Holger Zapfe Establishes Ahoi 69 in Bremen

In May 2015, Bremen homebrewer Holger Zapfe began the Ahoi 69 project, turning his interest in brewing into a beer brand distributed through his Achterdieker Bierverlach. Zapfe had started experimenting at home in 2013 after discovering an online brewing tutorial. Friends and fellow handball players helped test his early beers as he developed the recipe. Commercial production relied on a partner brewery near Paderborn, rather than a new brewery in Bremen. An early batch of 2,000 liters went to friends, acquaintances, and handball teammates. Ahoi 69’s mild pilsner subsequently reached shops and bars, linking a Bremen-based beer venture with production outside the city.