http://www.franconiabeerguide.com/discuss.asp/ A virtual Stammtisch for discussing Franconian beer en-gb http://franconiabeerguide.com/discussdet.asp?IDKEY=ZZIC(Biere is the plural of Bier) So I've tried three of this year's crop, of those that have already appeared in bottles. St. Georgenbräu's is pale-ish like last previous years' versions, and strikes me as largely the same: malty, not too hoppy, and all-around good, if not terribly exciting. Greif's, sporting a (new?) label with a painting of their Keller, is dark, malt-accented, but also a bit "thin", to use my terminology. Hebendanz's is *der Hammer* though: with that great resinous aroma and flavor (from the hops--similar to what Centennial hops do in heavily-hopped pale ale/IPA?) we enjoyed last year. If the kegged stuff is even better than this, then we're in for a treat again this year.http://franconiabeerguide.com/discussdet.asp?IDKEY=ZZIC01Are the Annafest beers stronger than their normal counterparts? What is the typical ABV of a fest bier? Thanks Mikehttp://franconiabeerguide.com/discussdet.asp?IDKEY=ZZIC0101If you mean stronger than the beers normally brewed at Hebendanz, et. al., then yes, they're a half-percent stronger, at least. I think Festbiere are typically around 5.5% or so. Between "Vollbier" and "Bockbier" strength, perhaps? I love 'em. http://franconiabeerguide.com/discussdet.asp?IDKEY=ZZIDJürgen Wening passed this information to me a while back, but I've been just too lazy to update the database :) (it's now updated) Lindwurmbräu in Heideck (Landkreis Roth) as reopened as a Gasthausbrauerei http://www.heidecker-lindwurmbräu.de And a couple of new breweries: Thuisbrunner Elch Bräu near Gräfenberg (Landkreis Forchheim) http://www.ep-farm.de/seitz/index.html Seinsheimer Kellerbräu in Seinsheim (Landkreis Kitzingen) http://www.seinsheimer-kellerbier.de Please let us know if you visit one of these. In sad news, last April, Helmut Dietz of Hausbrauer Deitz in Bruckberg committed suicide by jumping in from of a train. Whether the brewery will continue is unknown. BTW, Jürgen is the founder and force behind the Fränkisches Feldbahnmuseum ( http://www.frankenfeldbahn.de ) and if you know any millionaires looking for a good cause, send them Jürgen's way :) http://franconiabeerguide.com/discussdet.asp?IDKEY=ZZID01Hi Fred, hi hobbyalcoholics, that's the right URL of the wonderful Lindwurmbrauerei: http://www.heidecker-lindwurmbraeu.de/ Cheers Jürgen Wening Thanx Fred for your fundraising attempts ;-)http://franconiabeerguide.com/discussdet.asp?IDKEY=ZZID0101Ooops -- had it right in the database though :)http://franconiabeerguide.com/discussdet.asp?IDKEY=ZZIEA couple of questions about the Kreuzberg kellers. * What time do they open on a weekday (Mon or Tues, say)? * Are they open during Annafest? Looking at the bus timetables, an afternoon/early evening round-trip from Forchheim during Annafest should be possible. Thanks Mikehttp://franconiabeerguide.com/discussdet.asp?IDKEY=ZZIE01Check out these sites: http://www.bierkeller.de/index.php?regid=4&kellerid=142 Roppelt's Keller Stiebarlimbach 9 91352 Hallerndorf Tel. 09195 / 7263 Open Fri - Tue and Holidays at 11:00 Wed and Thu at 15:30 Friedel's Keller: http://www.friedels-keller.de/ Summer, from April til 3rd October, open daily at 11:00 Winter, October thru March, the keller house opens at 11:00 Friday to Sunday. Rittmayer Keller: http://www.bierkeller.de/index.php?regid=4&kellerid=145 Rittmayer-Keller am Kreuzberg Kreuzberg 18 91352 Hallerndorf Tel. 09545 / 4554 Open May to September: Daily at 11:05 am Winter: Sundays and Holidays at 11:05 am Lieberth Keller: http://www.vgn.de/druckversion/?ContentId=BE334157-A5B1- 11D7-AE44-00034709FE0C&Mode=chapter Lieberth-Keller Kreuzberg Telefon: 0 95 45/7 07 46 Open in Summer: (May til September) daily at 11 am. In Winter: Fri. at 18:00, Sat. at 16:00, Sun. at 11:00. http://franconiabeerguide.com/discussdet.asp?IDKEY=ZZIE0101nfmhttp://franconiabeerguide.com/discussdet.asp?IDKEY=ZZIE02Perhaps Fred should create a Kreuzberg/Stiebarlimbach/Annafest/Bus265 FAQ. ;) The only impacht of the Annafest on the Kreuzberg-area Keller(s) is that they're perhaps a bit quieter than usual. The only thing I'd say about the timing is that starting in the afternoon might be pushing it a bit to take the last bus from Stiebarlimbach back to Forchheim. Consider starting a bit earlier, I say. It's amazing how quickly 6 or 7 hours can fly by between the 4 Keller.