Franconian Beer Message Board

In Forchheim: Special Edition

Posted by Barry on 2013-09-15 04:53:15

Over the last few years, one of the highlights of a visit to Franken for many overseas visitors has been a 'conducted tour' with Jürgen Wening. Certainly, it is something that J. and myself have come to regard as one of the highpoints of any visit. So, we were delighted when our tour day came due last Friday. Unfortunately, the day started with lashing rain and when we met Jürgen at the bahnhof, his car was rapidly filling up with water! But, we were not put off and, anyway, the rain gradually eased and, very, very occasionally, the sun made an appearance. The tour was of the southern fringes of Schweiz Franken criss-crossing the roads around the Walberla mountain. Rumour had it that Nick B might be joining us but then came a message that he had to take the kellerhund to Nuremberg for a check-up at the vet - fortunately, we heard later that the patient is making a good recovery. First visit was to Brauerei Meister in Unterzaunsbach: the beer was typical of so many in the region. Jürgen describes it as amber but I think it is more of a soft reddish colour; malty and with quite a complex taste. If Meister is typical of the breweries in the region, our next stop was not. For those who haven't been, Nikl-Bräu in Pretzfeld was created from scratch in 2008 from a group of farm buildings. The compact brewery is visible from inside the stube and makes a pleasant backdrop. Again, we chose the dunkles, which was quite similar to Meister but a bit darker and somehow lacked a bit of the former's character. Our next stop was to be Hetzeldorfer and Brauerei Penning-Zeissler but here came the first disappointment: the accursed urlaub! But the redoubtable Jürgen is not easily deterred. Noticing that the brew house was in operation, he nosed around and eventually found one of the brewers who was happy to sell us bottles. So, picture the scene: three eager beer tourists standing outside the brewery in the 'nearly' rain drinking beer vom Flasche! Well, not J. who declined the offer muttering about cats and peeing and bottles. However, Jürgen and self carried on regardless and much enjoyed the beer, which the brewery describes as 'Fränkische Vollbier' and I think is a sort of cross between Vollbiers such Grasser, Huppendorf and Eichorn, Forchheim and the local dunkles. All in all, an interesting experience. There followed a frustrating bit of driving up down the hills and valleys of the region (sadly, mist and rain marred much of the scenery, which is quite spectacular). Alt of Dietzhof was closed as also the Leutenbach brewery. This resulted in a diversion, albeit a happy one, to Brauerei Hoffmann in Hohenschwärz, a homely and welcoming spot. While I visited the facilities, Jürgen ordered more dunkles and was surprised when the waitress announced that, since April, they were brewing a helles and that she would bring a sample for us to try. First the dunkles: a darkly coloured beer full of subtle tastes and probably my favourite of the trip. Then the helles: surprisingly, perhaps, for a first helles in goodness knows how long, it was pretty good and I am left with lingering regret that we only had a fleeting taste. However, time was marching on and Jürgen had the second part of his mission to complete: that is, to make up a six-pack of different beers for a friend. The only option open was Elch-Brau, which he warned us was not comparable with some of the other beers sampled. But, not deterred, we decided to give it a go. As Jürgen had predicted, the dunkles was rather characterless and, as J. put it, a bit 'thin'. Jürgen tried the helles and a little taste suggested that it would have been a better choice. So, that was the end of things. We returned to Forchheim after yet another great day with our champion beer guide and another great swathe of Franken breweries visited. Thanks once again to Jürgen for taking the time off your his schedule and good luck for this week! Postscript: it's now Sunday and the rain has hardly stopped since before Friday, making any thoughts of keller visiting redundant. If this goes on, the proprietors of Neder, Greif and Eichorn better get used to our company. Not to mention the Hebendanz Brauerei replacement, Schlössle, with which we are becoming increasingly familiar. Any suggestions of suitable diversion eagerly welcomed!

In Forchheim: Special Edition by Nick B. on 2013-09-15 04:58:35

Out of Forchheim: Special Edition by Nick B. on 2013-09-15 05:26:37

Out of Forchheim: Swedish Edition by Nick B. on 2013-09-15 06:17:30

Out of Forchheim: Swedish Edition by Barry on 2013-09-15 09:39:29

Out of Forchheim: Swedish Edition by Mark Andersen on 2013-09-15 10:14:54

Out of Forchheim: Swedish Edition by Nick B. on 2013-09-15 11:36:51

Out of Forchheim: Swedish Edition by Barry on 2013-09-15 11:41:05

Out of Forchheim: Swedish Edition by Barry on 2013-09-15 13:01:47

Out of Forchheim: Swedish Edition by Nick B. on 2013-09-15 13:31:38

Out of Forchheim: Swedish Edition...forgot by Nick B. on 2013-09-15 13:41:46

Out of Forchheim: Swedish Edition by Mark Andersen on 2013-09-15 15:10:35

In Forchheim: Special Edition by DonS on 2013-09-15 16:58:18

Dietzhofer Alt Bier (nicht Altbier) by Nick B. on 2013-09-15 23:27:00

Out of Forchheim to Heiligenstadt by Nick B. on 2013-09-16 04:04:48

Out of Forchheim to Heiligenstadt by Jürgen Wening on 2013-09-16 04:28:54

Out of Forchheim to Heiligenstadt by NickB on 2013-09-16 12:04:45

Out of Forchheim to Heiligenstadt by Doug Toy on 2013-09-16 16:16:30

Out of Forchheim to Heiligenstadt by Nick B. on 2013-09-17 00:46:27

Out of Forchheim to Straßgiech: Swedish Edition by Nick B. on 2013-09-18 05:33:53

Out of Forchheim to Straßgiech: Swedish Edition by Barry on 2013-09-19 00:33:07

Out of Forchheim to Straßgiech: Swedish Edition by Nick B. on 2013-09-19 02:15:40

Spezial Märzen by Fred Waltman on 2013-09-19 06:52:03

Out of Forchheim to Straßgiech: Swedish Edition by barry on 2013-09-19 07:48:30

Spezial Märzen by barry on 2013-09-19 07:51:07

Spezial Märzen by Fred Waltman on 2013-09-19 08:00:43