Regensburg (Regen Castle) is at a famous, historic bridging point over the river Danube (Donau); its multi-arched old bridge, the Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge), Germany's oldest bridge, is the symbol (Wahrzeichen) of the City. Regensburg has a recorded history going back to around 500 BC, when the Celts had a settlement called Radasbona, where a Roman Fort, Castra Regina, was built, in the year 179, by the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (Marc Aurel) (121-180). In the 8th Century, it was incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire by Charlemagne, and over the centuries became one of the most important Cities in the Empire, only declining in importance in Napoleonic times.

Regenburg is at the most Northerly point of the Danube, where the river Regen that gives the city part of its name, joins the Danube from the North. It is the Capital of the Oberpfalz (Upper Palatinate) Region of Bavaria (Bayern). It is the Oberpfalz's principal tourist destination, and for the beer enthusiast, it has five brewing establishments, all of which have taps and other outlets, in the City and beyond. Regensburg's Altstadt (Old Town), and Stadtamhof, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, see whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31 for the full, world-wide list, and whc.unesco.org/en/list/1155 for Regensburg's entry. Stadtamhof is an island in the Danube, at its confluence point with the Regen. Another place in the Oberpfalz, Amberg, was its Capital until 1810; it is a particularly attractive, walled town, much visited by general tourists, which is also well-endowed with brewing establishments. Click here to go to the White Beer Travels Web page covering Amberg.

The Oberpfalz borders the more famous, beer-wise, Franken (Franconia) Region of Bavaria, home to the justifiably world-renowned beer and tourist City of Bamberg, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bamberg's ten or more brewing establishments are covered in the seventy-seven page White Beer Travels guide to Bamberg, which is available, along with its accompanying Beer Hunt maps, from the Downloads page. Regensburg's main tourist attractions are covered below. 3931904741

An invaluable source of information when preparing for my first trip to Regensburg was the don't-enter-Germany-without Good Beer Guide Germany (ISBN 1 85249 219 8) (www.german-breweries.com, White Beer Travels Web page), by Steve Thomas. It is published by the UK's premier beer consumers' organisation, CAMRA, the CAMpaign for Real Ale, www.camra.org.uk. The following was also a great help: Oberpfälzer Bierführer. Alle Brauereien - alle Biere, by Harald Schieder and Ralph Forster (1999, MZ Buchverlag (www.mz-buchverlag.de) ISBN 3-9131904-56-3). The same authors also have a book covering the Bavarian Region of Niederbayern (Lower Bavaria): Bierführer Niederbayern. Alle Brauereien - alle Biere (2000, ISBN 3-9131904-74-1). Note that the Oberpfalz one, as well as covering Oberpfalz breweries, also features some in the Altmühltal (Altmühl Valley) in Niederbayern, such as the famous Wheat Beer producer, Schneider (www.schneider-weisse.de), in Kelheim, which is where the Altmühl joins the Danube. The Oberpfalz one also covers the Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg (Weltenburg Monastic Brewery) (www.weltenburger.de), in Kelheim-Weltenburg, which was founded in 1050, making it the oldest Monastic Brewery in the world; it has outlets in Regensburg. The Benedictine Kloster Weltenburg (www.kloster-weltenburg.de), is spectacularly situated in a bend in the Danube; it is quite close to Regensburg, and after short train and bus rides, one can get a boat from Kelheim to the Monastery. Another very useful source of information that I consulted was the Regensburg page of Ron Pattinson's European Beer Guide website, www.europeanbeerguide.net, which is an essential resource, covering, er, European Beer.

Kelheim (including Weltenburg) and Regensburg, and a good number of other excellent Speciality/Specialty/Craft Beer places, are connected by an excellent, 311 kilometre (194 mile) cycle track (which can be walked on), the Fünf-Flüsse-Radweg (Five Rivers Cycle Track). Its marvellous route features the rivers Pegnitz, Vils, Naab, Donau and Altmühl; click here to see a map of the route. Other places on the cycle track include Nuremberg, Amberg, and the famous Hop Town of Hersbruck (White Beer Travels Web page).

Brewing Establishments in Regensburg & Their Outlets

Five brewing establishments is a good number of breweries for a City with a population of 129,175 (2005), but at one time, Regensburg had many more breweries. Klaus Ehm's essential website, www.klausehm.de, has a great number of scans of beer bottle labels from a number of places, worldwide; Germany is covered in the most detail. However, the site is an essential source of information on the chronology and changing names/ownership of breweries, past and present, for example, if you want information on Regensburg breweries, click on "Historisches Brauereiverzeichnis Deutschland" (Historical Brewery Directory Germany) (www.klausehm.de/Uebersicht.html), and then on "Rechberghausen bis Rehborn" (www.klausehm.de/R2.html).

