Viking buses the group in from the docks in Bamberg to the Altstadt. We have talked to people on the tour at Schlenkerla that stopped in for a beer on their free time. If you can, pop over to Klosterbräu for a beer, they are much improved and not so far.
Thanks! On this particular trip, I think we have some extra time in Bamberg. Also, I've already done the walking tour Viking provides, so we're going to skip that this time. I'm planning to visit Schlenkerla and Spezial, but can't see any reason not to visit Klosterbrau as well.
Keesmann has a great Pils. I tried their Helles once and was very disappointed. Stick with Herren Pils. Spezial has wonderful Rauchbier and good food. Across the street is Fässla which maybe has improved, that one time I got Gold Pils with a load of Diacetyl is why I said maybe.
In my experience the Fässla biers are not consistent, but when they are good they are very good. Gold Pils has a wonderful Spalt hops aroma. But yes, there is often diacetyl, which I find acceptable in small amounts: it improves the mouthfeel and gives the beer a rounder taste. Don't go expecting a "German Pils", because it isn't.
On 10 August at my home bar deep in the Bavarian Alps we are tasting many Oktoberfest Beers to see which one we will serve at our 6th Annual Oktoberfest Party on 27 September. Here is a list: Paulaner Hacker-Pshsorr Löwenbräu Hofbräuhaus Späten The ever elusive Augustiner (Still looking for it, only one store in town gets it and they only get 20 racks of it, might have to run up to München) Garmischer Bräuhaus Ayinger Giessinger bräu The last couple of years Augustiner and Ayinger won. If any of you want to join either event let me know.
Well two shifts of 15 people each plus about 400 euros in food is enough work and each tent at the fest has just one Oktoberfest beer, Hence the tasting before hand.
Some times in Bamberg the Fässla Gold Pils is just OK, then it can really be wonderful, then after a busy weekend it can be rushed to the tap full of Diacetyl. My friends in Bamberg say that summer will be the season for Diacetyl, as the beer consumption is high and the tank time is short. For those that don't know, most of the breweries around Bamberg are small family operations. The friends also tell about Keesmann Herren Pils having Diacetyl one spring. It was a couple of months before that was eliminated. They don't know what caused it or the actions the brewery implemented to eliminate it.
Refrigerators are both small so having more than one in them is hard to track at the pace they drink. You should come by and advise US.
Here's some free advice for a bar: get a bigger fridge. If you're always rotating warm for cold, I still don't see why you can't have more than one label for choice. Especially when you have so many good options available to you. I'll PM you my address for that Lufthansa ticket.
The tasting party will cover the many beers. There will be 10. At the Main Party there is always what ever is in the beer cellar. Normally a couple of Helles, Urweisse, some Ayinger Maibock, Adventinus and who knows.
I am curious to hear what you (and others) think of the Giesinger Bräu Oktoberfest beer. Do you happen to know when they will be permitted to provide this beer at the actual Oktoberfest event? Prost!
https://muenchen.t-online.de/region...-sich-mit-eigenem-zelt-auf-die-wiesn-vor.html That should give you what you are looking for. It is the biggest keep secret in Munich. The city will milk this as long as they can. They would be idiots not to allow Giesinger the open tent in 2026. The only thing that might stop it is Inbev or Heineken throwing money around, which they have always done to stop upcoming breweries. When I stopped by Giesinger in spring the only answer I got was a we will see and a wink.
Last year Giesinger did a pop-up bar as close to the Oktoberfest site as they could get. I have to say the beer did not impress me. For some reason they had decided just to sell their standard Helles rather than a Festbier, and while impressively hoppy for a Helles it was poured much too fizzy.
Giesinger suffers from the same problem as Ayinger does. They both have a great number of excellent beers. But in both cases thier Helles are the weak link in thier chain of beers.
