tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post8104729660857505395..comments2023-11-02T07:13:53.064-07:00Comments on Beervana: Final Germany ThoughtsJeff Alworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02930119177544342495noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-35355311178583337842012-10-28T04:13:46.920-07:002012-10-28T04:13:46.920-07:00I should've said that there was no release fro...I should've said that there was no release from the insurer's liability to cover your damages to others in the case of driving >130, but had only been told that the insurer's comprehensive coverage would be at risk. But I never looked into it, as I don't drive "much" over 130 anyway.Erlangernickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09564871714656285737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-53326484665639849722012-10-27T12:24:44.545-07:002012-10-27T12:24:44.545-07:00Great post, even for a weary blogger, Jeff.
You b...Great post, even for a weary blogger, Jeff.<br /><br />You brought up a number of interesting things regarding wood (and pitch).<br /><br />The use of wood in brewing in Germany is very different from English, Belgian or even current American use. Before the advent of steel, aluminum, or stainless steel tanks, almost all of those hollowed out cellars were filled with barrels lined with tree Alan Taylornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-90329127242569795842012-10-27T04:58:51.653-07:002012-10-27T04:58:51.653-07:00Thanks for the update, Jeff. Sorry to read that yo...Thanks for the update, Jeff. Sorry to read that you missed what is probably the best of the Cologne pubs: Malzmühle. And I'm not the only one who thinks that: http://www.europeanbeerguide.net/kolnpubs.htm#malzmuhle<br /><br />BTW, you also haven't yet answered my question about how beer prices in Germany (and/or Czech Republic) compare to back home.mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18391986396999558718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-57700648385776209052012-10-27T03:21:55.175-07:002012-10-27T03:21:55.175-07:00Jeff, please...bitte...no need to apologize for an...Jeff, please...bitte...no need to apologize for anything! Though, I would have to ask what the difference between cask ale and cask beer would be.<br /><br />You will write up something about Kloster Kreuzberg, won't you? We've been once, a few years ago, and you can see how well I liked it in my aborted "blog".Erlangernickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09564871714656285737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-64487552287100844772012-10-26T03:19:40.693-07:002012-10-26T03:19:40.693-07:00Nick, I've corrected the text--obviously it sh...Nick, I've corrected the text--obviously it should be cask BEER, not ale. I'm writing these posts on an iPhone, often in less-than-ideal circumstances. I'm error-prone to begin with, but with auto-correct and a brain left unclear by beer or fatigue, it's worse now. I figire that, on balance, real time, sloppy blogging is better than post-facto recollections. I hope!Jeff Alworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02930119177544342495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-70579786076069225412012-10-26T00:54:36.786-07:002012-10-26T00:54:36.786-07:00Road construction here is indeed a class above the...Road construction here is indeed a class above the US average, but this corresponds to construction quality in other regards as well, most notibly housing construction. It would be very difficult for Mrs. and me to go back to an American house if we were to move back. But I digress.<br /><br />Another thing to consider when thinking about driving Over Here is the population density. This country Erlangernickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09564871714656285737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-87902477872729210322012-10-26T00:53:49.796-07:002012-10-26T00:53:49.796-07:00On driving. I never drove over here when we came a...On driving. I never drove over here when we came as tourists, but only after we moved here. And I had the same reaction as you at first: driving the Autobahn is like a dance. And Don is spot-on in pointing out that these people do a *lot* more to *earn* their drivers license than we do. My neighbor's daughter paid over €2,400 to get hers, the going rate today. Most of that goes to hours and Erlangernickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09564871714656285737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-1755000284439668942012-10-26T00:53:11.775-07:002012-10-26T00:53:11.775-07:00It's been nice following your impressions and ...It's been nice following your impressions and seeing how common some of them are to my reactions on first visiting this country a decade ago. I've become jaded from living here since then though. I hope you don't mind this rather wordy reply. (Nick B from the Brewcrew list in case this isn't clear.)<br /><br />On cask beer. Not sure why you say that the German wood cask beer is &Erlangernickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09564871714656285737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-40324459983489549932012-10-25T22:54:51.610-07:002012-10-25T22:54:51.610-07:00I've had several Franconian beers bottled, top...I've had several Franconian beers bottled, top pressured dispensed and Bayrischer Anstich (not side by side, though). The latter has always tasted better, though this could be also because you drink it fresher and usually on site. The experience also makes the beer.Pivní Filosofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17883511608403454943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-27941488178479125792012-10-25T13:04:44.165-07:002012-10-25T13:04:44.165-07:00Alan, the first chance I had, I rolled it out ther...Alan, the first chance I had, I rolled it out there--and I was pretty close. (I asked the waiter at Mahr's to say it.) <br /><br />Beer Nut, I'm not a bit surprised. Fruh is so delicate that I imagine a lot is lost on the way through the bottling line. <br /><br />Oh, and if you're reading, Mike, I went to five Kolsch breweries or pubs. My faves we Gaffel for the hops and Fruh for Jeff Alworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02930119177544342495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-56662250745241500202012-10-25T11:49:11.474-07:002012-10-25T11:49:11.474-07:00I've never done it side-by-side, but I was ama...I've never done it side-by-side, but I was amazed at how much better Früh Kölsch is from the cask compared to bottled. It's a completely different experience.The Beer Nuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14105708522526153528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-79000341272430231942012-10-25T11:37:13.174-07:002012-10-25T11:37:13.174-07:00I only know that factoid because I really like say...I only know that factoid because I really like saying "ungespundent" when having lots of it.Alanhttp://agoodbeerblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-81618003843209780972012-10-25T10:54:29.455-07:002012-10-25T10:54:29.455-07:00Alan and Don, thanks for the clarifiers. Although...Alan and Don, thanks for the clarifiers. Although I want to Mahr's for the legendary ungespundent, I didn't get to visit them, so that all remains a bit murky. As for driving, thank god I missed the snarls that make national news. (I did wonder what happens when a BMW going 200 failed to get left in time...Jeff Alworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02930119177544342495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-57422210624154968342012-10-25T09:11:55.553-07:002012-10-25T09:11:55.553-07:00Regarding driving, the discipline you see exhibite...Regarding driving, the discipline you see exhibited by German drivers is not anything like an informal arrangement. The requirements, expense, and training to obtain a German driving license are far stricter than anything Americans experience. One of the key concepts taught and enforced on freeway driving is "lane discipline," which is what you saw in practice on the Autobahn. It is notDonSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-89782823111197144662012-10-25T09:05:54.698-07:002012-10-25T09:05:54.698-07:00The term for the barrel tapping is "Bayrische...The term for the barrel tapping is "Bayrischer Anstich" - very simply translated, "Bavarian tapping." Direct, gravity-pour, no additional CO2. "Ungespundet" means "unbunged" (a Spunde is a bung), allowing some CO2 to escape. The result is, in the majority of cases, perilously drinkable. It's hard to do the s-x-s comparison though. If you go to the DonSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-9469332900237887802012-10-25T08:58:19.515-07:002012-10-25T08:58:19.515-07:00My understanding, which is limited is that "u...My understanding, which is limited is that "ungespundet", to <a rel="nofollow">steal from</a> Jackson, means "unbunged," indicating that the maturation was in a vessel open to the atmosphere (ie not controlled by a pressure valve) making it have softer carbonation. And which makes the process of handling the stuff even more tricky I suppose.Alanhttp://agoodbeerblog.comnoreply@blogger.com