Walking around Bamberg, Drinking beer...

Haven't see that post title before.

Started off by walking over to Cafe Abseits for lunch and beer. Or three.

My usual first beer there is Mönchsambacher Lager. I am in a rut because it was my first beer this time as well.

I paired with a Schnitzel Sandwinch, regular this time not XXL

Gerhard asked me if I had tasted the Weiherer IPA from Brauerei Kundmüller. I hand't so he brought one out to share.

It was very nice -- nice and hoppy -- but I don't think it will replace Racer 5 as my goto IPA.

Next up was the Gänstaller Affumicator Smoked Double Bock. At 10.2% this is a big beer. I had a half glass because I had a lot of walking to do...

Then it was off to Mahrs but I was early enough to have a quick beer at Keesmann (which closes at 3pm on Saturday).

I had the Herrn Pils. This and the Fässla Pils vie for the best Pils in Bamberg. I tough choice, but I think I still like the Fässla a bit better. But this one is very good as well.

The across the street to Mahrs Bräu...

...where it was too early for the U so I had a Helles from the barrel. A nice, drinkable beer.

Playing with my camera, I took some shots of the room...

And by the time I was finished with my Helles, they had tapped the barrel of U. So I had one.

 

I think they have reduced the hops over the years. This used to be one of my favorite beers in Bamberg -- and it is still very good -- but I think it was better in years gone by.

I do like the new Mahrs coasters. though. A nice mix of old and new.

On the way out I took a picture of the empty Schwemm. Don't see that too often.

I thought I would wander over to Eckerts, on the Obere Mühlbrücke, and take some tourist pictures along the way.

Eckarts is on an island in the river, so it has great views if you are eating,



I just sat in the bar and had a Gänstaller Zwickelpils.

Now came a tough choice -- I had to walk right by Klosterbräu. When I was last here, last October, I could't finish the beer I ordered. I figured I owed it to my readers (all six of you) to report on the status of their beer.

So I ordered a Braunbier. And it wasn't too bad. I was able to finish it but had no desire to have another.

Then I heard they were serving the last keg of their Bockbier -- which I assume was from last fall -- and since the Braunbier didn't do me in, I had a bock as well.

It was actually quite nice. Not as good as some of their hocks ten years ago, but eminently drinkable, which can be dangerous for a bockbier.

Then it was up the hill to Stöhrenkeller for another Gänstaller beer -- this one a rauchbier -- and a Panang curry for dinner.

Food and beer were both excellent.

On the way home I stopped at Schlenkerla for a night cap.

I long hard day, especially for the first full day in country. Maybe I will take it easy Sunday. Maybe.

Arrived in Bamberg

I guess I didn't post about it, but on a whim I decide to go spend some time in Bamberg. Surprise, Surprise. The trip itself was uneventful, which is a good thing.  I am staying at Brauerei Spezial, so of course that was my first beer.

I have a new toy -- a Sony QX100 "Smart Lens." -- It basically is a camera without a display, it pairs with your smart phone or tablet to act as the display and controller.  It has a full size sensor (1 inch) and a good Carl Zeiss lens. Basically it is the bast camera I've owned and way better than I need or am in fact qualified to use. So there may be extra pictures as I play with it.

I am stay at Spezial even though they are technically closed for the three days before Ash Wednesday (this Wednesday). They said it was OK for me to stay if I didn't mind no breakfast and no room cleaning. No problem for me! As a result, I am the only guest. They now have 15 rooms with the new section be open. I am in room 12. (There is no room 13)

They were doing some work on the main staircase so I had to use the emergency staircase (which itself is very nice). It let out in the courtyard of the new building, which is where they keep the wood for smoking their malt.

When I have jet lag, I need to keep moving, so it was off to Schlenkerla...

Where of course, I had a beer. This Wednesday they will be releasing their Fastenbier -- a Lenten beer - -that is stronger but not quite as smokey as the regular Märzen.

I had a delivery to make to my friend Frank, who because he is recovering from surgery (everything is OK) he can't drink beer. He offered to meet me at Schlenkerla but I figure that was torture so I went to his house. He gave me a bottle of Robesbier -- the beer brewed by Robert Pawelczak. It was a little old (hence the big head) but very, very good. As always.

