Zoigl Windischechenbach (Germany)

Another of our favourite locations, it is what our tours are all about!

Zoigl Neuhaus (Germany)

The fabled Zoigl Land. What is Zoigl like? Just come on a tour....
We have now put Zoigl beer on in london twice, Bruxelles as well as in Zwevegem this year!

Franconia & Bamberg Special (SB) Tours 2010

This tour, the Franconia and Bamberg Special is now a complete 10-day tour. These tours run all year and every month and in July/August 2010 we will also be visiting Annafest 2010!
Included is also a visit to the Pilsner Urquell brewery in the Czech Republic, a good tour and one we have visited twice this year, well worth the trip. We also go to the Bavarian Forest staying in Eck Brewery Guesthouse the night-a unique brewery and guesthouse, Mike normally shows us a around the brewery as well! 
Oh, and not to forget an overnight in Zoigl Land!

What do we do?

• Regensburg UNESCO Walkabout & Regensburg‘s Steinbrücke and Old Town
• Visit a Schnapps Museum!
  
• Schneider Weisse Brewery & Weltenburg Monastery
• Burg Randeck/Zoigl Land
• Pilsen, Czech Republic
• Bavarian Forest/Sleep in Brewery guest houses
• Forchheim's 4 breweries Annafest 2010 & 23 Cellar 'bars'!
• Franconia Country Breweries/Fränkische Schweiz
• Medieval Pottenstein/Meet Franconia‘s female brewer!
• Maisels Steam Brewery Museum Bayreuth
• Weissenhohe and Vierzehnheiligen Monasteries
• Bamberg's Smoked Beers and 10 breweries/Bamberg UNESCO Walkabout
• And much much more.......

Pretty awesome tours!
More information is on our webiste, Franconia and Bamberg Special.
Photos
Pottenstein, July 2009
More photos

Bamberg Special Beer Tour (SB-091007)

This tour was for the Thirsty Swagman and their no-holds-barred Euro Hard 'n' Fast tour, a 10-day tour across Europe's bars and clubs.
Thought we'd give 'em a bit of much needed Beer Culture and hooked up with them to show them around Bamberg's breweries and pubs!
Where did we go then?
Can't remember actually! Just joking....we had an evening out and a Bamberg 'walkabout' picking up the main places in Bamberg and yes, we even visited the rose garden (!!??).

• Greifenklau Brauerei. The beer garden was excellent, weather just about okay to sit outside!
• Schlenkerla Tavern. After Greifenklau it was time for some serious smoked beer (German=Rauchbier)!
• St Michaelsberg. Great views from the beer garden and some great beer-Mahrs Ungespundetes (can you say that again?!).
• Klosterbräu Brauerei. Lunch and a few wets at the famous monastery brewery in Bamberg. We made it just as/before the kitchen closed at 2pm! Brewing since around 1333.
• Spezial Brauerei.
  

Cheers guys and good to meet you all!

Great European Beer Tour (PM-090911) Final Itinerary NOW OUT!

Well it's that time! Off on the road for a month of tours starting on Friday with the amazing 11-day Great European Beer Tour starting (Friday 11-Monday 21 September 2009).
For those on the tour, the Final Itinerary is now OUT!

So for those who aren't on the tour, a brief outline to what you are missing out on! Don't worry, we run the tours all year on demand, just shoot us an email andy@bier-mania.com
You will also be able to see tour photos via this blog.

Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Friday 11 September 2009
Frankfurt Airport-Sternbräu (breakfast)-Bamberg-Kulmbach-Zoigl @ Windischechenbach
Overnight-Windischechenbach
Day 2 Saturday 12 September
Pilsen (CZ)-Prague (CZ)
Overnight-Prague
Day 3 Sunday 13 September
Prague Walkabout!
Overnight-Prague
Day 4 Monday 14 September
Zvikov-Lipan-Budweis
Overnight-Budweis
Day 5 Tuesday 15 September
Cesky Krumlov-Sumava Scenic Drive-Eck
Overnight-Eck Brauereigasthof
Day 6 Wednesday 16 September
Zwiesel Dampfbierbraueri-Braunau-Salzburg
Overnight-Salzburg
Day 7 Thursday 17 September
Ber´chtesgarten and Eagles Nest-Tegernsee-Oberammergau
Overnight-Oberammergau
Day 8 Friday 18 September
Etal Kloster-Neuschwanstein-Andechs-Munich
Overnight-Munich
Day 9 Saturday 19 September
Munich Walkabout!
Over night-Munich
Day 10 Sunday 20 September
Oktoberfest @ Hacker-Pschorr beer tent
Overnight-Munich
Day 11 Monday 21 September
Tour ends!

