I will be in Germany for work 5/3-5/9. I will be working and staying in Pfungstadt and Darmstadt. This is my first trip to the area. Is there anyone on here who knows the area, and could make recommendations of breweries, or bottle shops. This place http://maruhn-welt-der-getraenke.de/angebote/ looks promising, but that is all I have found so far. I know these cities are not hotbeds for beer, but I will have a busy schedule so my ability to travel will be limited. I do have a pretty good cellar, if anyone is in the area and looking to trade. I am planning a bottle share before my wedding in June, and would be interested in any European gems that I may not have access to here. Just let me know if you have something interesting, and I'll bring my half of the trade along with me.
That Getränkemarkt (Maruhn) is ok... We took a drive from Stuttgart up there a couple years ago, bought a few beers and haven't been back since. I have more of a selection at my local Getränkemarkt near the Porsche's HQ in Zuffenhausen. What are you looking for?
Maruhn's is probably the best the area has to offer, so if you can't venture out that's going to be your best bet. I guess I liked it a little more than @-N8 but then again it was easier for me to get to Darmstadt than to Stuttgart. I hear Mainz has a nice specialty shop as well?
I have relatives in Darmstadt, so I have been there quite a number of times. I would recommend Grohe (http://www.brauerei-grohe.de/), which makes a very nice Bock (though this is now out of season). They used to have an outdoor cafe/restaurant attached to the brewery in town, which was nice. I don't remember much about the food. The Darmstadter Ratskeller also brews its own beer, which I haven't had in a while, but I remember it being fairly decent. Nice outside cafe area as well. As for Maruhn, I think I'm quite a bit more of a fan that @-N8 apparently is. I go there about 2-3 times a year. Aside from a wall of German craft beer and IPAs (refrigerated), they also have 15-20 different Belgians (St. Bernardus, Westmalle, Rochefort, Chimay), 15 or so British (Fullers, Samuel Smith, etc...), as well as more than a few Dutch, French and even American beers (though nothing out of the ordinary for an American). The German "traditional" beer selection is also excellent; I'd guess near 200 different German beers. Perhaps more? By German standards, this ranks as a beer paradise. I'd love to know where this is exactly... Is this the Heinrich's 3000? I'm always on the lookout for new Getränkemarkts to visit! Thanks!
You've reminded me, they have a dedicated Franconian section there as well, and they carry Klosterbräu's Schwärzla and other goodies (I think Spezial Lager?) that those of us in beer-desert HD never really had access to. Definitely worth the ride up for me.
As far as the local brews are concerned, I always liked the beers from Pfungstädter and Schmucker, nothing amazing but very solid. As I recall the Schmucker doppelbock was quite good. Welde also brings back good memories. On the other hand, avoid Eichbaum at all costs.
About 10 years ago, Schmucker made a variety 12-pack for Aldi under the label of "Odenwalder." There was an Export, Pils and a Schwarzbier. As you say, all very solid. Wish Aldi would bring them back again, especially at their prices!
Schmucker had a Rosé Bock that was pretty OK if I remember correctly. Welde's No.1 Pils is good on draft and you have sized up Eichbaum pretty well. You may already know this but for the record, Eichbaum and Welde are Mannheim beers. Those two and Heidelberger were my locals for four years...