Unless indicated otherwise, prices quoted are from July, 2007, and for beer, they are for 50cl measures, which is just under an Imperial Pint (57cl), and just over a US one (47cl). A map pinpointing the main places featured in this Web page on Regensburg's Speciality Beer scene can be obtained by clicking here (when ready); it is best printed at ~A4/Letter size.

Spitalbrauerei, Am Brückenfuß 1-3,
www.spitalbrauerei.de

The Spitalbrauerei (Hospital, Hospice or Almshouse Brewery) was founded in 1226, which makes it the City's oldest brewery, and the World's oldest Almshouse Brewery. Its address "At the Foot of the Bridge" leaves one in no doubt that it is very close to the City's famous old Stone Bridge; it is on the Stadtamhof island in the Danube, so is within Regensburg's UNESCO Heritage site, covered above.

The Spital Brewery forms part of a 13th Century Almshouse, the Katharinenspital (St Catherine's Almshouse). At one time, hospital or almshouse breweries were common, this one being a very rare, perhaps unique, survivor. When the place was still in operation as an almshouse, the beers were given to patients as a nightcap. Today, the place is an old people's home, a proportion of the profit from the brewery going to its running. The history of the place is very well documented in its archives, which have been used to produce the extensive history of the place on its excellent website, which is in both German and English. The archives have much on beer, including a mention of the Regensburg Purity Law of 1454, which predates the much quoted Bavarian one of 1516, the Reinheitsgebot. Information on the archives can be found on www.spitalarchiv.de.

The annual throughput of the Spital Brewery is 15,000 hectolitres per year. Beers include: Spital Hell; Spital Dunkel; Spital St. Katherinen Spezial; Spital Pils; Spital Weizen; Spital Weizen Dunkel; and seasonal beers, Spital Festbier, Spital Weizenbock and Spital Maibock. Note that the Weizen (Wheat) Beers are not brewed by the Spitalbrauerei, but by a family-owned Bavarian brewery "in the Bavarian Forest (Bayerischer Wald)". The Bavarian Forest (www.bayerischer-wald.de) is quite close to Regensburg, to its East; the part of the Forest along the Czech border is a National Park (www.nationalpark-bayerischer-wald.de).

The Spital Brewery tap, the Gastätte Spitalgarten (Spital Restaurant/Bar/[Beer] Garden) (www.spitalgarten.de), at St. Katharinenplatz 1, is in a truly marvellous position, by the Danube, from where there are superb views of the nearby Cathedral (Dom). Alongside the Beer Garden, there is a bar/restaurant, the Bräustüberl. Spital Hell is available on draught at €2.60. Bottles include: Spital Pils and Spital St. Katherinen Spezial, both at €2.40 (33cl); Spital Weizen, Jacob Bodenwöhrer leichte dunkle Weisse, Weltenburger Kloster Barock Dunkel (see below), Spital Dunkel, all at €2.80; and, in season, Spital Maibock. The Jacob Low-Alcohol, Dark Wheat Beer is brewed by the family-run Brauerei Jacob, see below, which probably brews the Spital Wheat Beers.

Food includes: Schnitzel gebacken mit Pommes Frites und Salat (Pork Escalope with Fries and Salad) at €8.30; Leber gebacken mit Röstkartoffeln und Salat (Roast Liver with Fried Potatoes and Salad) at €6.60; Niere sauer mit Röstkartoffeln und Salat (Sour Kidneys with Fried Potatoes and Salad) at €6.60; Schweinshaxe mit Knödel und Salat (Pork Knuckle with Dumpling and Salad) at €8.30; Zanderfilet in Butter gebraten mit Petersilienkartoffeln und Salat (Zander Fish with Parsley Potatoes and Salad) at €12.20; Putenschnitzel nach "Jäger Art" mit Spätzle und Salat (Turkey Escalope "Hunter's Style" with Fried Knoodles and Salad) at €9.50; and Spiegeleier mit Röstkartoffeln und Salat (Fried Eggs with Fried Potatoes and Salad) at €5.10.

The Spitalgarten has nine rooms, which provide bed and breakfast accommodation, in a superb location, and at a reasonable price.

The Beer Garden and the bar/restaurant are open each day from 10am to Midnight.