Tour Map
See our tour map


View PM-090911 Great European Beer Tour in a larger map

Cheers,
Andy

Postman Pat

For those of you not from Blighty, you may be thinking what/who/why is Postman Pat?
Well, as his name suggests, he is a postman and his name is Pat. And he has a cat.
On our Franconia & Annafest tour in July we had a lovely lady from the States who was a postman/woman. I just couldn't stop singing the song as we drove merrily along Franconia's country roads....
So here goes, when you have your next German 'Stein', you'll find yourself humming the tune. Maybe!
Cheers,
Andy

Love this Job!

Is this THE photo!
'Big' Mike and 'Big' Andy.
It was taken on our August tour to Franconia & Annafest and just about sums up our tours, great people, a good laugh and some awesome travel. Oh and of course beer!
Awesome job, love it!
Cheers!
Andy

Franconia & Annafest 2009 (SB-090801)

Our second Annafest tour this year was from Friday 31 July (Friday was a 'training day' in Bad Windsheim!) and ended on Thursday 06 August. We have now finally got the photos online from the tour.
Another great tour, great weather, great people and hope to see you next year in Belgium!
Cheers guys.

Enjoy....

Franconia & Annafest 2009 (SB-090723) Tour Photos

We have now finally got the photos online from our 9-day Franconia & Annafest 2009 tour from Thursday 34 July-Friday 01 August.
We went just about everywhere! Where then Andy? Email us!
So what was the most memorable part of the tour for me? I think, a lady who is over '70' years old, doesn't like beer....and ending up driking beer every day and enjoying it, just see the photos for yourselves!
What a great tour, great weather, great crew!
Cheers guys.

Enjoy....

Franconia & Annafest 2009 Special (SB-090801) FULL

Our other (second) Annafest tour is from Saturday 01-Thursday 08 August.
We also have a training day on Friday 31 July in Bad Windsheim....
Tour Map

Pick-up is Frankfurt airport on Friday 31 July.
Drop-off is Nuremberg airport on Thursday 06 August.

Tour Highlights
* Historic Berching
* Burg Randeck
* Josef Schneider's brewery guesthouse
* Altmühltal region
* UNESCO Regensburg
* Weltenburg Monastery
* Weisenhohe Monastery
* Meet one of Bavaria's female brewers (Hofmann brewery)
* Annafest 2009
* Rappenkeller
* Visit Levi Strauss' birthplace.....
* Country brewery crawl
* Lunch @ Kathi-Bräu
* Burg Rabenstein
* Historic Pottenstein
* Maisels Brewery Museum
* Will brewery
* Vierzehnheiligen Monastery
* UNESCO Bamberg
* Bamberg's 10 breweries
* And much much more...

Download Tour Itinerary

Photos-
Top right-Josef Schneider brewery guesthouse where we spend a great night, good food, good beer and awesome view from the beer garden
Middle-Forchheim's Kellerwald where the 23 cellar bars are the scene of the 10-day Annafest! Nice sandals.
Bottom-Klosterbräu in Bamberg, a great place to have some lunch-they also have probably the best selection of beers in Bamberg!
Credits-Andy Neil
Cheers,
Andy

Although our Annafest tours only run over the 10-day Annafest period, our Franconia & Bamberg Special tours run all year, rain, sun or snow!
Be good to see you on a tour.

Franconia & Annafest 2009 Special (SB-090723) FULL

Our first of our 2 awesome Annafest tours is now on and unfortunately for you it is full, unless of course you are booked on the tour!
It is a 9-day tour which includes the Bayerische Wald (Bavarian Forest), a visit to Pilsen in Czech Republic as well as Zoigl Land and of course Franconia.
The tour finishes at the end of the Bierstrasse in Bad Windsheim, cheers!
Tour Map
Outline Itinerary
Thursday 23 July 2009

• Frankfurt airport
• Sternbräu for breakfast!
• Historic Berching and lunch @ Winkler brewery guesthouse
  
• Burg Randeck (!)
  
