Smoke & Shadow
Exploring Lager’s Roots Around Bamberg
Sidebar: Kids in (Beer) Paradise
Franconia is not just a playground of beer. It’s also a playground of, well, playgrounds.
A German beer garden is not specifically a place for grown-ups to intoxicate themselves (although it happens). It is a family destination. Look no further than the spielplatz, a common sight and usually located on the outskirts of the larger properties. For thirsty parents with young tykes this is as important an institution as the beer and pretzels, or the traditional right to bring your own food.
Kids love those fresh, crusty pretzels and the range of fruit juices—apple, cherry, orange, currant and more—often mixed with schorle. This sparkling water cuts the sweetness to make a more refreshing (and hydrating) drink.
Advice to parents, who may be reluctant to punish their kids with a beery holiday: Consider Bamberg and Franconia. Tell the tots it’s a playground tour.
Joe Stange
Joe Stange is a freelance journalist and co-author of Good Beer Guide Belgium (7th edition, with Tim Webb) and author of Around Brussels in 80 Beers (2nd edition, Spring 2015).
Nice. Only one thing to update: Gänstaller brews at the old brewery owned by Friedel in the village of Schnaid near Hallerndorf; the tavern they used to run (until Dec 2013) was in Strassgiech. Although that place *was* a brewery until the 1960’s, Gänstaller never brewed there. They were more or less forced out of that place by the owner placing unreasonable demands on them, being a looney.