Long-time BCI Regional Consul Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate

Dr. jur. Hans Bauer, born in Neunkirchen in 1938, is a long-time member of the BCI. He was enthroned in Munich in 1971. For more than 25 years he was the BCI’s regional consul for Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate.

After graduating from high school, he studied law in Bonn and Cologne and passed his first state law examination in 1962. In 1967 he received his doctorate in law and passed the second state law examination in 1968. Since 1968 he has been working as a lawyer with a special focus on criminal and traffic law.

Hans Bauer has been married to his wife Ursel since 1966, who has accompanied him to many friendship meetings. They have a daughter, two grandchildren and meanwhile one great-grandchild. The interview with Hans Bauer was conducted by BCI member Erich Dederichs. And the last question you can ask Hans Bauer at the next meeting of BierConvent International, then you will surely find out the answer.

Hans, when and on what occasion did you drink your first beer?
I drank my first beer at a morning pint with my father after my – belated – baptism at the age of 14. I then really got used to beer in my Bonn student fraternity ATV Gothia-Suevia.

What was your most important experience in a brewery or in the brewing industry?
I have always been fascinated by the diversity of the art of brewing. I got to know this diversity on BCI trips and on more than 100 brewery tours. However, the meetings with brewery personalities such as Dr. Michael Dietzsch and Dr. Axel Simon from Bitburger, Gert Hoffmann from Schlossbrauerei, Anselm Hoppe from König-Pilsener, Dr. Rupert Kammermeier from Karlsberg, Dr. Jan Kapelle from Heineken, Dr. Uwe Paulsen from Bavaria, and Jochen Wirichs from Rhenania were particularly formative. I could go on with this list for a long time….

Your motto in life? Your recipe for success?
Optimism, diligence, straightforwardness and consistency, especially in my job with 40,000 – mostly – satisfied clients, but also with judges and prosecutors.

Who would you like to meet and what would you talk about with him or her?
I would like to discuss the rampant discontent in Germany and its causes with responsible politicians.

How can you inspire people to join the BCI?
With good friendship meetings.

What do you consider to be the most important development in modern brewing technology?
I don’t know, I’m a criminal defense lawyer, not a brewer.

What should be the future development of the brewing industry?
Brewers should do everything they can to stop the death of gastronomy. The Purity Law of 1516 should be preserved and it is imperative that the pilsner culture continues to be cultivated.

Do you have a favorite beer or brewery?
Not just out of local patriotism, my favorite beer is Karlsberg-Urpils from Homburg an der Saar.

You have three wishes – what would they be?
I would like to have four wishes. That would be health, the well-being of my family and friends, the success of Borussia Neunkirchen, and last but not least: The first beer together with great-grandson Julian.

What are you sorry for, what do you regret?
I’m sorry that I didn’t have enough free time because of my job. I would have liked to learn a musical instrument like piano or drums, for example.

Finally: What question would you like to answer that no one has asked you yet?
How will I spend the rest of my life?