The Spitalbrauerei beers are also available in a number of other outlets in the City and beyond, these being detailed on the place's website. These include another Spital Beer Garden, the Spitalkeller, at Alte Nürnberger Straße 12, which is to the North of the brewery. Note that "Beer Garden" is Biergarten in German, but that many of the Beer Gardens that one can visit, in Franconia and the Oberpfalz, such as the Spitalkeller, are given the name Keller. In proper German, Keller means Cellar, but in these two regions of Bavaria, it also denotes a Beer Garden near the entrance to caves that are, or were, once used to lager (mature) beer. The entrance to the Keller is classically shaded by chestnut trees (Kastanienbäume), as per the Spitalkeller's. With the advent of refrigeration, most of the Kellers are no longer used for Lagering, but in some instances, the shaded area originally laid out to help the cave do its keeping-cool job is used as a Beer Gardens, as it is at the Spitalkeller. A German-language website devoted to Franconian Kellers is the essential www.bierkeller.de. The Spitalkeller is open daily from 10am to Midnight (closed on Tuesday from October to March). One can drink inside, when the weather is not suitable for Beer Garden drinking.

Brauerei Kneitinger, Kreuzgasse 7, www.kneitinger.de

The Kneitinger Brewery, which has an annual output of 25,000 hectolitres, was founded in 1530.

The Kneitinger tap, the Brauerei-Gaststätte Kneitinger (www.knei.de), is at the front of the brewery, at Arnulfplatz 3; it is open each day from 9am to 1am. It is one of only a handful of Regensburg restaurants to be listed in the Michelin Guide (www.viamichelin.com), and the only brewery tap to be so listed. Kneitinger Edel-Pils and Kneitinger Dunkel-Export are €2.70, and the seasonal Kneitinger Bock is €2.90. The Schnapps include one distilled from the brewery's Bock: Kneitinger Bockbier-Edelbrand, which is €3.80 (2cl).

Food in the Kneitinger tap includes: 6 Bratwürste vom Rost mit Sauerkraut oder Kartoffelsalat und Brot (6 Fried Sausages with Sauerkraut or Potato Salad and Bread) at €5.60; 2 Rühreier mit Schinken und Salatteller (2 Scrambled Eggs with Ham and Mixed Salad) at €6.90; Käsespätzle mit Röstzwiebeln und Salat (Cheesy Fried Knoodles with Fried Onions and Salad) at €6.90; Rotbarschfilet paniert und gebacken mit Salatteller (Fried Redfish with Mixed Salad) at €9.20; Schweineschnitzel paniert und gebacken, mit Salatteller (Pork Escalope with Mixed Salad) at €8.90; Putenschnitzel vom Grill auf Champignonrahmsoße, Butterspätzle und Salat (Turkey Escalope in a Creamy Mushroom Sauce with Butter Freid Knoodles and Salad) at €9.20; Rumpsteak von der Rinderlende, Grilltomate, Kräuterbutter, Kroketten und Salatteller (Rump Steak (Loin) with Grilled Tomatoes, Herb Butter, Potato Croquettes and Mixed Salad) at €13.90; Käseteller mit bayrischen Käsespezialitäten, Butter und 2 Schwarzbrot (Bavarian Cheese Platter with "Black Bread" (Pumpernickel Bread) and Butter) at €7.30; and Tagesuppe (Soup of the Day) at €2.30.

The Kneitinger Brewery's Beer Garden, the Kneitinger Keller (www.kneitingerkeller.de), is to be found directly South of the Regensburg Hauptbahnhof (Main Railway Station), at Galgenbergstraße 18 (corner of Bischof-Konrad Strasse); it is next to the site of the former Thurn und Taxis Brewery, see below. It is open every day of the year, from 9am to Midnight. The same beers as in the tap are available in the Keller and they cost the same. In bad weather, or whenever you want, one can drink in the Keller's bar, the Gaststube. Alongside the Keller, the Alte Mälzerei (Old Maltings), at Galgenbergstraße 20, is a cultural centre, where concerts are staged, art exhibitions take place, etc. Other outlets for Kneitinger beers are detailed on the brewery's website.

Brauerei Bischofshof, Heitzerstraße 2, www.bischofshof.de

With an annual production of 180,000 hectolitres, the Bischofshof brewery, which dates from 1649, is the City's biggest brewery. It has outlets throughout the City and beyond. As well as the Bischofshof range of beers, such as Bischofshof Urhell; and Bischofshof Hefe-Weissbier Hell, the brewery produces a range of Weltenburger beers, but, somewhat confusingly, Weltenburger beers with Kloster (Monastery) in their name, such as Weltenburger Kloster Barock Dunkel and the seasonal beer, Weltenburger Kloster Asam Bock, are brewed at the Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg (www.weltenburger.de), in Kelheim-Weltenburg, in Niederbayern (Lower Bavaria). Malteser Wheat Beers, which were formerly brewed by the Malteserbrauerei, in Amberg, are marketed by Bischofshof, but are brewed by the Stuttgarter Hofbräu (www.stuttgarter-hofbraeu.de), in Stuttgart, the Capital of the State of Baden-Württemberg.

