TubeNet

I really do. It is better, more plentiful, cheaper, and less frowned-upon than in the states. Especially the bit of heaven called "Ulmer" thought the others like EKU, Lövenbräu, and Mönchshoff are pretty amazing too. (you do have to have a basic grasp of german to read the menus though)

Sou

Even thought this was 20+ years ago it wasn't uncommon to see older children with beer at a fest and even the germans contracted to do work on the base where I was stationed would have their luke-warm beer during lunch!

Got to keep those Germans happy! And yes they have great beer!

Tim

Among all the other places I enjoyed the beer in Germany when I was there, also over 20 years ago, was that McDonald's had recently opened up in Frankfurt, and I had a beer with a Big Mac just to say I did.

But as you say, the best beer is in the little places where the best food is as well, and even though I didn't make it to Munich, I did enjoy it in Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Heidelburg, Cologne, and a few other places as we stopped along the way.

Been to Germany a couple of times lately. Righto... the beer from the smaller local breweries is the absolute best.

This is about as good as we seem to be able to do here in the states:

I'm trying to get over there for a brief vacation this year. I hope to confirm the good news discussed in this thread!

German (and Austrian) bier is an an amazing thing.

This was my favorite from a few years ago, when I was in Innsbruck:

Allthumbs wrote:Any suggestions from the forum regarding which German beer available stateside survives the journey across the pond with most of it's character intact?

Warsteiner is pretty good. I had a beer called Maibier at Trailhead Brewing Company in St. Charles, MO a couple of weeks ago that was pretty good. In fact, it was good enough to impress a couple who were visiting me from Osnabruck, Germany!

Warsteiner Dunkel is the best I've been able to find so far.

When I lived in Seattle, I found quite a nice selection of Münchner beer. My local supermarket had Paulaner Helles, Dunkles, Weißbier and Salvator, as well as a variety of Schneider Weißbier, even the Aventinus.
I also found a German specialty shop, where I could get my favourite beer, Augustiner.

The selection available here in Iceland is considerably worse.

Euphbate wrote:Speaking of German Beer, how much would you say a weeklong trip or so to Germany (excluding housing) would cost on average for the relatively frugal person?

I've heard $100/day + airfare is a good starting point for room, food, entertainment, and transportation. So maybe $120/day (mit einem Etat für Bier).

bort wrote:

Euphbate wrote:Speaking of German Beer, how much would you say a weeklong trip or so to Germany (excluding housing) would cost on average for the relatively frugal person?

I've heard $100/day + airfare is a good starting point for room, food, entertainment, and transportation. So maybe $120/day (mit einem Etat für Bier).

The exchange rate is out of whack for US tourists right now. It's a great deal right now for Europeans touring the US.

Spaten anything is generally a good bet. Check out some Celebrator as well. If you want something lighter, Radeburger is a phenomenal pilsner.

Well, on how much it costs to go to the EU, if you are a backpacker with a really tight budget you can do Italy on about 20 US for a hostel bunk (usually cheaper), 15 US for frugal grocery store meals, 15 US or less for a transit pass, and 20 US for sightseeing. Add 10 US for Germany/France 20 US for Switzerland and double it for London and there you go. Oh yeah don´t forget to add beer/wine money (2-25 US) depending on your tastes.

Add a Eurail pass, film/memory for a camera and developing, and plane fare and there you go.

On the good side, I just discovered the joy of grocery store brand beers in Switzerland. Great stuff for about 75 cents.

I love Europe.

Next comes a tuba factory then Belgium. I just might not come home.

Sou

Captain Sousie wrote: I love Europe.

Next comes a tuba factory then Belgium. I just might not come home.

Sou

Wait until you taste the beers over here. There are several hundreds if not thousands of them, in a country the size of Massachusetts. We have some crazy concoctions with the most unlikely ingredients under those beers, something quite different from the barley-hops-and-water-only-by-law stuff in Germany. Some are as strong as wine and some are almost a meal in itself
Tuba factories of any merit have been long gone unfortunately.

Michiel
Bruges
Belgium

Hey corbasse. I am now in Bruxelles (I'm trying to spell it correctly so let me know if I'm wrong) where I mistakenly thought you lived. I loved Brugge and I was wondering what beers you recommend. Any suggestions on what to see would be welcomed as well.

Thanks
Sou

kinda off topic but i'll be traveling to china in november and i was wondering what would someone suggest? i really like spate oktoberfest and guiness along with the assorted mexican (carona and dos equis). if im short on cash i go with coors. anybody?

Captain Sousie wrote:Hey corbasse. I am now in Bruxelles (I'm trying to spell it correctly so let me know if I'm wrong) where I mistakenly thought you lived. I loved Brugge and I was wondering what beers you recommend. Any suggestions on what to see would be welcomed as well.

Thanks
Sou

You got the French spelling right
(Belgium's a trilingual country with a lot of cr@^ going on between the two mayor language groups, with moronic laws demanding use of only the language of the region you're in...)
Duvel is of course great, if slightly over commerciallized. Also try some of the Trappist beers: Orval, Chimay red, blue or triple, Westmalle double or triple

If you can get hold of it, you MUST try Westvleteren. It's a trappist beer officially only sold at the gates of the monastery, (less than 1 hour away from here ) but some specialist shops or bars will have a few bottles. It's been voted best beer in the world, and experts rave about it.

In Brussels try a kriek beer. It's made with sour cherries and a beer type called Lambic, which uses fermentation with airborne yeasts which can only be made in the region bordering Brussels to the southwest. It's slightly sweet and sour and quite refreshing. There's also a peach (pêche) or raspberry (framboise) variety.
The ubiquitous belle vue brand is too sweet for my taste, try to get the brands with the champagne corks instead.

At the moment I'm enyoing a Brugse Zot (Bruges' Fool or idiot), also an award winning local brew.

If it's warm (not much chance of that now ), get a Hoegaarden. A white beer, but quite different from the German ones due to the citrus and spices added.


To see: The musical instrument museum! it's close to the central station, museum of fine arts, royal palace and the conservatory. In the brass department they've got some wacky contraptions by Adolphe Sax on display.
If you're interested in architecture try to visit the Horta house/museum in the rue Americaine. It's a beautiful Art Nouveau house in pristine condition.

Glad you liked Bruges. Next time you're here, come say hi in the music library of the music school just off the market