I decided to head back to the room, but I took some tourist pictures along the way.

Since I had to past the Gaststätte to get to my room, I went in for beer and a light dinner. I had the "U" for a change of pace.

This is a great beer and I don't drink it often enough because I like the Lagerbier so much. If this was at any other brewery it would be a flagship beer.

If I were an artist, I'd call the picture below a "Bamberg Still Life"

Bamberg Still Life

Traveling?

If you're traveling in the coming months, in conjunction with some local friends, I've got a number of "Beer Guide" websites up and running: London, Dublin, Los Angeles, Antwerp and Atlanta. The London one is the most complete and the Atlanta was is very much just getting started. They aren't comprehensive sites, just the pubs that I (and my local friends) like. So check them out if you are headed to any of those places.

Kerstbierfest Day 1

Another Day Drinking Beer in Antwerp

Walking around Antwerp, Drinking Beer

The flight into Brussels had a huge tailwind so we got in early, but that also meant
 it was a real bumpy flight. Didn't get much sleep as a result.

But my room was ready, so I was able to unpack and rest a bit before heading out.

My first stop was a place I haven't been to for many, many years -- the Highlander. It is run my a Scottish couple and has a good selection of Single Malts. They also have a number of tasting flights for a decent price.

I wanted to go this trip because they are moving next year and I wanted to see the old place one last time.

Cafe Highlander

My tradition first beer in Antwerp (whenever possible) is the local one, De Konnick. Highlander has it on draft, so I had one.

Een Bolleke De Koninck

They had a big advert for Palm Hop Select, so I thought I'd give it a try. It was OK, but nothing special. No need to have it again anytime soon.

Palm Hop Select

I asked where the new place was going to be and was told Stadswaag 18. That sounded familiar as a good beer place 't Waagstuk is on the same street. So I headed over that way.

It turns out they will be right next door to 't Wagstuuk. That is a gutsy move as 't Waagstuk has a much better beer selection. Though the Highland has a better Scotch selection so maybe it will balance out.

In the picture below, the Maes sign on the far left is from the closed pub where the Highlander will be. It didn't look as any work had started on any renovations. The move is schedule for March so there is some time, depending on what needs to be done.

't Waagstuk

Since I was right there, I went in to 't Waagstuk for a beer. It would have been rude not to have.

De Koninck Winter

They had De Koninck's winter beer called, (strangely enough) De Koninck Winter. It is darker and stronger but has that De Koninck flavor. Went nice with the bowl of Tomato Soup.

I was wondering around the Old Town and ended up on the street across from the river (Ernest van Dijckkaai) and saw a place I'd not been to before -- Best Beers Cafe. They've been there for about a year, so it is fairly new.

Best Beers Cafe

Inside is a very modern pub. The beer list looks decent and will need some further exploration. They had Tripel Karmeliet on draft and free WiFi -- a combination hard to beat.

Tripel Karmetliet

By now it was 4pm and I was late for an appointment.

Home

The big decision for me is always what will my second beer be, because the first is pretty much set it stone.

Tap Board at the Kulminator

If it is on the board, I will have an Avec les Bons Voeux. Nuff said.

Avec les Bons Voeux

The winner for beer #2 was Troubadour Westkust Black IPA. "Westkust" is Flemish for "West Coast" and I'm guessing they mean the west coast of the US, not Belgium.

Troubador Westkust Black IPA

It was a nice hoppy beer, but it was a bit too much roasty and full bodied compared to West Coast US Black IPA's.  But very enjoyable. It is brewed at Proef Brouwerij in Locristi.

The jet lat was starting to kick in (not to mention an afternoon's worth of Belgian beers). So I had  a nightcap of Gouden Carolis Hopsijnoor. I was going to go with the Mikkeller Black but it is an 18% beer brewed with coffee. So either I would fall asleep on the walk home or be so wired I couldn't sleep.

Gouden Carolis Hopsinjoor

The Hopsinjoor was a nice finish to the evening.

BTW, you can check out www.AntwerpBeerGuide.com for details on pubs in Antwerp. At the time this is being written it still is a work in progress.