Franconian Beer Message Board
Some Conclusions! |
| Posted by Barry on 2013-09-29 04:09:05 |
| Well, my visit to Franken seems to have promoted a good old barney, which is what a stamtisch should be about, unless we start playing virtual Schafkopf, which, given its complexity in the Stube seems unlikely! I won't reiterate all the voluminous correspondence re various aspects of brewing, except to say that we shouldn't take things at their face value (thus, my insatiable desire to find out about the minutae of brewing). I came to Franken beer from the English school of real ale, with all its virtues and vices ( in my view, more of the former, less of the latter), so it's not surprising that many aspects of beer in the region were quite alien to my taste and experience. I have come to conclusion that, sadly, the experience in Bamberg is now over-rated; I still love the town, particularly the altstadt but the volume of tourists is making life there extremely uncomfortable. Ok, we are tourists (most of us on this forum) but we generally come in smallish groups, not the groups of 50 plus that are disgorged from the likes of Viking River Cruises. It pained me to see that residents like Frank should have to wait in a long line to get a seidla of Rauchbier at Schlenkerla or that we should be thrown off our tables mid-drink in Mahrs. Bamberg, sadly, is a victim of its own marketing. Regarding its breweries, I regard only Schlenkerla, Mahrs and Spezial as really worth revisiting, though everyone should visit all the breweries at least once and make up their own minds. Fässla (great place) is just too gassy; Klosterbräu just a tourist trap and a bit of con, as I understand that some of its beers are contract brewed; Ambräusianum, no need to comment; Greifenklau, ok, but not worth the hike uphill; Keesmann, again, ok, but quality of the pils much exaggerated IMHO - can't drag myself across the road as the bus stop is on the Mahrs side! I shouldn't forget Spezi-keller, good beer and a wonderful view of the town. Also, Zum Sonne, just a short bus ride away. What makes Franken really worth visiting is twofold: the keller experience - nothing better on a sunny day than sitting in a keller, watching the world go by - and the country breweries. Unfortunately, many of them are very difficult to get to by public transport and I thank Juergen and Nick for making visits possible. I would heartily recommend Forchheim as a beer experience to any Franken visitor; IMHO, it is now probably more attractive than Bamberg. It is quiet and small, with its four breweries within a 15-minute walk. All are interesting in their own ways, none serve bad beer (though it may not always be to everyone's taste but that's natural) and all are very hospitable and friendly. We just hope that Hebendanz will recover but, in the meantime, we have Schlössla to keep things going. In addition, there is the kellerwald, while it's a good jumping off place for Frankische Schweiz and a number of other breweries and kellers - but beware the church bells if you are staying in the altstadt! |
| Followups: |
 Too many tourists by Uncle Jimbo on 2013-09-29 07:21:55 |
| Too many tourists by Fred Waltman on 2013-09-29 08:18:55 |
| Some Conclusions! by Jürgen Wening on 2013-09-29 08:54:56 |
| Too many tourists by barry on 2013-09-29 08:34:15 |
| Some Conclusions! by barry on 2013-09-29 09:23:18 |
