A European-inspired beer hall has arrived in Bushwick just in time for Oktoberfest.
Eckhart Beer Company opened an airy, modern new taproom at 545 Johnson Ave. this month, offering a slick lineup of locally-brewed European beers.
Brooklynite Nick Meyer founded Eckhart in 2022, taking inspiration from an unlikely source: 13th-century German philosopher Meister Eckhart.
“My studies in meditation and philosophy drew me to the writings of 13th-century thinker Meister Eckhart — now our namesake — whose emphasis on stillness coupled with time brings about clarity and attention that we carry into our brewing and hospitality,” Meyer said in a statement.
To that end, the company has developed a simple mission: “Only put out what you truly believe in.”
Eckhart’s year-round lineup features just five beers: Czech-style amber, dark, and pale lagers, plus a German-style hels and pilsner. The beers are created by head brewer Adam Wolfe, who spent years studying lagers in Germany and earned a diploma from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. Wolfe uses a wide range of techniques to craft each beer: open fermentation, long maturation, and decoction.
The brewery also offers a range of seasonal brews, like Festbier, which is traditionally served at Oktoberfest and is described as “full-bodied” with a clean finish; a crisp Grapefruit Radler, and a balanced, subtly-citrusy Kolsch.
Each glass is pulled from a Lukr faucet, which is specially designed for Czech beers, and customers can choose from one of three traditional Czech pours: the hladinka, with the classic layer of foam on top; the half-beer, half-foam snyt; and the mostly-foam mliko.
Eckart also offers a wide variety of foods, from small sharing plates to full-blown meals. Executive chef Frederick Maurer created a menu designed to pair well with the beers while making use of brewing byproducts, according to Eckhart. Visitors can snack on some house-made potato chips with caramelized onion dip, enjoy a classic large soft pretzel with beer cheese, or try the brewery’s signature Brotzeit platter or Spaetzle gratin. There’s even a beer-themed dessert, the Malt & Marmite Tart with whipped cream and sesame oil.
The space itself was inspired by traditional Bavarian beer halls and minimalist Japanese design. Outfitted with light walls and Japanese-style wood paneling, Eckhart offers four separate rooms: an airy indoor beergarden, a cozy, tavern-style room, a loft-style private bar, and a “feature bar” beneath a few beer tanks. The beer hall was designed to be welcoming and hospitable, the company said, with a focus on quality and hospitality.
“The most important hour is always the present,” Meyer said, quoting Eckhart. “The most significant person is precisely the one sitting across from you right now.”
Eckhart Beer Co. Taproom & Brewery is located at 545 Johnson Ave. in Bushwick and is open Wednesday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m., Fridays 2 p.m.-midnight, Saturdays 11 a.m.-midnight, and Sundays 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
