German and Austrian Abbeys

I went to Augustina Brewery back in 2010 with a friend and absolutely loved it. The place was huge – the outdoor beer gardens were ablaze with lights and filled with people, laughing and carousing and waving their big beer steins around. This is no “sit down and order” restaurant – instead you visit one of the many food stands scattered throughout the buildings, pick what you want to eat and carry it to your table. If you want a beer (and most everyone does), you pay at the beer stand, pick up a large stone mug and take it to get filled from the large wooden barrel that all Augustiner beer is stored in.

It was a lot of fun and the food was good. My friend and I each got a plate of ribs, served with a potato, sour cream and cabbage salad and headed outside to eat. I also grabbed a beer and we sat and ate and watched the crowds around us. It was Saturday night and was evidently a very popular spot, both with locals and tourists. The buildings also housed cavernous eating rooms and there were lots of people eating inside, but the majority seemed to be enjoying the outside tables. It was well worth a visit.

On your way to Salzburg or Schlägl, you could make a stop at the Klosterbrauerei Baumburg (a few kilometers north of Lake Chiemsee). Not as well-known as your other destinations, but still worth a visit. The Bräustüberl is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m.

Weltenburg... I would park in Kelheim and walk along the north side of the Danube past the Einsiedelei Klösterl up the valley thru the Kelten Oppidum ruine while going to the gouge end and see the views. Take a small river boat from directly across the Klöster to Weltenburg. Take the larger ship thru the Danube gorge back to Kelheim.

sla019 and mchpp,

Thanks for your suggestions.

jkh