What's the temperature of beer in Germany?
Mar 5th, 2007, 08:13 PM
#41
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I never considered myself a beer drinker before my first trip to Europe. I've visited 9 different countries and have found great beer in all of them. One of my favorites is the Rauchbier (smoke beer) of Bamberg, Germany. Serving the beer at a bit lower temperature than here in the States allows one to really taste the beer rather than tasting the chill. At the lower temperature the beer seems fuller and more flavorful.
Have a wonderful trip artstuff. I'm envious!
Have a wonderful trip artstuff. I'm envious!
Mar 6th, 2007, 02:16 AM
#42
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"I find Germany's attitude toward their beer amazing."
The rest of the world finds the American attitude to alcohol amazing (with the exception of Lousiana). I remember when I was with our 4-year-old twin boys in Salt Lake City. We stayed at the Hilton and were refused access to the hotel restaurant, because they served alcoholic drinks there. I find it amazing that American parents appear to routinely feed their 4-year-olds Cocktails so that a law must passied to deny them entrance.
"This is a little off topic, but I was reminded that the autobahn gas stations sell beer which I thought was a little strange considering they were usually only accessible to the autobahn(or at least it appeared that why to me)."
Why the hell not? The driver drinks mineral water or non-alcoholic beer, while the other passengers enjoy beer or wine or whatever. What is strange with this? BTW, this is the case with any other restaurant or bar.
The rest of the world finds the American attitude to alcohol amazing (with the exception of Lousiana). I remember when I was with our 4-year-old twin boys in Salt Lake City. We stayed at the Hilton and were refused access to the hotel restaurant, because they served alcoholic drinks there. I find it amazing that American parents appear to routinely feed their 4-year-olds Cocktails so that a law must passied to deny them entrance.
"This is a little off topic, but I was reminded that the autobahn gas stations sell beer which I thought was a little strange considering they were usually only accessible to the autobahn(or at least it appeared that why to me)."
Why the hell not? The driver drinks mineral water or non-alcoholic beer, while the other passengers enjoy beer or wine or whatever. What is strange with this? BTW, this is the case with any other restaurant or bar.
Mar 6th, 2007, 03:05 AM
#43
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<i>A German tablemate at the Hofbrau Haus once explained that the term "radler" meant bicyclist. A lighter brew so that the drinker could ride home safely.<i>
First part is true.
Radler/ Alsterwasser is <b>not a lighter brew</b>, though. It is ordinary Export (Helles) or Pilsener diluted with sparkling lemonade (as outlined before). Period.</i></i>
First part is true.
Radler/ Alsterwasser is <b>not a lighter brew</b>, though. It is ordinary Export (Helles) or Pilsener diluted with sparkling lemonade (as outlined before). Period.</i></i>
Mar 6th, 2007, 03:40 AM
#44
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traveller1959 - In 1933 when the United States repealed alcohol prohibition, they gave the rights and laws back to the states to decide. So the US has 50 different sets of laws governing alcohol. Utah has one of the strictest, as well as Pennsylvania, where I live.
Here, the state controls the sale of wine and spirits - you can't buy them from the grocery store, you have to go to a "State Store". It's only been in the last 15 years or so that Pennsylvania has loosened their laws to allow wineries and breweries to even exist.
Still haven't had my Radler yet.... Peace, Robyn
>-
Here, the state controls the sale of wine and spirits - you can't buy them from the grocery store, you have to go to a "State Store". It's only been in the last 15 years or so that Pennsylvania has loosened their laws to allow wineries and breweries to even exist.
Still haven't had my Radler yet.... Peace, Robyn
>-
Mar 6th, 2007, 04:52 AM
#45
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Artstuff, of course there have been breweries (and wineries) in Pennsylvania for more thant 15 years!!! Haven't you ever had a Yuengling? Rolling Rock? And I worked for a PA winery back in the 1980s.
I agree that PA's laws are silly, but don't make them out to be worse than they are.
I agree that PA's laws are silly, but don't make them out to be worse than they are.
Mar 7th, 2007, 02:49 PM
#46
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My apologies... I meant to say <b>micro</b> breweries and wineries. (That's what happens when I quickly type a post in the morning right before I leave for work.)
Of course Pennsylvania has had breweries - Yuengling is the oldest in America!
Unfortunately, Rolling Rock is no longer bottled in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, since last summer when it was sold to Anheuser Busch and moved to New Jersey. I always thought the water from Latrobe was part of the special brewing process (33).
Peace, Robyn>-
Of course Pennsylvania has had breweries - Yuengling is the oldest in America!
Unfortunately, Rolling Rock is no longer bottled in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, since last summer when it was sold to Anheuser Busch and moved to New Jersey. I always thought the water from Latrobe was part of the special brewing process (33).
Peace, Robyn
>-
Mar 7th, 2007, 09:03 PM
#47
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artstuff, the wheat beer for breakfast is in Bavaria, which the Bavarians don't consider a part of Germany.
Traveling north to other sites (Frankfurt etc..., I did not see this beer for breakfast event occur.
Bavarians were pretty much forced into being part of Germany, but they still don't think they are. They are the butt of many jokes in Germany (every region has someone to pick on) so the Bavarians make fun of the Austrians.
Think where the major beer events (Oktoberfest) and beers come from.
Someone clevely marketed Beck's and St. Pauli Girl, which are not from Bavaria into be the U.S. This is what the U.S. thinks of German beer.
Go to Frankfurt and you have apfel wine. you're more likely to find that in the old town than beer.
Bavarian beer halls specialize in one beer, the one each hall produces, and that's it. Local areas support, essentially, one beer producer, as my company's site did (Moy).