The Bischofshof tap, the Bischofshof Braustuben (www.bischofshof-braustube.de), is on a corner of the brewery, at Dechbettener Strasse 50. It is open daily from 10am to Midnight. It has accommodation. Draught Beers include: Bischofshof Original 1649 at €2.50; Bischofshof Pils at €2.70 (40cl); Weltenburger Kloster Barock Dunkel at €2.70; and Bischofshof Hefe-Weissbier Hell at €2.80. Bottles include: Bischofshof "Zoigl" (which is not a genuine Zoigl, see below), Bischofshof "Premium" Lagerbier and Weltenburger Kloster Asam Bock, all at €2.90; and Bischofshof Hefe-Weissbier Dunkel, Bischofshof Malteser Weisse and Bischofshof Leichte Weisse, all at €2.80.

Food in the Bischofshof Braustuben includes: Rindssuppe mit Leberknödel (vom Metzger Dollmann) (Beef Soup with Liver Dumpling (from Dollman's Butchers) at €2.90; Schnitzel "Wiener Art", mit gebratenen Erdäpfeln, Salatteller (Pork Escalope with Fried Potatoes and Mixed Salad) at €8.80; Kartoffel-Gemüseauflauf mit Käse überbacken (Potato and Vegetable Bake, with Cheese on Top) at €6.80; 4/6/8 Bratwürstl mit Sauerkraut (Pork Sausages with Sauerkraut) at €4.10/5.10/5.50; Geschnetzeltes Putenfleisch mit Rahmsoße, im Reisring, Salatteller (Chopped Turkey in a Cream Sauce, in a Ring of Rice with Mixed Salad) at €8.10; and Zanderfilet gebraten, mit Buttergemüse, Kräuterbutter, Erdäpfeln (Fried Zander Fish with Buttered Vegetables. Herb Butter and Potatoes) at €13.90.

Fürstliches Brauhaus, Waffnergasse 6-8, www.fuerstlichesbrauhaus.de

The "Princely Brew House" opened in 2005, within one of the City's tourist attractions, the Kloster St. Emmeram (St Emmeramus's Abbey), which is part of the Fürstliche Schloss von Thurn und Taxis (Princely Thurn and Taxis Castle) (www.thurnundtaxis.de). It produces a 1000 hectolitres of beer each year, all of it sold on the premises. It is owned by Paulaner, which is in the Brau Holding International group (www.brauholdinginternational.de). Paulaner purchased Fürstliche Brauerei Thurn und Taxis, in Regensburg, in 1996, and then closed it. Paulaner now brew a range of Thurn und Taxis beers in Munich (München), which are a common sight in Regensburg, see the website dedicated to them, www.thurnundtaxisbiere.de. The Princely House of Thurn and Taxis (Das Fürstenhaus Thurn und Taxis) is one of Germany's richest families. For centuries, they essentially ran postal services throughout much of Europe, hence the Thurn & Taxis board game, which is based on postal routes.

In the Brew Pub, the draught House Beers available, all of which are unfiltered, include: Marstall Dunkel at €2.80; Original Regensburger Hell at €2.70; Brauhaus Weisse at €2.80; and the seasonal beers, Postmeister Doppelbock (Post Master Double Bock) and Fürstengold Märzen-Festbier. There are also some bottled Thurn und Taxis beers, all at €2.80: Thurn und Taxis Pilsener; Thurn und Taxis Kristal Weizn; Thurn und Taxis Weissbier Dunkel; and Thurn und Taxis Leichtes Weizen.

Food includes: Rindsbouillon wahlweise mit Grießnockerl, Leberknödel oder Pfannkuchenstreifen (Beeth Broth with a Choice of Semolina Dumpling, Liver Dumpling or Pancake Strips) at €3.50; Oberpfälzer Kartoffelsuppe mit frischem Majoran und Kräutercroutons (Oberpfalz Potato Soup with Fresh Marjoram and Herb Croutons) at €3.70; Allgäuer Kasspatz'n mit viel Röstzwiebeln und einem knackigen Salat (Allgauer Cheese Fried Knoodles with Much Fried Onions and a Crunchy Salad) at €6.90; 4/6/8 Fürstliche Braunbierbratwürste vom Grill mit Sauerkraut und Kipferl (Princely Grilled Brown Beer Sausages with Sauerkraut and a Regensburg Bread Roll) at €5.10/7.10/9.10; Schweinshax'n in Malzbiersoße mit Reiberknödel und Krautsalat (Pork Knuckle in Malt Beer Sauce with Grated Potato Dumpling and Herb Salad) at €10.20; Brauhaus Riesenschnitzel vom Schwein Wiener Art, mit gebackenen Kartoffelstäbchen und Salatteller (Giant Brauhaus Pork Escalope with Fried Potato Sticks and Mixed Salad) at €10.20; Biergulasch mit hausgemachten Spätzle und Salatteller (Beer Goulash with Home-Made Fried Knoodles and Mixed Salad) at €9.80; and Gebackenes Seelachsfilet mit hausgemachtem Kartoffelsalat und Kräuterremoulade (Baked Pollack with Home-Made Potato Salad and Herby Rémoulade (Mayonnaise Sauce)) at €9.20.

