Erlangen Bergkirchweih

Erlangen's annual beer fest, the Bergkirchweih  is underway (May 21-June 1).


http://www.nordbayern.de/region/erlangen/berg-blog-ob-janik-trinkt-mate-tee-auf-den-kellern-1.4399733

Erlangen Beerfest Coming

The Erlangen Bergkirchweih is approaching. Bavaria's second biggest beer fest will run from May 21-June 1.

http://www.berch.info/

If you are anywhere near Erlangen, which is about 15 miles north of Nuremberg, you owe it to yourself to visit the Bergkirchweih. 

Bergisches Landbier

A friend of mine who is married to a German guy just got back from a visit to Germany, and knowing I collect German beer glasses, brought me this one.



I had never heard of this beer, so I did a little checking.

The brewery is from Wiehl-Bielstein, which is in the Ruhr Gebiet.

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/bergisches-landbier/147654/

Naturally, I have no idea what it tastes like, and I place no stock in those snooty taster descriptions.

Hofbrauhaus in Chicago

Finding authentic tasting German beer in the US is almost impossible. The glaring exception is Las Vegas' Hofbrauhaus, which ships in their product direct from Munich in kegs. Apparently, there are no taste-destroying requirements, such as pasteurization and other alterations. The result is beer that truly tastes like the beer in Munich's Hofbrauhaus.

Thus, during the past week while I was in Chicago for my army reunion, I put the Chicago Hofbrauhaus on my list of places to visit. (It is actually in Rosemont just outside O'Hare Airport) even knowing before-hand that they brew their beer on premises. Of course, their brewing is under close supervision of the Hofbrauhaus brew masters on site, but I have heard all that before. Remember the Loewenbrau that Miller produced in places like Eden, North Carolina? Pure American beer.

So yesterday, prior to our return flight, we dropped in for lunch. I ordered the regular lager, which was distinct from their lighter version. They also had dunkles and hefeweizen.

At first sip, I thought the similarity was pretty close, but gradually decided that there was something missing from the taste of Munich and Las Vegas. I suppose it is the water. Nevertheless, it was superior to you Bud or Bud light.

It was lunch and there were few customers, but with German music, I suppose it is worth an evening visit as well.  They gave us a survey card at the end, and I suggested they do what Las Vegas does and start importing their beer direct from Munich in kegs.

Erlangen's Bergkirchweih Has begun

Erlangen's 259th annual beer fest is underway. The new Oberbuergermeister, Florian Janik, has tapped the first keg as shown in the below-linked video. The fun goes on from June 5 to 16. A liter of beer costs 8 Euros.


http://www.nordbayern.de/video/lokal-regional/auftakt-nach-mass-der-anstich-zur-259-erlanger-bergkirchweih-1.3693143?bctid=3608835180001


http://bcove.me/fqxq7l5w



"We miss you, Fousesquawk."

Wish I was there.

Der Berg Ruft: Erlangen's Bergkirchweih is Approaching

If you happen to be in Germany in June and are looking for a great beer fest, I heartily recommend Erlangen. The 12-day Bergkirchweih begins June 5. The below news article comes from the Erlangen Nachtrichten (in German).


http://www.nordbayern.de/region/erlangen/countdown-zur-bergkirchweih-die-schausteller-bauen-auf-1.3670240

The event is not nearly as large, crowded, expensive, and wild as Munich's rowdy Oktoberfest. Yet it is the oldest beer fest in Germany and the most popular in Bavaria after Munich's.

The beers featured are Erlangen's Kitzmann, and Steinbach, Nuremberg's Tucher, as well as beers brewed under the old recipes of the now-defunct Henniger Reifbrau and Erichbrau. I recommend the Kitzmann.

The daily affair features a full-roasted ox, other foods typical for a beer fest, music, a ferris wheel and attractions for the kids as well. Once the fest shuts down at  11 pm, the university crowd from Erlangen's Friedrich-Alexander University heads for the local pubs for the traditional "Apres-Berg".

If you are in the region, don't miss this. Erlangen is about 20 km north of Nuremberg, also a worthy attraction.

What is Stuttgart's Best Beer?

That's a question I am not well-equipped to answer because I have spent a grand total of one day in Stuttgart and am only familiar with two of their well-known brands, Dinkelacker and Stuttgarter Schwabenbrau.




Somewhere along the line I had a couple of Dinkelackers and thought they were quite good, though my old sgt. from nearby Goeppingen (where I was stationed for a couple of months in 1966) still calls it horse piss.

I do recall having Stuttgarter Schwabenbrau while staying with German friends in the Karlsruhe area back around 1980. I enjoyed that as well.

Last week, I was at the Alpine Village in Torrance, California and picked up a few beers in the German market that looked like they might be decent (normally not the case with imported German beer). The best of the lot was Stuttgarter Schwabenbrau Volksfest with a flip top opener.

Obviously, I need to get back to the Stuttgart area and refresh the taste buds to see how much I really like those brews. All I remember is that when I drank them in Germany, it was a thumbs up. I'll bet you can get just as a  good beer in Stuttgart as you can in Munich.