Ottenbräu Abensberg

The Ottenbräu Gasthof was easily found in the center of Abensberg. A rather plain, 3-story, white stone building, the entrance is around the side to the right. There's a small foyer there with some brewery-related pix as well as some awards Otten has won for their bier. To the right is a small game-room, with a pool table and such. Straight ahead is the dining Stube. It has 6-7 plain wooden tables which can accomodate 8 or so people each. In the near right corner is the Stammtisch and a service bar. It's a rather cozy room, with dark-wood panelled ceiling, and walls covered with old photos of Abensberg, some local sports teams, and of some local, regular imbibers. Quiet on this Saturday afternoon, yet still welcoming. Service was friendly and right there. The waiter seemed to be the late-teens/early twenties son of the owner, who was stationed at the Stammtisch. Biers available were a Märzen, Pils, Dunkel and Hefeweizen; a seasonal DBock makes a Fall/Winter appearance. The Märzen was top-shelf!! Quite yummy. I dined on a good-sized plate of Currywurst mit Pommes with a small Salat. Hit the spot! The owner saw me taking notes and asked if I was Canadian. Said American, and loved good bier. I showed him a little BA card and he talked some bier with me. He said (in German) that you need good hops, water, malt, yeast and someone who knows what they're doing. Lack any one and it's no good! How true! He then went behind the bar and returned with a superb, logo-ed 0.5l stein for my travels ("a gift for Amerika!"). Vielen Dank!!
If ever in Abensberg, please search out Ottenbräu!

Prosit!!

overall: 4.28
atmosphere: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $

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