The Fürstliches Brauhaus Brew Pub is open seven days a week, from 9am to 1am.

Regensburger Weissbräuhaus, Schwarze-Bären-Strasse 6

The Regensburg Wheat Brew House brews a Hell, a Dunkel, a Weizen Hell and a Weizen Dunkel.

It opened in 2007, but from 1993 until then, it was the Brauhaus Joh. Albrecht, one of a small chain of Brauhaus Johann Albrecht Brew Pubs (www.brauhaus-joh-albrecht.de), the others being in Hamburg, Soltau, Bielefeld, Düsseldorf and Konstanz. The brewery equipment in them is supplied by the Munich-based Joh. Albrecht Brauerei- und Gastronomietechnik, www.joh-albrecht.com, who also produce equipment for the catering industry. This Joh. Albrecht equipment is now used by the new owners. The Regensburger Weissbräuhaus beers are not available elsewhere in Regensburg. The annual output is 500 hectolitres.

The Regensburger Weissbräuhaus is open daily, from 11am to 1am.

Other Outlets for Beer in Regensburg

The websites for the Spitalbrauerei, see above, and the Brauerei Kneitinger, see above, list outlets for their beers, in addition to their taps, and the ones already covered, such as their Kellers. Names of former Regensburg breweries live on in places such as: Schildbräu, at Stadtamhof 24; Brandlbräu, at Ostengasse 16; and Auer Bräu (www.auer-braeu.de), at Schwandorfer 39, a Kneitinger outlet, which was the tap for the former Auer Brewery, on Steinweg. As stated in their descriptions, some of the entries below have been found googling, and may no longer exist: reports, please.

Wurstkuchl (Historische Wurstküche), Thundorferstraße 3, www.wurstkuchl.de

The "Historical Sausage Kitchen" is a famous outlet for Regensburger Bratwurst (Fried or Grilled Sausage). It is superbly situated, close to the southern end of the Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge). Wurstkuchl bills itself as the world's oldest retailer of Bratwurst, and is often described as the world's oldest fast food outlet; it is housed in a shed-like building that was originally an office, used during the construction of the famous bridge, between 1135 and 1146. In 1146, it was converted into a place, the Garküche auf der Kranchen, which provided food for Danube crane workers.

As per Nürnberger, Regensburger Sausages are small (Bratwürstl); one typically has between six and a dozen at a time, with Sauerkraut and Sweet Mustard (Süsser Senf). As well as its Sausages, which are Pork ones, grilled over Charcoal, Wurstkuchl is also renowned for its home-made Sweet Mustard, and its Sauerkraut, the latter being made from local Weisskraut (White Cabbage, Skillet Cabbage), which Wurstkuchl matures in wooden barrels in its Krautkeller (Cabbage Cellar). 6/8/10/12 Schweinsbratwürstl mit Sauerkraut (Grilled Pork Sausages with Sauerkraut) are €6.30/8.40/10.50/12.60, plus €0.50 for a Schwarzer Kipferl (Regensburg Bread Roll). Other dishes include: Kartoffelsuppe nach unserem alten Hausrezept (Pototo Soup made using our Old House Recipe) at €3.50; Schnitzel nach Wiener Art mit Kartoffelsalat und hausgemachte Preiselbeeren (Pork Escalope with Potato Salad and Home-Made Cranberry Sauce) at €8.50; Krautwickerl mit Kartoffelbrei - regional typisch! (Cabbage Stuffed with Mashed Potato - a Regional Speciality!) at €7.50; Hähnchenbrust gefüllt mit Tomate, Mozzarella und Basilikum, leichte Weißweinsauce, Marktgemüse und Baguette (Chicken Breast Stuffed with Tomato, Mozzarella Cheese and Basil, in a Light White Wine Sauce, with Seasonal Vegetables and a Baguette) at €8.50; Geröstete Knödel mit Ei und kleinem Salat (Fried Dumpling with Egg and a Small Salad) at €6; and Ofenwarmer Apfelstrudel mit Vanilleeis und Sahne (Oven Hot Apple Strudel with Vanilla Ice Cream and Cream at €4.

