Cord Broyhan First Brews the Beer That Bears His Name

Hannover’s brewing tradition credits Cord Broyhan with producing the first local Broyhan in 1526. Broyhan had gained brewing experience in Hamburg before returning to Hannover, where he adapted the northern German brewing practices he had learned. Later accounts commonly assign the first brew to May 31, but the surviving historical evidence establishes the year more securely than the exact day. The pale, top-fermented beer became known by Broyhan’s name and developed into one of Hannover’s defining products. Its success helped establish the city as an important brewing center and provided the foundation for a wider Broyhan tradition that spread far beyond Hannover. Historical descriptions of its ingredients and character vary, so no single reconstructed recipe can be treated as definitive.