• Overnight @ Josef Schneider' brewery guesthouse (Altmühltal)
  

Friday 24 July 2009

• Schneider Weisse brewery tour
• Regensburg UNESCO
• Böbrach scnapps museum
• Overnight @ Eck brewery guesthouse (Bavarian Forest)

Saturday 25 July 2009

• Pzeňský Prazdroj Pivovar otherwise known as Pilsen Brewery Czech Republic
• Windischechenbach & Zoigl night at Binner
  
• Overnight @ Weissen Schwan, Windischechenbach

Sunday 26 July 2009

• Weisenhohe Monastery
• Hofmann brewery
• Annafest 2009
• Overnight @ Schweizergrom, Forchheim

Monday 27 July 2009

• Levi Strauss.....
• Country brewery crawl
• Lunch @ Kathi-Bräu
  
• Burg Rabenstein
• Overnight @ Goldene Krone, Pottenstein

Tuesday 28 July 2009

• Maisels Brewery Museum
• Will brewery for lunch
• Vierzehnheiligen Monastery
• Bamberg
• Overnight @ National, Bamberg

Wednesday 29 July 2009

• Bamberg's 10 breweries
• Overnight @ Hotel National, Bamberg

Thursday 30 July 2009

• Kreuzberg
• Lunch at Zum Löwenbräu
• Bierstrasse drive
• Franconian open air museum
• Overnight @ Zum Birnbaum, Bad Windsheim

Friday 31 July 2009

• Tour ends in Frankfurt!
• Bye bye!

Download Tour Itinerary

Cheers,
Andy

The Beers of Germany-Part 2 (History)

Welcome back to our blogspot.....been awhile! So to continue with the Beers of Germany.

Firstly a bit of history.
As man came in from the trees and decided that he could have a better life cultivating the land and growing crops he realised that the barley, wheat and the whole host of other cereals that he grew could be mashed and then fermented to make an alcoholic beverage we now call beer. It was great to drink, nutritious and was a great way to use any leftover cereal he had. There started man’s love affair with the amber nectar of life-beer!
The oldest remains of a brewery in Germany is near the town of Kulmbach in Bavaria and dates from around 800BC (in other words a long long time ago) and the Germanic tribes have been brewing beer ever since, initially the responsibility was down to the women folk who combined beer ‘cooking’ with the baking of bread, well they are from the same ingredients after all!
The picture on the left doesn't show a Jewish cookpot but shows the original brewery, the sign is from Alchemy and denotes the 4 ingredients of beer!
Before we continue we must mention caves. It was most likely by accident that in the Middle Ages (or maybe before!) the Bavarians discovered that if beer was left in cellars in the rock at just above freezing then the yeast sank to the bottom of the barrels and however continued to ferment very very slowly, hence started the original ‘Lagerbier’.
Some of the best examples of these caves or Felsenkellers (rock caves) can be found in Forchheim’s Kellerwald in Franconia, tours can be arranged via the tourist office or Bier-Mania!.
The picture on the right shows the 'chute' where ice was 'stuffed' down the cellar, cool eh?

Bier-Mania! Cultural Beer Tours are running 2 tours to this year's Annafest where you can see the caves and experience a traditional Franconian folk festival, complete with funfair!
For more information email andy@bier-mania.com

Annafest & Franconia Beer Tour

Annafest/Franconia and Bamberg Special™
Tour 1 SB-080726
Tour 2 SB-080802

PLACES STILL AVAILABLE

Dates
Tour 1
Saturday 26-Thursday 31 July 2008
Tour 2
Saturday 02-Thursday 07 August 2008

Pick-up/drop-off is Nuremberg Airport.

Itinerary
More info.

Highlights

• Regensburg Altstadt on the Danube
• OR
  
• Zoigl beers, 15 pubs with over-night in the Oberpfalz, Bavaria TBC NEW.
  
• Annafest 2008 & 23 Cellar 'bars'!
  
