Wednesday, 10 September 2008: Rothaus

Cutting directly to the chase, today's target was the Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus, near Grafenhausen in Germany. Half an hour on a train from Basel to Tiengen, then 45 minutes on a bus that wound through Black Forest logging country before stopping directly across the street from the brewery.

Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus, Grafenhausen-Rothaus, Baden-Württemberg

Gasthaus at Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus

Antique brewkettle displayed outside Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus

Modern brewing vessels at Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus

Interesting reading at the bus stop in front of Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus

I sat at the (small) bar today, rather than in the Biergarten; all the tables indoors and out are full of bus-tourists. Thomas, the lone very busy bartender, told me that it's like this every day.

The bar in the Gasthaus at Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus

95% of American bartenders don't know how to operate one of these.

Beer bar laws from October 20, 1792

Publicans throughout the St. Blasian area will serve the same measure of beer, the Banndorfer Mass, as is served in the beer hall at Rothaus.

Other than beer and spirits, publicans may only serve their guests bread and cheese.

Publicans selling a measure of beer at a higher price than the same measure is sold in Rothaus will be fined 20 Kreuzer.

Permission to operate a bar depends solely on our most gracious permission.

The publicans have taken extreme measures to ensure that their beer is pure and honest.

I had planned to visit Mooswald Heimbräu in Wolfenweiler, Germany tomorrow, but I called them only to find that they don't open until 4:30pm. So I'll go to TurbinenBräu in Zürich instead.

Tomorrow: Zürich