Clean lines and contemporary color palettes aren’t the standard when it comes labels on beer bottles, but for a young Berlin craft brewer, it is. With no fixed address — hence the befitting name — the team behind Motel Beer is brewing flavor simply, evident in the first, thirst-quenching sip of their “White Sands” pale ale — citrus punched and brewed with American and Slovenian hops. From the biting, fruity “Shady Pines” IPA to the special “Lago Dorado”, a British golden ale finished with Guatemalan coffee for sweetness and depth, Motel has been hitting the pavement hard since January 2017, and making themselves available on tap and in bottles all around the city — from Neukölln’s Lager Lager and Kreuzberg’s Lode & Stijn to Prenzlauer Berg’s Birra. Founded by an American, a Kiwi, a Canadian, and a Helvetian, this newcomer is one we’re hot on the trail of — as you should be too. (Text: Devan Grimsrud / Photos: Motel Beer)

Motel Beer on Facebook and Instagram

As Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was purported to say, “Less is more.” While he applied this idea within the sphere of minimalist architecture and design, the philosophy has spread to influence countless industries. With their line of one-ingredient skin and hair care products, Berlin-based beauty company, Merme embraces the “less is more” mentality. Founded by Australian native and model, Claire Ralston, as an answer to the lack of pure, certified organic products in the beauty industry, these all-natural, organic elixirs and remedies pay homage to her grandmother by name. From prickly pear and rosehip to sweet almond and argan, Merme’s range is full of antioxidants and other nutrients that help hair and skin stay soft and supple. We’re huge fans of the Facial Beauty Elixir — a lightweight, cold-pressed rosehip oil that smells lightly of the earth, contains age-fighting vitamins, and is the perfect foundation for an everyday skincare routine. (Text: Devan Grimsrud / Photos: Merme)

Merme’s website, Facebook & Instagram

Since 2014, the co-founders of Limai, Anton and Kari, have been working to create a beverage that leverages the true power of the Amazonian açai berry. While it’s been marketed as a so-called “superfood” across the globe, Limai’s co-founders keep the focus on the known truths of açai — like the fact that it’s not only delicious, but also packed with antioxidants, fiber, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. With a soft mouthfeel and refreshing subtlety, Limai brings a healthy amount of açai together with energizing guarana — another Amazonian berry, bitter black tea that rounds out the best of the berries’ flavors, tangy ginger, and South American cane sugar for a touch of caramel sweetness. We see the beverage as a wonderful height of summer companion — an ice-cold bottle to pop open on your lunch break, a sparkly coffee substitute at your friend’s balcony brunch or maybe even a refreshing mixer for an açai-boosted cocktail. Pick up a bottle at Good Bank or find other retail locations on Limai’s website. (Text: Devan Grimsrud / Photos: Devan Grimsrud, Limai)

Limai on Facebook & Instagram