A Rhine-side wander through German towns, with a brief hop into France and a few well-earned beers along the way.

Koblenz

Altes Brauhaus

Area: Koblenz Altstadt
Style: Traditional
Visit order: 1

I’ve been to Koblenz several times before and it’s all been a bit of a blur.  We were here this time on Easter Sunday which was perfect as the shops were shut but the pubs and restaurants were open.  Time for a beer in the historic Altes Brauhaus.  Like the signage says, it dates from 1689, plenty of time for an atmosphere to build up in the walls. Bookings were (almost) essential but the kindly staff let us take a table for drinks before the reservation showed up.  Some folk got turned away, so I like to think it was my attempt at speaking German that ingratiated me with the bar folk.

Strasbourg

Le Trouquet des Kneckes

Area: Grande-Île
Style: Traditional outside, modern inside
Visit order: the one that got away

We found a beauty of a bar in Strasbourg and then immediately failed to drink here due to dull things like “timing” and “being on a schedule”. It looked excellent though, so it gets the honour of being the one that got away. Next time, no excuses.

“Tri-national Eurodistrict Basel”

Palm Oase

Area: Weil am Rhein
Style: Riverfront Turkish
Visit order: 2

After a bit of sightseeing in Basel, it seemed wise to take a short tram ride into Weil Am Rhein for a beer, money doesn’t go far in Switzerland these days.  An outside table overlooking the river and a well deserved cold Pilsner, a fitting reward after walking the sights of Basel.  So good I followed it up with a Weissbier.  I think my German improved with each beer as the wait staff apologised for hers as she was still learning. Also presented a good opportunity for people watching folk crossing between France and Germany on the Three Countries Footbridge.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Warsteiner Brauerei	Pilsner (Keg)	4.8%
König Ludwig Schlossbrauerei	König Ludwig Weissbier Hell (Bottle)	5.5%

La Huninguoise

Area: Huningue
Style: Riverfront Wine and Beer Bar
Visit order: 3

I didn’t have high hopes for this one as it wasn’t a looker from the outside, but it turned into an unexpected highlight.  A reminder not to put too much store in first impressions.  Local beers from a couple of craft breweries both proved excellent, turning it into one of the best stops of the trip.  The river view from the terrace looking back to Germany and the last beer location was the cherry on the top.  Not that I’d have a cherry on my beer y’know.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Brasserie du Reservoir	Karl Mars (Keg)	5.0%
Brasserie TAAL	Pale Ale (Keg)	4.5%

Breisach am Rhein

Café Bechtel

Area: Breisach
Style: Marktplatz Café Conditerie
Visit order: 4

Another day and another pretty town and a market square ready for some people watching.  The food looked great here, but we had other plans.  We still managed to fit in a Paulaner though, a beer that always hits the spot.  And what a spot.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Paulaner Brauerie	Paulaner Hefe-Weißbier Hell (Bottle)	%

A river cruise through German towns, with a brief hop into France and a few well-earned beers along the way. The photos are a bit hit and miss, but that tends to happen when you’re more focused on the location than the picture.