Lieber Waldi Is Founded in Cologne

In summer 2020, homebrewers Dustin Liebenow and Julian Waldner founded Lieber Waldi in Cologne's Sülz neighborhood. The project began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they moved from brewing at home to making beer on rented commercial equipment. The name combined parts of their surnames, and a dachshund became the brand's mascot. By October 2020, the founders were brewing as tenants at a brewery in nearby Hürth and selling their beers through shops, bars, and neighborhood businesses in Cologne. Their early range included a Helles, a Belgian-style blond, and a pale ale.