But this is a beer guide to Regensburg? Not to worry, since there are three beers from the Familienbrauerei Jacob (www.brauerei-jacob.de), in Bodenwöhr, which is thirty kilometres (nineteen miles) to the NNE of Regensburg. The beers typically available on draught are: Jacob Edel Pils at €2.40/2.90 (25/40cl); Bodenwöhrer Weissbier at €2.90; and Bodenwöhrer leichte dunkle Weisse at €2.90 (40cl).

Wurstkuchl is open each day from 8am to 7pm.

Close to Wurstkuchl is the Donau-Schifffahrts-Museum (Danube Navigation Museum) (www.dsmr.de), which is on Thundorferstrasse, well actually, the museum buildings are two historic vessels moored on the Marc-Aurel-Ufer (Marc Aurel Bank) of the Danube, which is named after the 2nd Century Roman Emperor, see below. The Museum is open from April to October, on Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 5pm.

Der Andechser am Dom im Herzogshof, Domplatz 3, www.herzogshof.de

This excellent "Cathedral Square" establishment has the full range of Andechser beers from the Kloster Andechs Benedictine Brewery (www.andechs.de), which was founded in 1455, in Andechs, in the Oberbayern (Upper Bavaria) Region of Bavaria. The draught beers are: Andechser Spezial Hell, Andechser Dunkel, Andechser Weißbier and Andechser Dunkles Weißbier (Dark Wheat Beer), all at €2.95; and the famous Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel (7%) at €3.20. Bottles include: Andechser Hell at €2.70; and Andechser Bergbock at €3.30.

Food includes: Leberknödelsuppe (Liver Dumpling Soup) and Bayerische Brotsuppe (Bavarian Bread Soup), both at €3; Sechs Regensburger Rostbratwürstl auf Sauerkraut (Six Regensburg Grilled Sausages on Sauerkraut) at €5.70; Hirschgulasch aus bayerischer Jagd mit Spätzle, Mandelbrokkoli und Preiselbeeren (Bavarian Wild Venison Goulash with Fried Knoodles, Almond Broccoli and Cranberries) at €11.50; Forellenfilets mit Petersilienkartoffeln (Trout Fillets with Parsley Potatoes) at €9.30; Kässpatz'n mit abgerösteten Zwiebeln garniert (Cheesy Fried Knoodles garnished with Fried Onions) at €6.50; and Gemüsestrudel auf Rahmchampignons mit Blattsalat (Vegetable Strudel in a Creamy Mushroom Sauce with Lettuce) at €6.90.

There are a number of rooms in which to drink and eat, and on the Domterasse (Cathedral Terrace), there is a superb view of the imposing South façade of the Cathedral.

Der Andechser is open each day from 10am to 1am, with food available from 11am to 11pm.

Hofbräuhaus Regensburg, Waaggässchen 1, www.hofbraeuhaus-regensburg.de

This has beers that are brewed by the Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in München (Hofbräu München) (www.hofbraeu-muenchen.de), which, in the Bavarian Capital of Munich (München), has what is unquestionably the world's most famous Beer Hall/Beer Garden, the Hofbräuhaus (www.hofbraeuhaus.de, www.hb-show.de). This Regensburg offshoot is directly opposite the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), in Rathausplatz (Town Hall Square).

Food includes (June, 2005 prices from the place's website): Lauchcremesuppe (Cream of Garlic Soup) at €2.10; Schweinsbraten mit Knödel und Salat (Roast Pork with Dumpling and Salad) at €7.20; Schweinsschnitzel gebacken mit Salat (Pork Escalope with Salad) at €8.50; and Gemüseauflauf mit Schwenkkartoffeln (Vegetable Bake with Sauté Potatoes) at €6.90.

The Regensburg Hofbräuhaus is open from ?

Oma Plüsch, Rote-Stern-Gasse 6 (Pfarrergasse),
www.oma-pluesch.de, www.oma-pluesch.sportkneipe.de

Oma Plüsch is a Student/Sports Bar, with beers from three or four breweries, including a selection from another Bavarian place on the Danube, with five brewing establishments, Passau, i.e. the Löwenbrauerei (Lion Brewery) (www.loewenbrauerei.de). Draught beers include: Löwenbrauerei Passau Urtyp Hell at €2.40; and Löwenbrauerei Passau Pils at €2.30. Bottled beers include Löwenbrauerei Passau Spezial Dunkel at €2.70. Note that if you, like me, don't partake of products from that load of bankers, InBev, then, when ordering, don't get the Passau beers on the menu mixed up with the Löwenbräu München (Lion Brew Munich) stuff on it!

