For someone as lethargic as me, the Franconian Anstich Fest on Saturday was perfect, being just around the corner, at Butcher's Tears. The closest brewery to my house by quite a way. Not that I would have missed a chance to drink gravity-served Franconian beer. A rare treat. I'd even have endured the tourist hell that is the city centre for some of that lovely Franconian stuff.
Persuading Dolores to tag along was easy enough. "None of that weird modern junk, just proper drinking beer." I guaranteed her. I know the sort of stuff she likes. And it isn't beer that looks like orange juice.
Just half an after kickoff, we turned up. Which meant we got seats. A little later and we'd have struggled. Heartening, as I wanted the event to be a success. Because then it might be repeated. And I could slurp back more of that lovely German beer.
No dicsussion about where to start: Monchsambacher Lagerbier. I've only had it once before and it blew me away. And that was after several days drinking top-class Franconian beer. Big one for me, small one for Dolores. It didn't disappoint.
Gradl Leupser Dunkel next. Man, what a lovely drinking beer. It did that suicidal thing where it threw itself down my throat before I could stop it. Best have another just to make sure of it delightfulness.
"What do youi fancy next, Dolores?"
"The Helles."
It's Schlenkerla Helles. "You do realise that's a smoked beer?" I warn.
"It's not really smoky. Just a tiny little bit."
Graham Povery confirmed its very slight smokiness. I'm not sure believed me. Dolores took his word for it and got a half..
"See, not really smoky, is it?"
"No, not like that horrible bacon beer." Praise indeed.
I finished with another Gradl Dunkel. Such a lovely beer. Not even heard of it before.
A really great little festival. And only €4.50 for a half litre. Early to say this, but it might well be one of the highlights of my year.
Looks like much the same range we got at Moor Beer in London a couple of months back. Someone's done a deal with those brewers, I guess. No complaints here!
ReplyDeleteMonchs is always a treat!
ReplyDeleteBraurei Gradl Leups makes one of my favorite franconian Dunkles.
ReplyDeleteThough I wonder how they were able to get it though. I remember the nice grandma of the business forced costumers to give an already sold barrel back because they wanted to bring it to berlin. "Nein, mein Bier wird net in Berlin getrunken"...
That all being said-
I always find it weird when traditional franconian brews find their way into "modern" drinking establishments, with prices at least 2x, often 3 or 4 times as high as at the source........
Elektrolurch,
ReplyDeletelovely beer. And one I'd not heard of before. Just glad they could get it for the fest.