When we opened World Chess Club Berlin, we pictured guests ordering cocktails—a nod to the secret speakeasies we’d set up at our World Chess Championship venues in New York and London. But in Berlin? The people wanted beer. Not just a little beer either. It outsold cocktails 10 to 1. Why?

Because, as it turns out, chess in Germany has its roots in the old GDR “Späti” culture, where beer was about the only thing on the menu. So beer and chess in Germany? Practically a match made in heaven, like champagne at a wedding.

Which got us thinking: what if there were a beer crafted just for chess? A beer with history in every sip, designed for our community and served with a touch of chessboard charm. If you’d be up for a taste when we roll out our first batch, let us know—we’ll make sure you’re on the list.

If you would like to know more about this project, please reach out to Anna Salova at salova@worldchess.com