The food on offer includes: Gulaschsuppe mit Kipferl (Goulash Soup with Regensburg Bread Roll) at €3.20; Schnitzel Wiener Art vom Schwein mit Pommes und Salat (Pork Escalope with French Fries and Salad) at €6.50; Käsespätzle mit Röstzwiebeln und Blattsalat (Cheesy Fried Knoodles with Fried Onions and Lettuce) at €5.70; Schaschlik mit Pommes Frites (Shaslik, Shish Kebab (Şiş Kebap) with French Fries) at €5.60; Spaghetti Bolognese mit gebr. Speck und Käse (Spag Bol with Grilled Bacon and Cheese) at €4.90; and Spaghetti mit frischen Rahmchampignons und geriebenem Emmentaler (Vegetarian Spag Bol with Creamy Mushrooms and Mature Emmental Cheese) at €4.90.

On Monday to Friday, Oma Plüsch is open from 11.30am to 2pm, and from 6pm to 1am. On Saturday it is open from 11.30am to 1am. On Sunday it is open from 6pm to 1am. Food is available until 10.30pm.

Zur Brauschänke, Galgenbergstraße 3

In Regensburg, and elsewhere, here are a good number of outlets for Thurn und Taxis (T&T) beers, which were once brewed in Regensburg, but are now brewed in Munich, by Paulaner, see above. The beers include Thurn und Taxis Roggen, a Roggenbier (Rye Beer), which has Rye, Wheat and Malt in the mash. Thurn und Taxis inherited this beer from a brewery they took over, before they themselves were acquired by Paulaner, the Spezial Brauerei, in Schierling an der Laaber.

Zur Brauschänke was the tap (the Brauschänke, in German) for the former Thurn und Taxis Brewery; some of its old equipment adorns the place.

Zur Brauschänke is open each day except Sunday, from 11am to 1am.

Kummert Bräustüberl in Regensburg, Stadtamhof 26

This is an outlet for an Oberpfalz brewery in Amberg, Zum Kummert Bräu (www.zumkummertbraeu.de, White Beer Travels Web page).

Kummert Bräustüberl is next door to Schildbräu, at Stadtamhof 24, the tap for the former brewery of this name, a place found googling, for which I have no further information, but which appears to be still operating as a pub/restaurant. They are both on the Danube island, Stadtamhof, which has a street with this name, as can be seen. As already stated, Regensburg's famous old brewery, Spitalbrauerei, see above, is also on this island.

I found the Kummert Bräustüberl googling, which did not come up with its hours of opening.

Gaffel Kölsch, Gesandtenstraße 3

Clearly, this has beer in the signature style of the City of Cologne (Köln): Kölsch. It is an example from the Cologne Brewery, Gaffel (www.gaffel.de).

This was yet another place found googling, which did not reveal opening times.

Weihenstephan-Stuben, Pfauengasse 3

This presumably has beers from the Brauerei Weihenstephan (www.brauerei-weihenstephan.de), in Freising, in the Oberbayern Region of Bavaria. Weihenstephan Brewery has been brewing since it was a Klosterbrauerei (Monastic Brewery), in 1040, which makes it the world's oldest brewery, still in operation. As mentioned above, the world's oldest Monastic Brewery, which is still run by a monastic community, is the Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg (Weltenburg Monastic Brewery), which started up in 1050. A number of outlets for its beers are to be found in Regensburg, as it is, as already stated, connected with Regensburg's biggest brewery, Bischofshof.

Weihenstephan is particularly famous for Wheat Beers; the brewery is part of the world-renowned Weihenstephan Brewing School (www.wzw.tum.de), which is a source of Wheat Beer Yeast for a good number of breweries. so, the presumed beers in Regensburg's Weihenstephan-Stuben will include, or be all, Wheat Beers.

Once again, a google search result, for which no opening times were forthcoming.

Bieragentur Regensburg, Brunnleite 8,
www.bieragentur-regensburg.de

This is a shop that sells beer to the public, and supplies outlets in the area with beer (Getränkefachmarkt). It is ownd by the Schlossbrauerei (www.eichhofener.de), in Eichhofen, which is twenty kilometres (thirteen miles) from Regensburg. As well as stocking the Castle Brewery's Eichhofener range of beers, it also has other beers from in and not too far from Regensburg, i.e. from Schneider, see above, Bishofshof, see above, Kneitinger, see above, and the Privatbrauerei Michael Plank (www.brauerei-plank.de), in Laaber.

Bierargentur is open on Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm, and on Saturday from 9am to 1pm. There is also a Schlossbrauerei/Bieragentur website for on-line purchases, www.bavarianbeershop.com.

Regensburg for the Tourist

The city's official website, www.regensburg.de, has pages in a number of languages, which provide much information on the city's tourist attractions. The Regensburg Tourist Information office is in the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), at Rathausplatz 4. From April to October, it is open on Monday to Friday from 9.15am to 6pm, and on Saturday from 9.15am to 4pm. It is open on Sunday and National Holidays from 9.30am until 4pm (2.30pm from November to March). It does not open on the 1st of January.

