Erlangen Bergkirchweih 2026 is Coming

As I often do around this time of year, I am announcing the soon-to-begin Erlangen beer fest (Bergkirchweih), which will run from May 21 to June 1, corresponding to Pentecost. This is the world's oldest beer fest, dating back to 1755.

I have picked out a couple of articles that describe the coming events. The first (in German)  is from the Erlanger Nachrichten (newspaper) and describes the beer being brewed for the event by the Nuremberg-based Tucher Brewery.

The  second article, from Pixelschmitt, is in English and is a guide to the events for visitors.

When I was stationed in Erlangen in the late 1960s, there were three breweries in existence: Erichbrau, Kitzmann, and Henniger. On my last visit in 2013, that list was down to two, Kitzmann and the recently re-established Steinbach. Since then, Kitzmann has been bought up by the Kulmbacher brewery which still produces the Kitzmann recipe out of Kulmbach. 

However, also in recent years, two new breweries have opened, one is the Weller brewery in the Thalermuehle area of Erlangen. The other is Entlas Keller, produced by a small restaurant of the same name, which is located on the festival grounds, but which remains open during the year. I have yet to try it.

I'm not sure exactly which beers will be featured this year outside of Tucher and Steinbach. I assume Entlas Keller will be serving their own beer. In recent years, the old Erichbrau recipe has also been available. I am guessing that the Kitzmann beer recipe will also be available from Kulmbach, which, like Nuremberg, is not too far away, though not as close as Nuremberg. My personal favorite is Kitzmann.

The Bergkirchweih is well worth a visit. There are attractions for all age groups.

Mannheim Beer? Eichbaum Helles

 In the world of German beer, Mannheim is not a place generally considered on a par with Munich, or even other beer cities like Dortmund.  Today, I experimented with a .5 liter can I picked up at the Old World Village store in Huntington Beach, California. Introducing Eichbaum Helles.

This product is produced by the Eichbaum Brewery of Mannheim. The alcohol content is 5.0%. It has a clean, crisp taste, and while it doesn't stand out (to my taste) among imported German beers, it is what I would expect-in other words, superior to American brews, especially the major brands.  

Like any good German brewery, Eichbaum has its own brauhaus/restaurant in Mannheim. 

As of last October, the brewery, which goes back to 1679, was faced with financial insolvency. Apparently, it is still holding on since its products are still on the US market.

Anyway, if you are tired of the usual Munich imports and want to experiment, it is worth a try.

My New Book

 

This is to announce to all my friends, enemies, and readers that I have just published my 4th book. Unlike my first three books, which had nothing to do with drugs, DEA, or law enforcement, this one is autobiographical. It is the story of my law enforcement career, beginning as a US Army military policeman in Germany in the 1960s, my 2-1/2 years as a US Customs agent, and my 22 years with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), lasting to 1995. It also has chapters about my experiences dealing with campus anti-Semitism issues when I was teaching at the University of California at Irvine from 1998-2016. In addition, there is a chapter dealing with militant Islam, based on my personal experiences from about 2006 to the present.

The book is available on Amazon, either in hardback, paperback, or E-copy (Kindle).