BEER GARDENS WITH A DASH OF SPICE: THE MENTERSCHWAIGE IN MUNICH

Written by Franz Hofer for A Tempest in a Tankard

The sun was already low in the autumn sky as I finished up my beer at the legendary Waldwirtschaft (WaWi) and headed north toward the equally legendary Gutshof Menterschwaige. I’d been to the WaWi several times over the years, but hadn’t yet made it to the Menterschwaige on the other side of the Isar River. The weather doesn’t always cooperate with the best laid beer garden plans. But today was the day.

The short walk from the WaWi to the Menterschwaige takes you down a path toward the foot bridge spanning the Isar, and then up to a wooded trail along the embankment high above the Isar. It’s this kind of walk that gives you a sense of how the topography of the Isar Valley favoured the sinking of beer cellars from Munich all the way up to Bad Tölz at the foot of the Alps. The cellars no longer store beer, but the stands of trees still cast their shade over the cellars for those of us who enjoy the respite of the beer garden.

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One tastes like drinking isopropyl alcohol straight from a bottle mixed with black muck. The other a fight in your mouth between fruit and hops where the excessively bitter hops are beating the fruit to death.

If your local pub has Stone Enjoy by 7.4.24 more than likely you won’t enjoy. The pineapple and the tangerine are like second graders being beat up by 6th grade bullies on a playground. It molests your mouth. You really have to concentrate hard to get the fruit because the pineapple and tangerine are almost down and out. Don’t bother counting.

If your local pub had Firestone’s Parabola just go to your medicine cabinet and drink any brand name Isopropyl. The only difference will be the lack of malt. The better side to isopropyl will be death arrives sooner with less torment.

Look brewers, beer should have BALANCE. There are better high abv hazy beers out there where the added fruit can be savored, maybe even some of your own beers. There are better, even higher alcohol, Imperial Stouts out there. Maybe that one needs more aging? While not a stout, Sam Adams Utopia is 28% and, with moderation, wouldn’t make alcoholic Brian from Family Guy want to vomit. Quite tasty.

Each one deserves 4 out of 5 puking Brians.