Heading Back to Munich/Bamberg at last

You are correct on both counts, Jack. You can find some better beer in the Rio Grand Valley, but you have to work to do it.

The sister in Law makes some of the best Mex-Tex dishes you can have.

 

Weber grills are the IN thing to buy today by hipsters. Anyway... back to beer!!! I leave in a few hours to board a plane to Philly and get my first taste of Victory Pils... and my fill of IPAs for 12 days. God knows what I'll do if one of my relatives tries to palm off a BMC beer on me. And that guy who lives in Philly... got 3 bottles with your name on them. Ein Blaue Andechser, Rothaus Pils and Duckstein Ale.

 

Blue Andechs? Is that the Export Dunkel? The Dopplebock Dunkel has a gold label. Or am I totally misunderstanding that?

Anyway have fun in the US and I look forward to your report! Try not to fall victim to ABIPA Syndrome.

 

This is where my confusion lies, I'm afraid. There are two "dunkels", the Export Dunkel (blue) and the Dopplebock Dunkel (gold). The Dopplebock is the very highly rated one, and although the Export isn't bad either, I'm worried that Boddhitree grabbed the wrong Dunkel. Although it's also possible that the blue one is the one the friend wanted all along and I'm the one who is confused. Either way I wish he told us sooner that he was going to Philly, I would have given him an Oettinger to bring back to Jack H.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/911/2899
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/911/12956

 

That is interesting about the dunkel. What's odd is that you can find it around town in HD here and there, but it's nowhere near as prominent as their other offerings, you sort of have to know where to look. I wonder why the blue doesn't get the love.

Now what to do about Jack's Oettinger....

 

“I would have given him an Oettinger to bring back to Jack H.” What a pal!?!

“Now what to do about Jack's Oettinger....": I have a suggestion but I can’t post it because the brothers will likely give me a time out from BA.

Prost!

 

I can't remember which one is which. I just buy them label colors, for the labels look practically identical except for color, so if you say it's the export Dunkel, so it is. I never liked the Gold Doppelbock, only the Blue. So . If Jack doesn't want it, I gots relatives to give it to.


Now on a bus between NYC & Philly with free wifi. Looking forward to my first American craft beer tonight with dinner, I hope... Last 1 was 18 months ago.

 

Maybe I should've brought the whole line up of Fernsehbiere in cans for him to test?

 

Tony, I am sure that you would exceed the airlines luggage weight limit and there is no sense paying more to transport those beers!

Cheers!

 

You gotta take em off my hands. He'll, 3 bottles of beer isn't much. 10 cans of Fernsehbiere… I might've paid the excess baggage fee just to see your face.

 

Quick...:.. Where's a good place to get a decent craft beer near the Club Quarters hotel this evening?

Within 5 minutes walking distance!

 

Philly?

http://monkscafe.com/

 

Tony, as long as the beers didn’t have off flavors I would drink them. No sense letting beer that is drinkable go to waste.

A good story(s) for you:

I have a next door neighbor, Walt, who is 83 years old now. A number of years ago (8 years ago?), I was mowing my lawn. Walt comes over to me and says: Jack, you are working too hard. You need a break” He then hands me a can of Schmidt beer. There used to be a Philly area regional brewery called Schmidt’s which closed in the 80’s. I am not an observant individual so I am thinking this is a modern day brew of Schmidt’s (at another brewery). I say to Walt: Schmidt’s has been out of business for years. Walt proudly tells me:

· They brew this beer in Lacrosse, WI
· I bought a 30 pack for ten bucks and then sent in a rebate for $5.00

I’m thinking to myself: how can they sell a 30 pack of beer for a net price of $5.00. I hesitantly brought that can of beer to my lips (I will admit I was a tad nervous). The beer tasted like a typical AAL beer; it was very light in flavor but I didn’t detect any unpleasant flavors. I thanked Walt, drank the beer and then continued cutting my lawn.

This past winter I got together with a large circle of friends for a Christmas get together at a local restaurant. One friend (Mike) is an AAL drinker. In the past his favorite beer was Yuengling Lager. I brought my homebrewed beers. Everybody drank it except Mike (he prefers AAL beers). I asked him: Mike, you still drinking Yuengling Lager? He replied: No, I know buy Schmidt beer; it is a better deal.

Cheers!

 

Tony, you might as well hit up Monk’s Café as has been suggested. It is the one beer bar that everybody says you just gotta go to if you visit Philly. Monk’s has lots of Belgian beers on tap and bottles. They serve good mussels and their burgers are tasty.

Other nearby options are Jose Pistolas (decent Mexican food) and Nodding Head (a brewpub).

Cheers!



Edit: at Jose Pistola’s tonight:

“Tuesday June 18, 2013 10:00 PM

The Tuesday Night Funk Sessions

Every Tueday Night we feature a different live Funk Band. Craft beer cans are 4 bucks and a buck off anything Allagash”

 

I've heard nothing but raves about this spot from my Philly friends.

 

For Munich, the Augustinerkeller is the place where the locals go. Hofbräuhaus is a wonderful tourist trap.
In August, it is supposed to be sunny, actually you can have a beer at 100s of beer gardens in Munich. Just drift the city.

For a trip to the country side: Andechs is nice, but a little mainstream. Try Reutberger south of Munich, You can look to the Alps when you sit in front of the brewery.

For Bamberg: Add one more day, and cut one day in Munich. Visit one of the Kirchweihs herrburgess listed above (June 4). That is definitely off-the-beaten-track and you will find an unique experience, much better than pounding the pavement in Bamberg.

 

I am looking forward to hearing Tony's review of the Philly craft beer scene in his first time back in 18 months. Our industry is changing in huge strides.

Hops are not everything, sometimes just knowing that you have a selection is comforting enough.

 

My guess is that he is still reading the beer menu at Monk's, trying to decide what he wants.