Upper Franconia, in northern Bavaria, is host to the highest number of breweries worldwide.

In the early 19th century, there were close to 30.000 Bavarian breweries, among which many would be classified as home breweries by today’s standard. Some were village breweries and delivered only to the local inns. Almost every monastery had its own brewery as well.

In 2008, the number of breweries in Bavaria was 627, of which 300 alone are in the region of Franconia.

The region of Franconia is divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower Franconia – see map.

Upper Franconia, also sometimes referred to as Bierfranken (Beer Franconia) has close to 200 breweries.

Bierland Oberfranken in Upper Franconia offers 54 beer tours throughout the area. For more information, visit Bierland Oberfranken.

Another site, Bierland Franken, offers tips on self-guided tours such as hiking and biking trails, information about beer seminars, etc.

Beer served in Franconia/Germany

Prost!

Well, this might not be what you expected to see. I just had some delicious Bibimbap from our neighborhood Asian supermarket.

Korean Bibimbap in Oberursel/Germany

For the more traditional food and beverages Germans like to consume, visit  What the World Eats at TIME photo gallery, where you can view families from 16 countries showing their weekly food expenditure.

Most families looked rather happy, though the German family (slide 15 of 16) looked as grumpy as ever. Despite all the beer and wine bottles featured on the table.

For quite a few years, we have attended this little Bierfest at the local Schützenverein (gun club), somewhere hidden in the forest around Oberursel.

Every year, this fest seems to get smaller. Last year, we missed the music, as there was no band playing. This year again, there was no band, and we even had to ask for a Bierbank (table and benches), so we could sit down.

A very small German Bierfest in Oberursel

No longer was there a menu pinned up either. All they had was Bratwurst, Rindwurst or steaks. We were very happy, nevertheless. Very little was offered, but it was still a very typical German Bierfest.

The highlight was the arrival of the typical Father’s Day group of young men. They, young fathers included, get to take the day off from family. They start drinking as early as they get together and by tractor and wagon, they go fest-hopping. There are so many little beer fests happening on Father’s Day, so by the time they hit the third fest at 2 p.m., they are halfway drunk.

Father's Day wagon ride

They arrived with loud music, loud conversation, and approached the fest in a very cheerful mood.

Portable Bierfest on Father's Day

On our way out, we got to take a look at their tractor and wagon. They drink while traveling around in the wagon, and they drink again at every Bierfest or Biergarten.

This is not only tolerated, but also normal in rural German culture.

I grew up with this tradition, but find it most surprising how popular it still is today.

And by the way – today, 2 June 2011, is Christ Ascension Day. Father’s Day in Germany is always on this public holiday.

The beer garden season has no official opening date. Whenever the weather turns nice, every Kneipe (pub) with an outdoor setting, moves its tables and chairs outside. This spring, we got to sit in the beer garden as early as the beginning of April.

Beer garden in Germany

The pub Zum Adler in downtown Oberursel is not your typical beer garden. This is an old building off the old main street, and the proprietor is known for his homemade Apfelwein (alcoholic apple cider, what else – we are in Germany).

The benches are lined up in the courtyard entrance, which had to be high enough to let the loads of apples come through by tractor. Guess nowadays he has found a different route for his apples to come in.

Beer garden business might be down this week as the temperature has dropped to 18°C (65 F). This morning it was chilly with 7°C (45F). If you are heading to Germany, bring some warm clothing, just in case.

There is this little town called Scheinfeld, embedded between the more famous towns of Bamberg and Rothenburg.

Scheinfeld has something the other two might not have – a three-day guided beer tour (up to eight people) which includes plenty of Freibier, a carriage ride, tours of breweries and much other noteworthy information relating to barley brew.

At the end of the tour, you will get furnished with a “doctorate degree”, signed with the title of Dr. bierologis causa.

The Aischgründer Beer Route is about 50 km long and runs between the towns of Bad Windsheim and Uehlfeld. Along the tour, you will stop at seven different breweries and plenty of local guest-houses. There are also paths such as the Bierwanderweg (beer hiking path) and the Bierradweg (beer biking path).

Franconian beer

For more information about this guided tour, visit:

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Aischgründer Bierstrasse, Hauptstrasse 1 in 91443 Scheinfeld

Tel: 09162 – 12412 or bierstrasse.de