The following is a selection of places of general tourist interest in Regensburg: Porta Praetoria, the main gate (North Gate), of the Roman Fortress, which, having been built in the year 179, is the oldest such gate in Germany (it is just North of Alter Kornmarkt (Old Corn Market), on Unter den Schwibbögen); Haidplatz, a square surrounded by historic buildings, including a famous inn, at number 7, Zum Goldenen Kreuz (The Golden Cross) (within the Hotel Goldenes Kreuz (www.hotel-goldeneskreuz.de)), in which the Holy Roman Emperor Charles (Charles Quint) (1500-58) was a guest; the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), Rathausplatz 4, which dates from 1250; Kloster St. Emmeram (St Emmeramus's [Benedictine] Abbey), Emmeramsplatz 4, a Parish Church and Chapel for the Thurn & Taxis family, being part of the Fürstliche Schloss von Thurn und Taxis (Princely Thurn and Taxis Castle) (www.thurnundtaxis.de); Dom St. Peter (Regensburger Dom) (St Peter's Cathedral) (www.regensburger-dom.de), Domplatz 1, which has a famous choir of boys and young men, the Regensburger Domspatzen (Regensburg Cathedral Sparrows) (www.domspatzen.de); the Schiffahrtsmuseum ([Danube] Navigation Museum), see above; and the Alte Kapelle (Old Chapel) (www.alte-kapelle.de), St.-Kassians-Platz 7. Museums/Galleries include: Städtische Galerie (City Gallery), Bertoldstraße 9 (mainly 20th Century Art, in a building, the Leerer Beutel (Empty Bottle) (www.leerer-beutel.de), which also has a Restaurant/Bar, and is home to the Jazz Club Regensburg (www.jazzclub-regensburg.de); Kunstforum Ostdeutsche Galerie (Art Forum East German Gallery) (www.kog-regensburg.de) (Contemporary Art) Dr.-Johann-Maier-Straße 5; Domschatz Muzeum (Cathedral Treasury), Krautermarkt 3; and the Regensburger Diözesanmuseum (St. Ulrich Museum) (St Ulrich's Diocesan Museum), Domplatz 2. The last two places are covered by www.bistumsmuseen-regensburg.de.

Regensburg is easily reached by train from Nuremberg (Nürnberg), München (Munich) and elsewhere. For train times, it is worth looking at the website of the German National Railway, Deutsche Bahn (DB) (www.bahn.de, www.bahn.co.uk (English pages)). Despite being railway websites, these provide information on the best combination of walking, bus train, etc, when you plug in a start and destination. Regensburg is the end station of a private railway line, the Oberpfalzlinie (VB3), operated by Vogtlandbahn (www.vogtlandbahn.de), the other end station being Hof; DB tickets are valid on the Vogtlandbahn trains, the DB website giving train times for them. A stop en route between Regensburg and Hof is the genuine Zoigl town of Windischeschenbach; click here for the White Beer Travels Zoigl page covering this. Genuine Zoigl is produced in Communal Breweries in certain towns in the Oberpfalz.

Being on the Danube, there are possibilities for journey/trips by boat, to places local/close to Regenburg, such as: Crown Prince Ludwig I's Walhalla Temple, ten kilometres (six miles) from Regensburg, in Donaustauf; and to the Weltenburg Monastic Brewery (after getting a train to Saal (Donau) and a bus to Kelheim), see above. On the Danube, one can also travel to places much further afield; using the Rhein-Main-Donau Canal, it is possible to go from Amsterdam to the Mouth of the Danube, in the Black Sea, in Romania. Shorter journeys that are possible, include Passau, the "City on Three Rivers" (Danube, Inn and Ilz), see above, and on then to Linz and Vienna in Austria, Bratislava in The Slovak Republic, and Budapest in Hungary. Boats to Passau, typically stop at Vilshofen, the home of Josef Groll (1813-1887), the inventor of the Pilsener style of beer, in Pilsen (Plzeň), in the present day Czech Republic (Česká republika), in 1842. Josef was the Brewmaster at the Wolferstetter Brewery (www.wolferstetter-brauerei.de), in Vilshofen. It is still in existence and, of course, has a Pilsener-style beer: Josef Groll Pils! Josef's portrait is on the bottle label, and on the glasses in which it is served. Click here for a White Beer Travels Web page giving further information on Josef Groll. Passau and Vilshofen can also be reached by train from Regensburg.

Local public transport is covered by the Regensburger Verkehrsverbund website, www.rvv.de.

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