What's with the sudden silence around here...?

I was in Italy for a little while. I still like German beers, though.

 

I don't qualify to post in here yet. I must wait 20 more days to be a part of this crew.

 

Good luck with the move!

 

Too busy sampling US-brewed Märzen -- it's about 50%-50% good to bad so far.

 

I've been reading up on previous threads (and in Ron's guides) to develop a plan of attack for my upcoming Christmas trip to Koeln and Duesseldorf. Will also be visiting sister-in-law and her family in Berlin, and my wife's parents in Braunschweig. Yep, you heard right...no Franken this time.

 

Berlin is a pretty good alternative! I hope you like Düsseldorf. I was only there a few hours but loved every minute of it.

 

Send 'em my way and I'll evaluate! ('course, it may take a few to make my final assessment )

So you know, all of that aside and focusing on "points of reference," I tried a Weißenhoe Märzen a while ago -- based on a lot of hype and praise from many sources. I have to say that I was a little underwhelmed and surprised at the nuttiness in the flavor -- a character that's pretty prominent in US-brewed Märzens, but I'd never tasted in German examples.

Is this a new direction or malting trend in German barley malt? Do the Riemhofer or Goss have a nuttiness, or more the traditional toasty, breadiness?

 

Not talking about analyzation, talking about taking that first drink and saying, "Wait -- this doesn't taste like I expected." Like the character or not, if you're expecting one thing and get something different it's surprising. Just looking for evidence of possible changes taking place.

Oh, and a few is still too few to make my final assessment.

 

The cycle is almost complete: http://www.neubierig.de/2012-09-24/weiherer-bock-bourbon-style-im-test-2022.html

 

My biggest piece of advice for Cologne: it is worth going the short distance out of the centre to the Päffgen brewpub.

 

Thanks. A friend of mine works there (lives in Moenchengladbach), and he knows his way around well. Home base will give us good access to Koeln (and def. Paeffgen...first on my list) as well. It's going to be tough to convince the sister-in-law to let me out of the family's sight for long enough to explore beer options in Berlin, but I may be able to get to some good spots...though knowing me I'll magically gravitate to the Augustiner on Gendarmenmarkt.

 

Pretty much! (to original post) Missing the oktoberfesting already because i'm missing the journey over this year. Darn. Just imitation fests over in New England. Have to let Bierman9 & friends have it all. Hope to get back across in spring & possibly fall, next, though.

 

Absolutely!

 

I think we might be all tuckered out from debating the Italian Question.

Actually, I'm saving my energy for this weekend for brewing my Lebkuchen Brown Ale that I came up with last week. Would anyone be interested in the recipe? Or is this sort of beer just too weird for anyone but me? I plan to brew 40 liters of the stuff, can't say it will taste like anything worth drinking, but I'm willing to share.

 

One place that wasn't open when you did your wonderful pub review of Köln is Braustelle in Ehrenfeld. (Their website is giving Error 403, meaning it's down, otherwise I would've linked to the place. Could that mean the place is closed, too?) They have wonderful ales and often a sour beer on tap. Love the place.

 

Thanks! I'm going to offer up a tasting for anyone that wants to come out once I get settled. Perhaps over the holiday. Right now, it will probably consist of the following:

Black Tuesday
Zombie Dust
BCBS
Daisy Cutter
Darkness
And probably a few other FFF, Bells, Founders, New Glarus things

Anyone interested?