How something flavourful is created from the ordinary

Pupils of Gymnasium Muttenz visited, interviewed and portrayed companies taking part in the Industry Night. The result is nine wonderful texts that whet the appetite for the Industry Night. Here is part 1/3 of the cooperation with Gymnasium Muttenz.

Volta Bräu: Beer and community

by Christoph, Matteo and Jan

The Volta Bräu brewery pub is located on Voltaplatz in Basel. Not only is beer brewed here, it can also be enjoyed fresh from the lager on site. The brewpub, with its striking brewing kettles in the catering area next door, combines the art of craft brewing with a relaxed atmosphere.

The idea behind Volta Bräu was born around ten years ago when the Krafft Group wanted to develop its own beer for its pubs. The project found its ideal location in a former IWB building. It was clear from the outset that it should be more than just a brewery - a meeting place where the fresh beer is tapped directly.

Volta Bräu offers four standard beers: Lager, IPA, Pale Ale and Amber Beer. There are also seasonal specialities such as the unusual Beetroot Pale Ale with beetroot and ginger juice. The brewery uses classic ingredients in accordance with the German purity law and combines traditional methods with innovative approaches. The brewpub also focusses on sustainability. By-products such as spent grains are reused as animal feed and yeast is recycled.

The Volta Bräu brewpub not only serves beers, but also snacks and savoury dishes such as pulled pork burgers and pizzas. Various events are also organised here. The annual Craft Beer Night, brewery tours and public viewings at major sporting events make it a popular meeting place. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Volta Bräu joined forces with other breweries to brew ten different, unique beers. This demonstrates the mutual exchange and cohesion in the craft beer scene.

Volta Bräu will remain true to its philosophy in the future: The brewers experiment with different hop varieties to try out new flavours. They brew without additives to guarantee quality. And they recycle the residue from the brewing malt. Volta Bräu is a must for anyone who appreciates good beer and a convivial atmosphere.

A concept against overconsumption: How OFFCUT keeps materials in circulation

by Olivia and Sophia

Scraps of wood, rolls of fabric and sheets of paper are piled up in a former warehouse. It is a paradise for creative people who just need the right materials to realise their ideas. This place is run by OFFCUT, a company committed to sustainability. OFFCUT sells leftover materials that would otherwise end up as waste. The name ‘OFF-CUT’ indicates that customers can select the materials and cut them themselves as required. This is a significant difference to conventional shops. OFFCUT is not a thrift shop, it only sells raw materials.

Simone Schelker, Tanja Gantner and Lucas Gross founded the company in 2012. OFFCUT was their answer to the overproduction and waste of resources of our time. The idea behind the pilot project is based on the circular economy, which aims to keep materials in circulation for longer. Consumer criticism is not a new phenomenon and has been widespread in society since the 19th century. In recent decades, Switzerland has taken on a leading role in the conservation of resources. There are numerous initiatives to reduce material waste - including recycling, the promotion of the circular economy and the development of environmentally friendly technologies. As a member of the Association for Material Recycling, the OFFCUT company sensitises society to more sustainable consumption. Customers in Basel are enthusiastic. From 2017, four more material markets opened in other Swiss cities. The material markets are each independent organisations under the national OFFCUT cooperative. The company offers innovative solutions for today's problems. With OFFCUT, the future lies not in the new, but in the value of the existing.

Birtel: sensible, different

by Areeya, Laura and Yelia

From ordinary lager and butter beer to the 10 per cent ‘Imperial Stout’: the Birtel brewery impresses with refreshing variety and originality. The dedicated team at the microbrewery is creative, passionate and always focussed on quality - or as Birtel describes it: ‘sensible, different’. As soon as you set foot in the brewery, you are greeted by a pleasant aroma of malty sweetness. A sweet aroma that warms the heart. Good, authentic and sustainable beer can be found at Birtel in Frankfurt-Strasse 21 in the Dreispitz area. For every beer sold, 1% is donated to a non-profit organisation that works to protect the environment. In order to produce a genuine 100% Swiss beer, Birtel has grown its own barley in Muttenz and brewed Swiss Pale Ale from it, among other things. A beer that you can drink with a clear conscience!

Did you know that most conventional beers are not completely vegan? ‘Industrial beers contain a gelatine additive that is used for the foam,’ explains Daniel Gosteli, the owner of Birtel. Birtel beer does not contain this additive and is one of the few completely vegan beers on the market. Birtel therefore offers a wide selection of delicious beers that vegans can also enjoy.

Visit the beer brewery at Industry Night and be inspired by the diverse flavours and types of beer. Right next to the brewery you will find the ‘Fahrbar’. The cosy Fahrbar is one of the most beautiful and modern beer gardens in the region and offers a relaxed atmosphere. Experience first-hand how Birtel passionately produces unique beers and then enjoy a small aperitif with drinks in the Fahrbar.