Trip's Beer Trips

Please, make the effort to break away from the group for an hour and have a couple of Klosterbräu smoked beers. Looks like you'd have to do it on the Wednesday of your tour, because they are closed on Monday and Tuesday.

This is my ranking of the Rauch beers in Bamberg:
1) Klosterbräu
2) Spezial
3) Schlenkerla

I'll be curious to see how you rank them.

And unfortunately you miss this festival in Nuremberg by ONE DAY!

https://asf-nuernberg.de/

 

I wouldn't rank the beers in order, they are too different. Sometimes I prefer Spezial to Schlenkerla, sometimes it’s the other way round. Schlenkerla is rich and chocolatey with powerful smoke. Spezial is lighter, more delicate and woody-aromatic. Klosterbräu is ever more pungent than Schlenkerla, but also less elegant, I feel.

 

The Klosterbräu Rauchbier is quite new, I don't think it existed yet in 2017.

 

Overall, a good agenda from my perspective. The tour somewhat mirrors what Stu Stuart, Ron Smith and former Shelton Brothers (Inner Circle Beer Tours) have been doing for years. I personally, would spend more time in Bamberg and eliminate Nuernberg and Erlangen, but that's just me, and I'm not organizing a tour group. The overnight stay in Forchheim and visit to the Kellerwald is a nice touch. If you have time, try to visit Neder in Forchheim for an old-school boozer atmosphere.

If the Eichhorn the tour references is the Brauerei Eichhorn in Doerfleins near Hallstadt, then you are in for a treat. They brew arguably some of the highest-quality beers in the region: Kellerbier, Pils, Dunkles, etc. A visit is highly recommended if you are in the region.

In Bamberg proper, a side trip up the hill to local's favorite Greifenklau is also recommended. Excellent beer (Kellerbier, Helles, occasional Rauchbier) along with a excellent kitchen service and pleasant view of the Altenburg Castle in the beer garden. Stops at Stoehrenkeller and Galerie am Stephansberg are good insider tips. Rotenschild is also a nice late-evening option (opens at 8pm) as they serve Moenchsambager Lagerbier from gravity cask. I believe Spezial now offers their Maerzen (Rauchbier) year-round along with their Rauchbier Lager, Ungespudent (Kellerbier = excellent) and Weissbier. You also have Faessla located across the street from Spezial which is also worth visiting; note: opens at 8:30am daily.

Personally, I would spend as much time as I could at Spezial and Schlenkerla as these places offer old-school Franconian atmosphere along with their world-class beers. Safe travels and have a good trip!

 

That is one of the best beer fest in Germany. The small breweries all have boths there.

 

If you need me to do a Recon let me know. I don't mind popping up to Franconia checking out places.

 

It pains me to see you guys spend so much for beer tours here. We do these kind of trips about once a month here on our own.

 

I am just saying in general. The ones in the second post are running 3k. That to me is crazy for a beer trip

 

Maybe a business opportunity here?

Bavarican's discount beer tours?

Prost!

 

I already give them. I work for beer and food

 

I hope your driver just works for food.

 

All of the bigger cities have trains, Sbahns, Ubahns, Street cars and buses. Heck even my village Has two seperate train lines and two different Bus routes

 

Guess you only offer short trips.

Seriously, some of these tours take you on wide radiuses. I understand feeling fortunate to live where you do, but we can't all relocate.

In the meantime, if you're ever in Chicago I'll offer you up some similar tours with good beer stops.