The Quest for the Holy Grain - Best Brew Pubs
Hesse, Germany

 

 

 

 

Bad Homburg

Darmstad

Frankfurt

Oberursel

Wiesbaden

 

 

 

 

Alt-Oberurseler Brauhaus
Ackergasse 13
61440 Oberursel (Taunus) Germany
+49 6171 54370

Alt-Oberurseler Brauhaus is a small brewpub in the walking district of Oberursler, a suburb of Frankfurt. Guests enter through the side of the stablishment, as this is actually the front door.
A service bar is to the right, as are several heavy tables.
A modest dining area is beyond.
The theme is Bavarian, as is the waitress.
The brewing operation is behind the bar.
Beside the usual beers they make an alt and a seasonal, in this case a Fastenbock.
Both were quite good.
At lunch time every one was eating, but everyone also had beer.

 

 

Brauhaus Graf Zeppelin
Zeppelinstraße 10, 61352 Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany
+49 6172 288662

Brauhaus Graf Zepplin is a very large brewpub a long walk from the Bad Homburg train staion.
It is family-owned in an industrial complex that includes the brewery.
Aside from the brewery there is a Conference Center, an Equestrian Center, and fields dedicated to sustainable agriculture.
Graf Zeppelin grows their own malting barley, brews the first solar-powered beer in Hesse, and produces electricity.
No bar to speak of, there is a large main room and several others. Beside the usual three beers they had a seasonal... a whiskey rauchbier.
All were quite good.

 

 

 

 

Braustil
Oeder Weg 57
60318 Frankfurt
T: 069 98669557

Braustil is a brewery just north of downtown Frankfurt.
The location was once a gas station.
The pavement is gone, and gravel serves as the lawn for the small bier garten. Inside is where the gas station attendant would be. Imagine a very narrow store front with snacks for sale on both sides.
There are now coolers on one side and a few seats against the window.
The shelf/ counter behind which the gas station clerk would work is now the bar. The brewing and bottling operation are in the back area.
Besides the expected beers, they have an alt as well as a pale ale.
Very good beer.

 

 

Bier-Hannes
Hanauer Landstraße 568
60386 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
+49 69 412890

Bier-Hannes is a brewpub that has been making beer on the outskirts of Frankfurt for a hundred years. It is a very modest restaurant with an overflow back room.
The brewery is in a separate building just next door.
Bier-Hannes brews the usual Helles, Dunkel, and Weizen, and a seasonal
During our visit, the seasonal was a doppel bock.
All were very good.

 

 

 

 

Bräuhaus Castel
Otto-Suhr-Ring 27, 55252 Wiesbaden, Germany
+49 6134 24999

Located a few blocks into the countryside near Wiesbaden,
Bräuhaus Castel is a Bavarian-themed brewpub.
Bräuhaus Castel resembles a Bavarian hunting lodge, and the brewing operation is visible through the center window.
Inside continues the motif, with light wood paneling and beer decorations. There is no bar to speak of, but near the service bar there are several keg tables with barstools.
The rest of the space is dining with several separate areas and alcoves. There is also an upstairs and a back yard biergarten.
Bräuhaus Castel seemed to be doing a good lunch business with their inexpensive Bavarian menu.
They serve the expected three beers year round, and all were quite tasty.

 

Darmstädter Privatbrauerei
7 Goebelstraße
Darmstadt, Germany, 64293 06151 92880

Darmstädter Privatbrauerei is directly across from the train station in Darmstadt, and takes up the whole block.  The Braustübl is their restaurant near the center.  The bar area is in the American style in that there are plenty of seats at the bar, and small tables, as well as places to stand or lean.  There are also several cozy dining areas as well as a biergarten.  The food looked wonderful and was reasonably priced.  They have many taps and all of their products are available.

 

Grohe Schänke
Nieder-Ramstädter-Str.3
Darmstadt, Hesse Germany
0615 425255

Grohe Schänke is a brewery several blocks from the busy shopping area of downtown Darmstadt. 
A hardcore drinking place, there is a tent set up in the brewery parking lot, a biergarten, and a regular bar. 
The main bar has stools and plenty of small tables. 
The place is well worn, but in a comfortable way. 
There are 2 full time beers on tap as well a a seasonal. 
Food was available and the service was good.