• Forchheim's 4 breweries, and the beer-cellars of the Kellerwald !
• Fränkische Schweiz and Pottenstein.
  
• Maisels Steam Brewery Museum, Bayreuth.
  
• Historic Bamberg (UNESCO World Heritage Centre).
• Bamberg's Smoked Beers and 10 breweries.
  
• And much much more.......

All enquiries and further details contact Andy by email andy@bier-mania.com or phone us here in Germany.
Cheers!

Annafest/Franconia and Bamberg Special™ (Summer 2008)

Annafest/Franconia and Bamberg Special™
Tour 1 SB-080726
Tour 2 SB-080802
This July and August we have 2 Franconia tours combining Forchheim's Annafest with the German regions of the Oberpfalz (Palatinate) and Franken (Franconia).
Both tours Saturday till Thursday.

8 PLACES (each tour)

Dates
Tour 1
Saturday 26-Thursday 31 July 2008
Tour 2
Saturday 02-Thursday 07 August 2008

Pick-up/drop-off is Nuremberg Airport.

Itinerary
The itinerary for the tour can be found be clicking on Proposed Itinerary
(Please email for password). Enjoy!

Highlights

• Regensburg Altstadt on the Danube
• OR
  
• Zoigl beers, 15 pubs with over-night in the Oberpfalz, Bavaria TBC NEW.
  
• Annafest 2008 & 23 Cellar 'bars'!
  
• Forchheim's 4 breweries, and the beer-cellars of the Kellerwald !
• Fränkische Schweiz and Pottenstein.
  
• Maisels Steam Brewery Museum, Bayreuth.
  
• Historic Bamberg (UNESCO World Heritage Centre).
• Bamberg's Smoked Beers and 10 breweries.
  
• And much much more.......

All enquiries and further details contact Andy by email andy@bier-mania.com or phone us here in Germany.
Cheers!

Bohemia & Franconia Special (11-20 April 2008) Tour Photos

Bohemia & Franconia Special
PM-080411
Well what a tour!
For tour photos please see PM-080411 Tour Photos

Thanks to you guys for making it such a great time! For a great account of the tour have a look at Ron Pattinson's (Big Ron) blog. Comanche Jim eat your heart out!

Cheers,
Andy

PM-080411 Tour Map

View Larger Map

Bohemia & Franconia Special (PM-080411) Tour Itinerary

Yipee, we're off next week for 11 days on April's beer tour to the Czech region of Bohemia and the German regions of the Oberpfalz and Franken.
Dates
The 10-day »Bohemia and Franconia Special« Beer Tour TM is officially from Friday 11-Sunday 20 April 2008.
The tour actually starts when we pick-up in Venlo, Frankfurt and Nuremberg Airports on Thursday 10 April, this is a 'Training Day' with the night in Josef Schneider's brewery guesthouse on the Altmühltal!

Itinerary
The copyrighted Tour Itinerary for the tour can be found be clicking on Tour Itinerary. (Email for password).

Highlights

• Regensburg Altstadt on the Danube.
• Discover Damfpbier at Zwiesel Brewery!
• Eck brewery guest house (over-night) and distillery in the Bavarian Forest in Germany.
• The Šumava (Bohemian Forest) area of Czech Republic.
• České Krumlov (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
• České Budĕjovice/Budweis (over-night)
• Budweis Pivovar/Brewery visit and tour
  
• Regent, Lipan and Zvikov country breweries of Bohemia (we know where they are!)
  
• Prague (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
• Plzeň/Pilsen Pivovar/Brewery visit and tour.
• Zoigl beers, 15 pubs with over-night in Neuhaus-Windischechenach in Oberpfalz, Bavaria.
• Forchheim's 4 breweries, and the beer-cellars of the Kellerwald !
• Fränkische Schweiz and Pottenstein.
  
• Maisels Steam Brewery Museum, Bayreuth.
  
• Historic Bamberg (UNESCO World Heritage Centre).
• Bamberg's Smoked Beers and 10 breweries.
  
• And much much more.......

All further enquiries and details contact Andy by email andy@bier-mania.com or phone us here in Germany.
Dobre Den or Prost!

