Germany here I come...

[roguerower]

BEER!!!

I am going to germany for about a month this summer with my family and I need to know from anyone else who's been there what beers to try, which to avoid, and which to just go crazy with.

I will be staying south of Stuttgart-Vaihingen and if anyone knows about the area, please feel free to throw in your $0.02.

Thanks

 

[davestar]

avoid nothing - drink it all. i had some great pilsners (and i generally hate pilsners) in the Mannheim/Heidelburg area and some great wheat beers in Munich.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: roguerower
BEER!!!

I am going to germany for about a month this summer with my family and I need to know from anyone else who's been there what beers to try, which to avoid, and which to just go crazy with.

I will be staying south of Stuttgart-Vaihingen and if anyone knows about the area, please feel free to throw in your $0.02.

Thanks

phew...i thought you were gonna say something else...

 

[KarenMarie]

From all my trips to Germany, I have learned one thing of importance.... if you dont speak the language, have a translation dictionary.

When we spoke in English, they either ignored us or got an attitude. As soon as we attempted to speak in German, no matter how poorly we did, they were really nice and spoke in English to us.

 

[Ranger X]

Visit the beer gardens and drink all the German beer. I don't normally like beer but I loved the German beer!

 

[HombrePequeno]

I like Spaten, Der Hirschbrau and Ayinger. Pretty much all of their beers are good. Der Hirschbrau makes a damn good hefeweizen and Spaten and Ayinger make very good Doppelbocks.

Actually here's a link to the best German beers as decided by RateBeer.com.

 

[miri]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
From all my trips to Germany, I have learned one thing of importance.... if you dont speak the language, have a translation dictionary.

When we spoke in English, they either ignored us or got an attitude. As soon as we attempted to speak in German, no matter how poorly we did, they were really nice and spoke in English to us.

Heh, when I lived in Spain I expected them to speak English. I was shocked when not even the cab drivers spoke English.

But then again I waited tables here in America and if someone started speaking German to me I would be like ??

Its funny how a lot of the times, we Americans expect folks from other countries to speak English.

 

[HombrePequeno]

Originally posted by: miri

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
From all my trips to Germany, I have learned one thing of importance.... if you dont speak the language, have a translation dictionary.

When we spoke in English, they either ignored us or got an attitude. As soon as we attempted to speak in German, no matter how poorly we did, they were really nice and spoke in English to us.

Heh, when I lived in Spain I expected them to speak English. I was shocked when not even the cab drivers spoke English.

But then again I waited tables here in America and if someone started speaking German to me I would be like ??

Its funny how a lot of the times, we Americans expect folks from other countries to speak English.

The majority of the younger people in Germany do actually speak English pretty well. Older people (especially in smaller towns) generally don't speak English nearly as well.

 

[amoeba]

yeah, try everything.

and the best part is, you can drink it anywhere, on the streets, in the subway, backstage at the CMAs.

Enjoy!

 

[JDMnAR1]

Try it all - the worst thing that will happen is you order something different the next time. There should be plenty of variety to choose from, many of which you probably won't be able to find outside of that region.

 

[imported_Mike]

Avoid nothing is really the best advice. I can't think of a beer I tried while in Germany that I didn't think was at least ok. Most of them were outstanding. I was in major cities, but got by fine without knowing a lick of German. This might change in different parts of Germany.

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: miri
Its funny how a lot of the times, we Americans expect folks from other countries to speak English.

Why would you expect that?

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
From all my trips to Germany, I have learned one thing of importance.... if you dont speak the language, have a translation dictionary.

When we spoke in English, they either ignored us or got an attitude. As soon as we attempted to speak in German, no matter how poorly we did, they were really nice and spoke in English to us.

Bolded portion QFT.

Learn a few phrases, won't kill ya. Will be very very helpful if only to get them to try English with you.

I lived in Berlin for a couple of years and traveled around a bit, although not to Stuttgart.

I preferred Crystal Witzen bier (clear wheat beer). I suggest you try as many as possible though.

Enjoy your trip,

Fern

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: roguerower
BEER!!!

I am going to germany for about a month this summer with my family and I need to know from anyone else who's been there what beers to try, which to avoid, and which to just go crazy with.

I will be staying south of Stuttgart-Vaihingen and if anyone knows about the area, please feel free to throw in your $0.02.

Thanks

phew...i thought you were gonna say something else...

Like? Scheisseporn?

Nah, dude, just try it all. You never know what you might like. I used to hate German beer, but after a couple of cold ones, they taste all right (but then again, after like 8-10 beers, horsepiss would probably taste alright, too).

