I understand Austria is not Germany, but this is the most proximate regional header... I have not been to Vienna in a few years and I was hoping that there would be some new bars/breweries worth visiting. I am happy to spend an hour or two on the train if need be. Let me know if you have any recommendations.
I'm not going to be much help in that as a SE PA local I've always been disappointed by the beer scene in Vienna on my visits. So I personally would forget about the search for beer and revisit the wine and the traditional coffee shops. While the beer scene is a bit better these days than it used to be, what really stands out about Vienna for me is the atmosphere, etc. of the coffee shop (some of the best are outside the Ringstrasse) and the Heuringen. So I'd spend my time renewing my acquaintance with try to explore the Heuringen districts. While summer won't be the season for Heuriger you'll still be able to refresh your feeling for some aspects of traditional Vienna, etc. and, as you probably know, most are easily accessible by tram and short walks. In any event I'm sure you'll enjoy your time there and hope someone else has more useful info about the beer scene there.
Maybe you could make a side trip to Salzburg? Nice writeup here: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/need-advice-long-stay-in-germany.280660/#post-3775390 Cheers!
Actually there is a nice pub where you can find good craft beer from Europe and USA on tap and also in bottles. This is the place: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/37921/?view=ratings. It is located in the center of the city. It's part of an Irish Pub. You have to enter the Irish Pub and go to the back of the place and there is The Dogstar. Also, there are three Ammersin shops in Vienna, all of them having a huge selection of craft beer from all over the world. You should also check them out: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22381/?view=ratings.
