My boyfriend loves beer, and he likes to try different beers from all over the world. We would like you to recommend us pubs or bars where we can drink good local beer in the following destinations:
Dublin - London - Prague - Munich - Salzburg - Amsterdam - Berlin - Vienna - Paris
Any kind of suggestion is welcome!
Most of the bars carry good local beers -- just pick one.
In Salzburg, the local beer is Stiegl. And make sure you visit Augustiner's.
Lonely Planet has great drinking places recommendations.
What I did was find out what beer was native to that city/region, make a list and check them off. Find the places where they are on tap. Easy to do as most bars will have the beer name listed out front.
In Dublin, throw a rock somewhere in Temple Bar, and you'll hit a decent place to try the beer. Ireland, however, only has a few beers that are not exported, so most of selection will be familiar.
In Munich for outdoor drinking, check out the beer gardens in the Viktulienmarkt and the Englischergarten. You will also find several beer halls scattered within a few blocks of Marienplatz, the Hofbrauhaus being the most well-known, if the most touristy. The beer halls are all owned and operated by one of the local breweries. Which beer they serve is clearly indicated by the sign.
Two places in Prague that seemed to have a very local crowd (despite being recommended by Rick Steves- most of his recommendations tend to be filled with Americans) are Restaurant Medvidku and... I don't remember the name of the other one, but he described it as situated in a "red light district", (not sure why he designated the area a "red light district", for all I could tell there was only one sex-related business in the vicinity)...
Leslie mentioned my favorite beer I have had in Europe-Brouwerij 't.
it was a stone's throw away from our bed and breakfast and we spent every night there enjoying the different beers. Great environment as well.
For London try http://www.fancyapint.com/.
In Berlin, they have this funky beer that they put flavored syrups in. Can't remember what it's called, I'm sure someone on here will remember, tho.
My technique is to ask for the local brew whereever I go.
To date, I haven't had a better beer than Guiness, served fresh, in Ireland.
The "funky beer" Maureen referred to is Berliner Weisse, a pale wheat beer that has either green or red syrup added to it. The green is woodruff flavor, the red is raspberry. I tried both once. Me, I prefer beer flavored beer myself.
Drinking Stiegl Bier or visiting the Augustiner Brauerei in Salzburg is a must for beer lovers. I also recommend Kaltenhauser Bier. You can get it in town, but even better, visit the brewery with restaurant (Braugasthof) in Hallein, about 15 km south of Salzburg. You can get there and back easily by bus or train. I think the bus stops right in front of the brewery.
I'd also recommend Trumer Pils, traditionally brewed about 15 km north of Salzburg in Obertrum. The beer is now also brewed in the US, but a trip to Obertrum is worth it. Again, the bus stops near the brewery.
In Amsterdam, I recommend the Brouwerij 't brewery or just the "I brewery". They have free tours of the brewery on Fridays at 4pm but you can go anytime and taste. It is right next to a windmill with outdoor seating. Great little plates of local cheese and sausage to go with your beer.
In Prague you can drink one of the best and most famous beers anywhere. It is Pilsner Urquell which means original Pilsner. It's brewed in Pilsen (german name for Plzen) about one and half hour by train from Prague. Google Pilsner Urquell Brewery if you are interested in more information or visit. Pubs where I like to drink Pilsner Urquell: U hrocha, it's very authentic, U zlateho tygra, even president Clinton with president Havel had their beers there. U dvou kocek. For location and more information you can google them. Of course there are many more. Just walk and look around perhaps you discover some gem you can recommend to us. Another good and famous beer there is Budvar also called Budweiser. That's the real one because it is brewed in Budweis (that's german name for Ceske Budejovice). If you want more information google Budvar brewery. If you want to visit it's two and half hours by train from Prague. Until recently I considered Pilsner Urquell the best beer. Then I stopped half way between Prague and Brno in Humpolec and had beer Bernard and since then Pilsner Urquell is IMHO number two. You can have Bernard in Prague for example in restaurant and pub Jama. The street is V jame, it's close to Wenceslas Square, google will help you to find it. In the Czech Republic they have their beers mostly in so called ten degrees or twelve degrees variant. Drink twelve degrees. It's tastier. Enjoy.
Thank you all! Great pieces of advice! I hope they keep coming!! I'm taking notes!! ;)
Natalia,
Since you're looking for suggestions on beers, then it is good that BERLIN is on the list of destinations. I would definitely recommend that one mentioned in the posting above----BERLINER WEISSE mit rot. Mit grun is ok, I like the raspberry taste better, ie., mit rot. Two other Berlin beers are definitely worth trying, aside from BERLINER WEISSE mit rot, (one of my very favourite beers in Germany,)---BERLINER KINDL and SCHULTHEISS
In Paris I would recommend the 1664 Kronenburg, just ask for a "soixante quatre."
If you decide to go somewhere in the western part of Germany, go to DORTMUND for their beer, all of the various Dortmunder beers are great.
And, if you do go to ERFURT, try the beer RADELBERGER; prior to reunification it was considered the best East German beer; now that beer and its reputation are even more enhanced--definitely worth it.
Give him a copy of "The Beer Drinker's Guide to Munich". It rates, and describes the best places to drink beer. Also provides transportation tips on reaching these places. Good information about breweries located in Munich as well. Provided, too, are some coupons for beers in a few of the recommended locations. One of his recommendations is the Augustinerbrauerei in Salzburg. A must see for any beer lover.
Hi Natalia,
in the UK the book to get is the Campaign for Ral Ale "Good Beer Guide 2010". Amazon.com link is:
although it's not out in the USA yet but is in the UK.
This book is the Beer lovers bible for the UK. It does NOT care about the state of the pub, the food, the accomodation or anything that isn't about GREAT beer!
Enjoy.
Steve.
I have to chime in for Prague and say you must try Gambrinus. It's our favorite there and has been for years. Also, if you can get your hands on Muskateer (my spelling is off, but it's pronounced "moose-ka-teer, that's pretty good as well. Honestly, all Czech beer is really amazing, so go wild while you're there!
Hi Natalia,
You seem to have left out the country that's the most renouned beer-drinking country in the world.
It's Belgium! They have over 400 different kinds.
I was in Brussels and Bruges in June; it was superb; and my favorite place in Brussels is La Mort Subite!
Bon Voyage.
Hi Natalia,
Since you didn't list Belgium as part of your original itinerary, as regards to its beer, skip it.
When you are in Paris there will be opportunities for ordering and buying BELGIAN beers, if that is really what you want. The more famous Belgian beers, Leff, Stella Artois, Pelforth, etc., both in bottles and on draft, are available in Paris and definitely in northern France, if you decide to do a day trip there from Paris.