| Some Conclusions! by Jürgen Wening on 2013-09-29 09:42:16 |
| Too many tourists by Mark Andersen on 2013-09-29 09:29:16 |
| Too many tourists by John Ratcliffe on 2013-09-29 22:40:39 |
| Too many tourists by Nick B. on 2013-09-30 02:12:19 |
| Too many tourists by john ratcliffe on 2013-09-30 02:46:28 |
| Too many tourists by barry on 2013-09-30 08:01:46 |
| Mahrs by Uncle Jimbo on 2013-09-30 09:34:23 |
| Next Year and Franconian Lagers in Portland, Maine this weekend by Mark Andersen on 2013-09-30 09:33:45 |
| Mahrs by barry on 2013-09-30 11:35:59 |
| Mahrs by barry on 2013-09-30 11:46:03 |
| Mahrs by Fred Waltman on 2013-09-30 14:31:58 |
| Mahrs by Uncle Jimbo on 2013-09-30 16:22:17 |
| Too many tourists by Stephan Michel on 2013-10-01 00:09:05 |
| Mahrs by Stephan Michel on 2013-10-01 00:25:11 |
| Mahrs by Stephan Michel on 2013-10-01 00:28:35 |
| Mahrs by Nick B. on 2013-10-01 03:17:37 |
| Too many tourists by barry on 2013-10-01 03:24:00 |
| Schwemme by Mark Andersen on 2013-10-01 06:54:05 |
| Live aus der Schwemme by Nick B. on 2013-10-01 07:52:06 |
| Live aus der Schwemme by Nick B. on 2013-10-01 08:16:05 |
| Poor Greifenklau! by Mark Andersen on 2013-10-01 08:11:34 |
| Live aus der Schwemme by Mark Andersen on 2013-10-01 08:25:00 |
| Mahrs by Fred Waltman on 2013-10-01 08:36:04 |
| Live aus der Schwemme by Nick B. on 2013-10-01 08:32:17 |
| Live aus der Schwemme by Mark Andersen on 2013-10-01 08:39:37 |
| Live aus der Schwemme by Nick B. on 2013-10-01 08:32:17 |
| Live aus der Schwemme by Nick B. on 2013-10-01 08:32:17 |
| Live aus der Schwemme by barry on 2013-10-01 09:29:04 |
| Poor Greifenklau! by barry on 2013-10-01 09:30:29 |
| Live aus der Schwemme by barry on 2013-10-01 09:31:45 |
| Live aus der Schwemme by barry on 2013-10-01 09:33:57 |
| Live aus der Schwemme by TreinJan on 2013-10-01 13:08:35 |
| Poor Greifenklau! by TreinJan on 2013-10-01 13:10:54 |
| Poor Greifenklau! by Jason on 2013-10-01 13:11:36 |
| Live aus der Schwemme by Fred Waltman on 2013-10-01 14:53:34 |
| Poor Greifenklau! by Fred Waltman on 2013-10-01 14:55:50 |
| Poor Greifenklau! by Uncle Jimbo on 2013-10-01 16:11:42 |
| Live aus der Schwemme by Nick B. on 2013-10-01 23:14:10 |
| Poor Greifenklau! by Nick B. on 2013-10-01 23:15:27 |
| Oktober by Nick B. on 2013-10-01 23:26:41 |
| Live aus der Schwemme by Nick B. on 2013-10-01 23:33:11 |
| Poor Greifenklau! by DonS on 2013-10-02 06:40:03 |
| Oktober by Uncle Jimbo on 2013-10-02 16:09:13 |
| Oktober by Nick B. on 2013-10-03 01:47:58 |
| Oktober by Uncle Jimbo on 2013-10-03 19:47:50 |
| Oktober by Nick B. on 2013-10-04 00:56:08 |
| Oktober by Uncle Jimbo on 2013-10-04 05:14:37 |
| Next Year and Franconian Lagers in Portland, Maine this weekend by Neil McC on 2013-10-04 06:44:44 |
| Some Conclusions! by Ungespundet on 2013-10-08 14:28:59 |
| Some Conclusions! by barry on 2013-10-09 09:47:12 |
| X Hours in one Place by Nick B. on 2013-10-09 11:19:58 |
| X Hours in one Place by barry on 2013-10-09 11:38:08 |
| X Hours in Kack'n by Mark Andersen on 2013-10-10 07:06:27 |
| X Hours in Käck'n by Uncle Jimbo on 2013-10-11 04:58:27 |
| X Hours in Käck'n by Mark Andersen on 2013-10-11 08:24:51 |
| X Hours in Käck'n by barry on 2013-10-11 09:58:39 |
| X Hours in Käck'n by Uncle Jimbo on 2013-10-11 18:34:35 |
| X Hours in Käck'n by barry on 2013-10-12 02:17:13 |
| X Hours in one Place by Ungespundet on 2013-10-13 11:03:23 |