 

[Mill]

Visit the Mercedes Factory in Sindelfingen.

 

[Kwaipie]

I really like the Paulaner Hef. Excellent wheat beer. remember, if you're driving on the highway, stay the fvck out of the left hand lane.

 

[Starbuck1975]

I lived in Germany for five years, and my suggestion would be to go exploring...especially out into the rural areas.

Just about every farming town has a central inn/restaurant/brewery...not only is the food usually incredible, but the beer is amazing as well...German cuisine is quite heavy, but I never met a schnitzel, roasted potatoes, or roasted chicken I didn't like...and the Germans can do some amazing things with game meat.

Be advised, these restaurants typically don't have individual tables...just long benches and "group" tables...but feel free to sit next to a German family, and enjoy the local culture...I had more than my fair share of interesting discussions with drunk German families.

The restaurants can be rather smokey, as everyone in Germany seems to smoke.

As for the language, make an attempt to speak German, and the locals will default to english...but that applies to all of Europe...if you show the locals the respect of attempting their language, they will in turn speak english to help you out.



Take a road trip to Heidelberg or Mannheim if you get a chance...avoid the American bases, and hit the German cities...I never really got into Stuttgart all that much...of course, if you can make it down to Munich, that would be ideal.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I lived in Berlin back between 1988 and 1991 and now work for their government here in DC. I have been to Germany at least once a year since 1995 just about.

Stuttgart, the heart of Swabia. Known for its cuisine and particularly anal and hard working populous. Stuttgart is home to the likes of Porsche and Daimler Benz. Not the prettiest of cities due to its industrial nature.

Sites you want want to use:

http://dict.leo.org (German/English dictionary)
http://www.bahn.de (Germany's rail system)
http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de

What to do?

The new Mercedes Benz museum in Stuttgart is quite nice.
Go see a football (soccer) game if you can.
See what events are taking place while you are there. Wine festival perhaps?

It's important to note that Germany is the size of Montana with 90 million inhabitants. Meaning, not only more dense but places are never far away from each other.

Towns I recommend visiting that are somewhat nearby:

Heidelberg
Triberg
Baden Baden
Uberlingen/Konstanz

If you are not too limited by time/funds, then trips into Switzerland, France, and Austria are possible. Heck, why not go see Berlin and/or Munich?

I could write a lot more about culture, specifics, etc., but this a good start for now.

 

[feralkid]

As others have said, try them all. There is no bad beer in Germany.

My favorite (of what I've tried) from Stuttgart was Stuttgarter Hofbrau Malteser Weissbier.

If you don't already like Weissbier, you will after you try this one, preferably outdoors at a picnic table along Koenigstrasse.

God, I envy you...have fun!

:thumbsup:

 

[A5]

Originally posted by: roguerower
BEER!!!

I am going to germany for about a month this summer with my family and I need to know from anyone else who's been there what beers to try, which to avoid, and which to just go crazy with.

I will be staying south of Stuttgart-Vaihingen and if anyone knows about the area, please feel free to throw in your $0.02.

Thanks

Go to Munich - there's a lot of stuff to do there, and it's the center of German beer culture.

Go to Belgium and try their beers (Stuttgart-Brussels shouldn't be more than a few hours via train). German beers are good (2nd best), but IMHO Belgian beers are the best in the world.

Also, you must go to Switzerland. The scenery is absolutely stunning and there's plenty of stuff to do if you like the outdoors.

 

[jadinolf]

Oh, bratwurst and senf.

drool

 

[Summitdrinker]

go visit Uk for a few days for better beer

go visit amsterdam for a few days for other fun

ya, I's been to germany.....................................................................lea
n to speak there language.............you don't have to worry about this part if you go the other places I talked about

edit added this link:
real beer

 

[flexy]

well avoid the cheap beers in the supermarkets...otherwise ALL german beers are goodd..i am NOT kidding

Paulaner "Hell" is good...warsteiner premium verum too....just sample whatever we have here...

 

[GTaudiophile]

Okay, if you want a really special beer trip. Skip the touristy Hofbräuhaus in Munich but instead, while in the area, head towards the Ammersee, and go to Andechs:

http://www.andechs.de/index.asp?lng=en

After that, go to Kloster Weltenburg. They have been making beer here since 1050:

http://www.klosterschenke-weltenburg.de/

Between these two locations, you are indeed talking the best beer in the world ever made in history...period.

 

[Summitdrinker]

really the best beer made is brewed in the good ole USA nowdays