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From Dirk Hein
Dresden. The tiara sparkles and is noticeably heavy in her hand, but Elsa Raukas is still a little unfamiliar with the crown and sash that distinguish her as the hop princess of the Elbe-Saale hop-growing region.
"I never wanted to be a princess"
"It feels strange, as a child I never wanted to be a princess, I preferred playing with cars. I don't like being the center of attention," admits the 23-year-old - and yet she suspects that she will be the center of attention more and more often in Dresden's "Watzke", at least in the next two years.
The young Estonian has only been living in Germany and Austria for four years, started her training as a brewer in Bavaria, moved to Dresden last year for love and thus to Watzke. At the end of her apprenticeship, she became the first female brewer in the history of the Ball- und Brauhaus and now also the Hop Princess.
"We're as proud as punch of Elsa," says master brewer Jens Berndt, who initially hesitates when asked about the special features of a female brewer. "First and foremost, it's a craft. When I look at Elsa - she can tackle things just as well as men, she can lift the 25-kilo sack just as well."
Nevertheless, something has changed with the first woman at the boilers at Watzke. "She has brought freshness to our male-dominated profession," says master brewer Berndt.
This is meant in several ways: Elsa Raukas has lived in Germany and Austria since 2020, worked in hotels in Tyrol and South Tyrol, then started her training in a Bavarian brewery and is now the center of attention at Watzke simply because of her accent, an indescribable mixture of Bavarian and her native language.
2,200 liters of "Gesellinnensud" are sold out
Master brewer Berndt also describes the young brewer's first own beer, her "Eesti Õlu", as "fresh". This is an Estonian pale ale that combines Bavarian and Estonian brewing traditions, with the Estonian influence predominating. Elsa Raukas selected the malts and hops herself. The fruity, grassy and herbaceous notes of the beer connect the 23-year-old with her homeland.
2,200 liters of the beer were sold in the Watzke brewed. Three weeks later, it was all drunk. "People liked the beer," says the Watzke master brewer. The young brewer particularly appealed to women. Now the Watzke bosses are considering including the beer as a one-month beer in the calender for 2025.
The decisive factor in Elsa Rauka's coronation as Hop Princess was, by the way, a first Report about the then still trainee on Sächsiche.de. It was read carefully by brewers in the region, including the 1st Chairman of the Elbe-Saale Hop Growers' Association, Reiner Joachim. He came to Watzke and convinced Elsa to apply. In mid-August, the young brewer was then ceremoniously crowned Hop Princess by the hop growers of the Elbe-Saale region at the Hop Ball in Rosswein.
Out of the comfort zone and onto the stage
"My first thought was actually: no, I don't want to do that, I need to get out of my comfort zone," recalls the 23-year-old, who still says: "I'm not that extroverted and confident. As a princess, I feel excited and anxious, but it's cool." So there is also a lot of pride involved. "Alongside the Wine Queen, I'm now the 'little face' of the growing region. I want to promote our beer and represent Watzke."
This happens in the traditional way, for example at the brewing trade fair in Nuremberg, where Elsa Raukas will be present for three days, on hop tours and factory visits. But the young Estonian also has her home country in mind. "Hops don't grow in Estonia, so they are sourced from Germany. I also represent Estonia with my role." She wants to use friends and contacts in her home country to promote hops and beers from her new adopted country.
The hop princess will also have new tasks at the Watzke. At the first Schlagerball in the brewery's ballroom, she will be on the jury to choose the queen of the ball. "If there's a keg tapping, she'll be there," says master brewer Berndt.
The young woman wants to continue working at Watzke for the next few years, perhaps later become a master brewer and maybe return to her home country. "Let's see what happens. As a princess, all paths are now open to me," she jokes, looking at her crown with a little pride.
