whisky Distillery to produce the first Organic Single Malt Whisky in Germany, which is also stored locally. The whisky is produced with their red special malt, which is also used for Nürnberger Rotbier, giving color and a unique flavor profile. In addition to standard whisky, they offer a Private Cask arrangement where customers can choose a cask, have it cleaned/refinished and follow its maturation on site.

Production / Manufacturing

Production follows a strict organic philosophy, where AYRER`s Whisky is produced according to a traditional style with modern bio-aging. The base is produced by triple distillation of New Make and then allowed 3 years of maturation in new American white oak. Subsequently, a finish can take place in a range of small casks (over 15 variants), including ex-Sherry, Ex-Port, Ex-Rum, Ex-Cognac, Ex-Bourbon as well as special cask types such as Ex-Islay, Ex-Sauternes, Ex-Marsala, Ex-Amarone and Ex-Bordeaux. A central element in the process is slow fermentation at low temperatures with a particular focus on preserving character and quality without filtration and without coloring.

Whisky ages in two primary environments: a climate-controlled warehouse in Altstadthof near the distillery at about 15–20 °C or by the city wall at around 10–15 °C. Most of the maturation takes place in small casks (5 cl, 50 cl) in a maintained, controlled process, and Private Cask experiences are offered where customers can choose a cask and obtain labeling and certified ownership at the end of maturation. Additionally, they experiment with stronger versions, such as MasterCut, described as the strongest Organic Single Malt Whisky with 75% ABV and a limited production of around 200 bottles.

Products / Whisky Series

• AYRER`s RED – Medium Toasted (Single Malt) – further information about the malt and 3-year new oak barrel maturation, natural color and the reddish hue from the special malt.
• AYRER`s TOWER No.1 – Char 3 (Single Malt) – new oak barrel with Level 3 Char and a complex, malt-forward and long finish.
• AYRER`s ALLIGATOR – Char 4 (Single Malt) – Alligator-char, heavily toasted barrel, intense toast and character.
• AYRER`s PX – Sherry Cask (Single Malt) – finishing in PX-Sherry casks (ex-Sherry) for a sweet, full-bodied composition.
• AYRER`s RUBY – Port Cask (Single Malt) – finishing in old Port casks gives a reddish color and distinctive sweet notes.
• AYRER`s AYLA – Peated Cask (Single Malt) – finishing in ex-Islay casks gives smoky, marked notes.
• AYRER`s MOSCATEL – Moscatel cask finish (Single Malt) – final finish in Moscatel casks yields fruity, floral and citrus notes.
• AYRER`s MARTINIQUE – Rum Cask (Single Malt) – finishing in rum casks yields exotic notes and warm undertones.
• AYRER`s MASTERCUT 2024 – Mastercut (Single Malt) – notably 75.0% ABV, a limited edition of around 200 bottles, with several cask types such as PX, Oloroso and Palo Cortado as well as Virgin American Oak, and an emphasis on defined fermentation and separation of the middle cut.
• Burns Supper Special Editions and Burns Supper 40-year Special Edition – special blends and finishes in collaboration with cultural partners and Glasgow/Dublin-inspired elements.
• AYRER`s MOONSHINE – NewMake – fresh distillate without wood aging, 46% ABV, described as New Make (not fully aged whisky).
• AYRER`s PX – Sherry Cask – highlighted as a top performance with 56% ABV and a history as Interwhisky/highly rated.

• AYRERs MARTINIQUE – Rum Cask, AYRERs RUBY – Port Cask, AYRER`s AYLA – Peated Cask – all described as Organic Single Malt Whiskies with specific cask finishing and regional malting; All notes and medals referenced in descriptions.

• Private Cask – Private cask program – customers choose a cask (30 L), receive logo branding, choose refill storage and aging time (typical 3–5 years), and participate in tastings and tours while monitoring the development of their own whisky. Price starting around 1650–2000 Euro for a 30 L cask, equivalent to about 50 bottles of 0.5 L. After maturation the cask can be picked up or reconditioned.

• We could also mention that AYRER's Moonshine and other products appear in categories such as Beer Specialties and Beer Distillates, and that BAC characterizes the individual products, but the essential whisky lines are listed here.

Visits / Experiences

• The RotbierStuberl and Restaurant Bühne in the Altstadt surroundings offer the chance to enjoy both beer and spirits as well as French and Franconian-inspired dishes in the unique environment. There is also a summer garden in the courtyard where up to 35 guests can enjoy beer and specialties in the sun.
• Guided tours and experiences include visits to the historic Felsengänge and storage levels combined with whiskey tasting and tastings. Private cask experiences include a short tour and a tasting of the distillate before it is filled into the cask. Table reservations and opening hours for the restaurant and RotbierStuberl are detailed on the site.
• There are possibilities for public and private events and potential group bookings via the website and contact points.

Philosophy / Sustainability

• 100% organic and locally based production since 1984. Not filtered or thermally treated to preserve nature's natural qualities.
• 100% green electricity since 2017 and a solar installation in April 2024 for self-supply and reducing environmental footprint.
• Recyclability and packaging policy with bottles in Mehrweg and a focus on reuse and minimal waste. Spent grains are used as feed for local farms.
• Local and regional suppliers are prioritized, and raw materials such as hops and malt come from within about 50 km. Partners include Neumarkter Lammsbräu and Markus Eckert as suppliers of organic malt and hops.
• All their work in whisky and beer is based on the original Nürnberger Rotbier; AYRER`s distillery embraces a blend of tradition and innovation and promotes organic production as its core philosophy.