Mahr's
I’m at a beer bar in Oakland, and they have a beer from a brewery called Mahr’s. I have not thought of these beers in many years, but then I remembered that Eric and I tried to find this place 7 years ago in Bamberg, Germany.
Here’s what Eric had to say about that day:
“I piss twice in the night. Bladder is too small. We wake up early (6:45) and drive from Augsburg (far northwest of munich) to do a couple brewery tours (both northeast of munich). First is Weihenstephan in Freising, which cost $1.50 to tour with a german-only tourguide. It was fun trying to guess what he was saying, but regardless, a very modern and scientific brewery, on the site of the self-proclaimed “oldest brewery in the world”. Bought a glass (5 euro) and some of their beers from a tourist shop for 1 euro per half-liter bottle. Amazing. 1/8th of the cost in the US. Then we’re off to Kelheim, where we will visit the Schneider Brauhaus, since the brewmaster said he was too busy to give us a tour. Neil’s driving this day, so I dominate two of my favorite beers, the Aventinus (8% alc)and the Aventinus Eisbock (12% alc). They are amazing, and I eat a meal that has Aventinus gravy. This is happiness. We drive from Kelheim (after getting a ridiculous 5 euro parking ticket) up to Bamberg, where we use the lonely planet bamberg map to bumble our way to a hotel (a Maisel beer bar with a hotel attached) and hang there for a few minutes, then it’s off to the Bamberg bars, where we visit Fassla (quite good pils here), Schenkerla (home of the most strong-tasting smoked beer - rauchbier), then get lost trying to find Mahrs (mars, bitches!), and finally end up at Spezial, which is absolutely excellent: rauchbier, dark lager, weissbier. Rather good night, visit a random bar on the way back, then pass out at the hotel.”
Mars, bitches!
