The Rhönbrauerei Dittmar is a great regional brewery located in Kaltennordheim, a Thuringian outpost of the Franconian Imperial Circle. Their Heiratsmarkt is the largest Folk Festival in the region and has been held annually since 1653.
Tag: beer tourism
Framing Unterfranken in Frammersbach
When it comes to beer aficionados, Lower Franconia doesn't get any respect. Before I get accused of playing the Rodney Dangerfield card, I fully understand its relative remoteness and lack of sheer numbers has a lot to do with that. Going to new breweries is exciting so don't lose the sense of adventure. Lower Franconia is a great place to do it just that.
The Main Thing about Unterfranken
The Main River is not only the longest contained in river in Germany so perhaps unsurprisingly important in the brewing world as a source of water and transportation. There are many in Franconia, where the it originates and a particularly scenic stretch is in Lower Franconia. Three towns to seek out for beer on this route are Marktheidenfeld (Martinsbräu), Wertheim (Spessart) and Lohr am Main (Keiler Brauhaus).
A Salty Patch on the Unterfranken Express
Lower Franconia is a lovely bucolic area dotted with small hamlets and a surprising number of regional breweries not to be missed by the intrepid beerwanderer. This details a road trip to Strecks Brauhaus in Ostheim, Rother-Bräu in Roth, Pax-Bräu in Oberelsbach and the Wittelsbacker Turm Bräu at its namesake tower.
There’s more than Fünf Seidlas on the Devil’s Tisch
The Fünf Seidla Steig is perhaps the best known Beer Hiking Trail but the Teufelstisch is another great hike in the area, worth exploring.
On the dime in Theinheim
Theinheim is set in a beautiful rural landscape, had numerous hiking trails and one very find brewpub called Zum Grünen Baum.
Beer Hiking Bavaria: the book in English & German
Beer Hiking Bavaria by Rich Carbonara is a book detailing 50 hikes in Bavaria, each ending at a brewery featuring tasting notes for their top beer.
Beer Hiking is a thing: Fünf Seidla Steig®
For those how haven't heard, beer hiking is a thing despite it not being on Wikipedia. It will surely be there soon, mark my words. I just might have to do the write-up myself if no one else does. So, what exactly is beer hiking? Quite loosely, it's the combining of hiking and drinking beer. It could be as simple as carrying some beer (hopefully in artsy cans, they're lighter) along on your hike. It could also be hiking to places that have beer. In a perfect world, it would involve hiking to rural breweries.
Keesmann Fest
Keesmann Festbier was a one-off brewed for the Reinheitsgebot. With a bit malty palate and dry finish, it was a quaffable brew the brewery might hopefully reprise.