Bohemia & Franconia Special (April)

We have the last 2 places available on April's beer tour to the Czech region of Bohemia with the German regions of the Oberpfalz and Franconia.

ONLY 2 PLACES LEFT

Dates
The 10-day Bohemia and Franconia Special Beer Tour TM is from Friday 11-Sunday 20 April 2008.
Pick-up/drop-off is Frankfurt Airport.

Itinerary
The copyrighted itinerary for the tour can be found be clicking on Proposed Itinerary. (Email for password). Enjoy!

Highlights

• Regensburg Altstadt on the Danube.
• Discover Damfpbier at Zwiesel!
• Brewery guest house (over-night) and distillery in the Bavarian Forest in Germany.
• The Šumava (Bohemian Forest) area of Czech Republic.
• České Krumlov (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
• České Budĕjovice/Budweis (over-night)
• Budweis Pivovar/Brewery visit and tour
  
• Country breweries of Bohemia (we know where they are!)
  
• Prague (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
• Plzeň/Pilsen Pivovar/Brewery visit and tour.
• Zoigl beers, 15 pubs with over-night in the Oberpfalz, Bavaria.
• Forchheim's 4 breweries, and the beer-cellars of the Kellerwald !
• Fränkische Schweiz and Pottenstein.
  
• Maisels Steam Brewery Museum, Bayreuth.
  
• Historic Bamberg (UNESCO World Heritage Centre).
• Bamberg's Smoked Beers and10 breweries.
  
• And much much more.......

All enquiries and further details contact Andy by email andy@bier-mania.com or phone us here in Germany.
Dobre Den or Prost!

Annafest 2008/Franconia Special Tour 2 (SB-080802)

This July the 2nd of our 2 Franconia tours combines Forchheim's Annafest with the German regions of the Oberpfalz (Palatinate) and Franken (Franconia). We start on Saturday and visit the Annafest on the Sunday afternoon and evening!

8 PLACES

Dates
The 6-day Annafest/Franconia Special Beer Tour TM is from Saturday 02-Thursday 07 August 2008.
Pick-up/drop-off is Nuremberg Airport.

Itinerary
The itinerary for the tour can be found be clicking on Proposed Itinerary.
(Please email for password). Enjoy!

Highlights

• Regensburg Altstadt on the Danube.
• Zoigl beers, 15 pubs with over-night in the Oberpfalz, Bavaria TBC NEW.
  
• Annafest 2008 & 23 Cellar 'bars'!
  
• Forchheim's 4 breweries, and the beer-cellars of the Kellerwald !
• Fränkische Schweiz and Pottenstein.
  
• Maisels Steam Brewery Museum, Bayreuth.
  
• Historic Bamberg (UNESCO World Heritage Centre).
• Bamberg's Smoked Beers and10 breweries.
  
• And much much more.......

All enquiries and further details contact Andy by email andy@bier-mania.com or phone us here in Germany.
Cheers!

Annafest 2008/Franconia Special Tour 1 (SB-080726)

This July the 1st of our 2 Annafest/Franconia Special tours combines the amazing Annafest of Forchheim with the German regions of the Oberpfalz (Palatinate) and Franken (Franconia).

8 PLACES

Dates
The 6-day Annafest/Franconia Special Beer Tour TM is from Saturday 26-Thursday 31 July 2008.
Pick-up/drop-off is Nuremberg Airport.

Itinerary
The copyrighted itinerary for the tour can be found be clicking on Proposed Itinerary. (Email for password). Enjoy!

More photos, please click.

Looking forward to a seriously awesome 6-day tour!

Highlights

• Regensburg Altstadt on the Danube.
• Zoigl beers, 15 pubs with over-night in the Oberpfalz, Bavaria TBC NEW.
  
• Annafest 2008 & 23 Cellar 'bars'!
• Forchheim's 4 breweries, and the beer-cellars of the Kellerwald !
• Fränkische Schweiz and Pottenstein.
  
• Maisels Steam Brewery Museum, Bayreuth.
  
• Historic Bamberg (UNESCO World Heritage Centre).
• Bamberg's Smoked Beers and10 breweries.
  
• And much much more.......

All enquiries and further details contact Andy by email andy@bier-mania.com or phone us here in Germany.
Prost!