Franconian Beer Message Board

My first trip to Bamberg

Posted by Mark Andersen on 2007-08-13 14:15:34

I got home from my trip today and I think for the most part mission accomplished as far as Bamberg is concerned. I would have liked to have had more time there but the time I did have was amazing and definately the best part of the whole trip. I managed to squeeze almost 5 days and 5 nights in Bamberg broken into two separate visits. I stuck to the "core business" as was suggested here and spent all of that time in Bamberg and did not visit any of the sorrounding villages. My visits included: brewery pubs: Klosterbrau Schlenkerla Spezial Fassla Greifenklau Mahrs Keesman Kellers: Spezial Keller Mahrs Keller Other pubs: Stillbruch Torchuster Tapas Stohrenkeller Sternla Brasserie Schmitt's and the Michaelsburg brewing museum. These are the beers I had (I may be missing a few): Schlenkerla Rauchbier Spezial Rauchbier Spezial U Mahrs U Mahrs Vollbier Maisel Weissbier Maisel Kellerbier Maisel Pils Keesman Pils Fassla Lager Fassla Pils Fassla Schwergla Klosterbrau braunbier Klosterbrau Pils Klosterbrau Schwarzla Greifenklau Weissbier Monschambacher Lager (at Tapas) Drei Kronen Weissbier (at Stohrenkeller) Brauerie Hubner Vollbier (Steinfeld) at Stillbruch Lowenbrau Lager of Buttenheim (on tap at Schmitt's) The only places I wished I had visited but didn't get the chance were the Wilde Rose Keller and Cafe Abseits. I was also sorry I didn't get a chance to meet up with others from this site like Nick. My trip was just changing on the fly too much. Hopefully next year. My favorite places to drink were: Spezial Keller Mahrs Keller Mahrs pub Torchuster Stillbruch Favorite beers in no particular order: Mahr's U Keesman Pils Spezial Rauchbier Hubner Vollbier Klosterbrau braunbier Favorite moments: 1. False Fred Waltman sighting: The owner of Torchuster reported to me on Tuesday night (Aug 7th) that Fred Waltman was sighted at the Mahr's brewery. I said that can't be true since this websites calender says Fred won't be here for another month or so. He insisted that it had to be Fred based on the description. So apparently there is a Franconian Fred Waltman look-a-like running around Bamberg creating confusion. I just thought it was funny and cool that Fred is that well known in town. 2. On my first night in Bamberg we didn't arrive until around 7pm and had dinner and my first Rauchbier at Brasserie near our hotel. My friend from Cologne retired after dinner but I was too excited to be there. So I went to Stillbruch and had a sampling of 4 different beers (had 5 total). I then asked how much I owed. The bartender said 10 Euro. I nearly fell off the stool. How could 5 1/2 liters of beer this good be only 10 Euros?!? I must have landed in paradise!! 3. I'm not a Pilsner lover. Or at least I wasn't until Bamberg and Keesman Pils. I think this beer surprised me the most. I expected the other beers to be great but when I took my first gulp of Keesman it put a big smile on my face. 4. After the 2nd day in Bamberg my friend from Cologne remarked that he's lived in Germany all his life yet surprisingly had no idea how beautiful the city of Bamberg is and how great the beer is. 5. Sitting at Spezial Keller looking out over the city on a perfect late afternoon. 6. Drinking at Torchuster with a couple of GI's and fellow beer lovers stationed in Bamberg. They both agreed that the best possible American Army post in Europe to be assigned to had to be Bamberg. 7. Weisswurst and Weissbier on some sunny morning at Sternla. I could go on and on. What a fantastic place. I miss it already. Mark

My first trip to Bamberg by Mark Jamison on 2007-08-13 17:45:42

My first trip to Bamberg by Fred Waltman on 2007-08-13 19:31:53

My first trip to Bamberg by alan price on 2007-08-14 05:09:00