Imagine sinking your toes into warm sand, with sun kissing your skin as you gaze out at the shimmering Baltic Sea by the shoes of Timmendorf Strand. This is a picturesque resort town in Lübeck, Germany which attracts affluent visitors looking for a seaside escape especially during the warmer summer months. 

(Source: Entdecke DE)

Hiding within this coastal town is a brewery with a spirit that’s anything but tranquil. Sudden Death Brewing Co., a rebellious newcomer to the German craft beer scene, founded in 2018 by two lads with a love for hops and hockey: Oliver Schmökel and Eric ‘Ricky’ Nagel. The brewery’s name is inspired by ice hockey, specifically referring to those nail-biting moments when the game has run into overtime but the points on the opposing teams remain tied – the next goal scored would end the game.

It’s said that both founders, with their buoyant personalities and knuckles full of tattoos, stand out amidst the bourgeois sensibility of Timmendorf like birds of paradise. These guys are German, but forget about your grandpa's classic pilsner. The brewery produces a variety of trendy, internationally popular craft beer styles - IPAs, Double IPAs, what have yous. Their unofficial motto is “hops, hops and again hops in any form.” They've even been known to blast heavy metal during brewing sessions, a far cry from the traditional image of German brewing.

The story began with Oliver and Ricky's frequent trips to the U.S. to watch ice hockey matches and their beloved team, the Boston Bruins. It was during these trips that they developed a taste for American-style beers – IPAs, strong ales, and barley wines – styles largely absent from the lager-dominated German beer scene. Frustrated by this lack of hoppy variety, they began homebrewing, embracing the DIY spirit of the craft beer movement before graduating into “gypsy” brewing.

This meant renting brewing equipment from various locations, and relying on the hospitality of established breweries. Impressively, their distinctive beers and the founders' infectious enthusiasm quickly fuelled their popularity. Growing demand led them to set up their own brewery in 2022 in Lübeck's historic shipyard district. Their new facility includes a brewpub that has become a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, hosting cultural events and fostering a sense of community.

There’s a sense of cosmopolitan openness that pervades the brewpub. Everyone is welcome, regardless of background, age, or attire. Fermentation tanks are marked with unusual motifs and Chinese characters. Perhaps it was this inclusive atmosphere that its patrons felt was a refreshing change from the sometimes stuffy and traditional German bierhauses. Guests are united by a shared love for beer and discovery, and the taproom buzzes with conversation and laughter.

Oliver and Ricky also have a certain schoolboy’s sense of humour. Despite being based in a predominantly German-speaking town, they deliberately choose American-sounding names for their beers on tap, sometimes in long and unwieldy English. This results in amusing linguistic mix-ups when German-speaking customers attempt to order their brews. Names like "Juice Willis" Hazy Pale Ale become humorously mangled into "Juicy Willy." They’re pretty dedicated to producing great beers but they don’t seem to take themselves too seriously.

Within a few short years, Sudden Death Brewing has garnered international recognition for its American-inspired pale ales, IPAs, New England, hazy, and double IPAs, as well as Imperial stouts and experimental styles like smoothie sours. For those seeking modern craft beer with a German twist on American classics, I hear Sudden Death is a must-try.

And I recently had the opportunity to experience two of their brews firsthand at Brewlander's Brewnanza Festival in Singapore. Let’s give them a taste.

Sudden Death, Lübi Premium Extra Pale Ale, 5.5% ABV – Review

Tasting Note

Nose: Refreshing and mellow on hop bitterness, but balanced by tons of tropical fruitiness. Grapefruit takes centre stage with more sweet citrus, pomelo and nectarines. A light white florals note intertwines with fresh barley tea. It’s got the richness of a classic American pale ale, but with a more refreshing citrusy-floral boost to it.

Palate: Dry, malty, and incredibly easy to drink. It opens with a burst of citrus, led by sweet lemon and gentle fluffy effervescence. Apricots and passion fruits emerge, complemented by a nice anise spice while a light zestiness of citrus peels shines throughout. It develops into a pleasant layer of sweet, biscuity malt.

The overall impression is very nuanced, with a clean malty sweetness. The texture is velvety and slightly hazy, somewhere between a Weissbier and a lager.

Finish: A lingering aroma of fresh barley and some lemon zest.

My Thoughts:

This is a case of simple things done exceptionally well. A modern pale ale that's both approachable and delicious. It’s fresh and fruity without being overly sweet, it's dry and thirst-quenching with prominent hop aromatics that never overwhelm. The mouthfeel is lovely and balanced, slightly more substantial and more flavourful than I’d expected. This beer is actually pretty available off-trade and has become my new go-to.

My Rating: 8/10

Paradise Plumes Fruit Sour, Sudden Death Brewing × Ārpus Brewing, 5.0% ABV – Review

Tasting Note

Nose: Moreish and quite decadent. Sweet black fruits dominate the aroma: cherry jelly, prunes, and blackberry jam, alongside a hint of cherry soda. As it sits, it transitions towards more tart fruits, revealing notes of black plum and nectarine skins.

Palate: Thick and rich, like a frozen berry smoothie. Here we go again with abounding dark pitted fruits, accented by citrus and orange peel. Opens initially with prune juice, dark cherries and then, a sourness kicks in with Dr Pepper soda, shifting towards red sour cherries, raspberries, and red currants. Further develops into a dryness, citrus peels, orange twists and just a splash of orange Fanta.

Finish: The finish returns to dried prunes, this time showcasing more of the flesh and skin. An accent of mandarin peel floats in and out and after the citrus peels fade, we get lingering sweetness of dark cherry, and blackcurrants.

My Thoughts:

This is big, robust, fruity and intense, yet restrained enough in its sweetness to allow this to be really enjoyable as a beer.

Through and through, it delivers tons of cherry soda and prune juice, layered with pruny, dark fruit flavours. It's thick in texture and generous with its dark fruit character, but never becomes cloying at any point, with the acidity and dryness keeping the berry sweetness and richness in check. I’d say the real highlight is the sporadic appearance of mandarin peel, which adds complexity and breaks up the dark fruit dominance.

An impressive and thoughtfully crafted fruited sour.

My Rating: 9/10

Final Thoughts

Sudden Death Brewing isn’t the sort of brewery that would show up on the regular drinker’s radar. They're not the loudest brewery out there marketing-wise, and you probably wouldn't have heard of them unless you were plugged into craft beer circles. But let me tell you, these guys really let the quality of their brews do the talking. It's not often I try two beers from a brewery and come away very impressed by both, so much so that I’d be tempted to return for seconds. Sudden Death really delivered.

The Lübi Premium Extra Pale Ale was just a delicious take on the pale ale that is full of character – refreshing, nuanced, and seriously drinkable. And the Paradise Plumes Fruit Sour? A complex explosion of fruit that was somehow both decadent and balanced. A fantastic take on the style.

If you get the chance to try Sudden Death, don't sleep on it. This is one up and coming brewery that deserves some serious attention.

@CharsiuCharlie