Traveling north to other sites (Frankfurt etc..., I did not see this beer for breakfast event occur.
Bavarians were pretty much forced into being part of Germany, but they still don't think they are. They are the butt of many jokes in Germany (every region has someone to pick on) so the Bavarians make fun of the Austrians.
Think where the major beer events (Oktoberfest) and beers come from.
Someone clevely marketed Beck's and St. Pauli Girl, which are not from Bavaria into be the U.S. This is what the U.S. thinks of German beer.
Go to Frankfurt and you have apfel wine. you're more likely to find that in the old town than beer.
Bavarian beer halls specialize in one beer, the one each hall produces, and that's it. Local areas support, essentially, one beer producer, as my company's site did (Moy).
Dec 8th, 2007, 04:40 AM
#48
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I am happy to report that my husband and I spent 17 days this past October drinking our way from the Mosel to Munich. We tasted many different types of beer (and some wine) and have concluded that a 0.5 litre of Heffeweizen, on tap, was our favorite (although Helles came in a very close second for my husband).
And, I finally had a Radler and a Russe, and was able to compare the two. Since I'm a wheat beer drinker, I preferred the Russe. I imagine that either would be quite tasty and quenching on a hot summer day. We even tried a bottle of Radler we bought at the grocery store, which wasn't too bad.
<i>"We're not planning on drinking 2 liters of beer in one sitting,..."</i> (quoting myself, from 03/03/07)
Well, I guess I have to eat my words... or drink my words (gulp!) We found ourselves at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich on the last night of our trip, and before the evening was over we had consumed a delicious meal, and five 0.5 litres of Heffewiezen each! It was such good beer, we didn't want to stop drinking.
We were very impressed at the importance of serving beer in the proper glass. So much so, that we bought our own 0.5 litre wiezenglasses from the gift shop at the Hofbrauhaus, to drink our 20 oz Franziskaner's from at home.
We were able to visit four different breweries in Bamberg, and one in Nüremburg. Our favorite was the Ambraüsianum (which was a convenient block from our hotel in Bamberg). They offered a triple-sampler, which included a Hell, Wiessen and Dunkle... all served in different glasses.
I'd just like to thank everyone again, who shared in this beer tutorial. It really helped to make our experience more enjoyable. I hope to post a trip report some time after the holidays, when life is less crazy.
Robyn>-
And, I finally had a Radler and a Russe, and was able to compare the two. Since I'm a wheat beer drinker, I preferred the Russe. I imagine that either would be quite tasty and quenching on a hot summer day. We even tried a bottle of Radler we bought at the grocery store, which wasn't too bad.
<i>"We're not planning on drinking 2 liters of beer in one sitting,..."</i> (quoting myself, from 03/03/07)
Well, I guess I have to eat my words... or drink my words (gulp!) We found ourselves at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich on the last night of our trip, and before the evening was over we had consumed a delicious meal, and five 0.5 litres of Heffewiezen each! It was such good beer, we didn't want to stop drinking.
We were very impressed at the importance of serving beer in the proper glass. So much so, that we bought our own 0.5 litre wiezenglasses from the gift shop at the Hofbrauhaus, to drink our 20 oz Franziskaner's from at home.
We were able to visit four different breweries in Bamberg, and one in Nüremburg. Our favorite was the Ambraüsianum (which was a convenient block from our hotel in Bamberg). They offered a triple-sampler, which included a Hell, Wiessen and Dunkle... all served in different glasses.
I'd just like to thank everyone again, who shared in this beer tutorial. It really helped to make our experience more enjoyable. I hope to post a trip report some time after the holidays, when life is less crazy.
Robyn
>- 
Dec 10th, 2007, 11:33 AM
#51
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Excellent report. I too thought I would never drink a liter, let alone 2 in one sitting. Ummmm...yeah. That line of thinking changed pretty much the first day. It was summertime when we were there and quite warm, so we spent quite a bit of time hanging around beer gardens.
If you are looking for an American hefeweizen that tastes very much like the german ones, see if you can find Gordon Biersch hefeweizen. American style hefeweizens never did much for me and I always wondered what the draw was - then we went to Germany and I had the German style hefeweizen and was instantly hooked Gordon Biersch does a good German style hefeweizen.
If you are looking for an American hefeweizen that tastes very much like the german ones, see if you can find Gordon Biersch hefeweizen. American style hefeweizens never did much for me and I always wondered what the draw was - then we went to Germany and I had the German style hefeweizen and was instantly hooked
Gordon Biersch does a good German style hefeweizen.
Dec 12th, 2007, 11:40 AM
#52
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I'm glad you had a great trip and thanks for the update. I own the book from this website and am planning a trip using it.
http://www.beerdrinkersguide.com/
http://www.beerdrinkersguide.com/
Dec 12th, 2007, 12:14 PM
#53
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In the 70's I was the financial manager of the US Army hospital at Würzburg. The hospital was being repainted by a German firm. They asked for a locked room to secure their "supplies". There was an empty room just off my department. The hospital executive officer gave them the use of the room and a key. He also gave me a key in case they needed access to their "supplies" when the key was elsewhere.
He asked me to keep an eye on the room to prevent theft. I went in one day to take a look at the "supplies". The room have a little bit of painting equipment and several cases of beer, no coolers. Yes German Beer can be drank at room temperature. Why didn't I have a job like that?
Regards. Gary
He asked me to keep an eye on the room to prevent theft. I went in one day to take a look at the "supplies". The room have a little bit of painting equipment and several cases of beer, no coolers. Yes German Beer can be drank at room temperature. Why didn't I have a job like that?
Regards. Gary
