old medieval town, beer in logo glass, small village

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.

What makes the Walberfest so special? Sometimes, it’s not about the beer.

The Walberlafest is perhaps Germany's oldest spring festival. Set high on a hill called the Walberla, it is certainly the most atmospheric. Hike around it before ascending for the most dramatic entrance.

Will-Bräu Hefe Weizen bottle

Will-Bräu Hefe Weizen is a fairly dry for the style fruity wheat beer with a refreshingly fruity palate and lingering finish.

StoXBräu Blonder Bock

StoXBräu Blonder Bock is a high gravity affair strong on malt and alcohol but a bit one dimensional on flavor.

Raab Frangn Seidla

Raab Frangn Seidla is an unfiltered Vollbier with a dry fruity palate and a moreishly dry finish.

Will-Bräu Ehrenberger Pilgerstoff

Will-Bräu Ehrenberger Pilgerstoff is richly malty Märzen with some spice and roast in both the nose and palate. The lingering finish is semi-dry and bittersweet.

Will-Bräu Helles

Will-Bräu Helles is a textbook malt forward session beer with a grainy nose and palate before a clean, semi-dry, semi-bitter finish.

Nothhaft Antonius Starkbier Hell

Nothhaft Antonius Starkbier Hell is a potent Heller Doppelbock at 7.5% with a richly malty palate and lingering semi-dry bittersweet finish.

Roppelt (Trossenfurt) Festmärzen bottle

Roppelt Festmärzen is dry and fruity for the style and also has a kiss of smoke before the lingering semi-dry finish.

Roppelt (Trossenfurt) Gold Pils

Roppelt Pils is a dry hoppy example of the style with a clean, dry, bitter finish.