Well, one of my wife’s best friends from college is getting married this summer in Northern Germany so we might be going (assuming its relatively affordable).
I figure I can have about 5-6 days outside of the wedding to go around - I figure we can train (?) to Dusseldorf for a few days and then to Munchen(?) Obviously, I want to see brewing culture, but some of the old castles, etc. would be great as well.
Post your thoughts/advice/suggestions and let me know.
Not sure where you are starting, but here is my $0.02.
Duesseldorf is a must in my book, and you can get your fill of Altbier by doing short walks between the brewpubs. Last time we just went to Zum Uerige several times. You are close to Koeln (Cologne), so you can check out Koelsch, and the Dom (Cathederal). Take the slow train that follows the Rhein River to see a metric ton of castles through the Rhein Gorge.
Muenchen is super in the summer, as the biergartens are in full swing. If you decide to go there, get “The Beer Drinkers Guide to Munich”, yes that is a real book. Munich has many museums and historic sites if you are into that, and the Nymphenberg palace, and the Residenz (SP- my German is gone), along with some good churches.
The last two time in Germany we have spent several days in Bamberg. That is beer heaven in Germany.
Given that you have only 5 day, don’t strech yourself too much. Duesseldorf, Köln and the Rhine vallley are good options.
Kai
When will you be there? We’re spending June 14-23 driving around Germany and will be in the Koln area the 21st and 22nd.
Definitely go to the east side and Berlin if you can. Too much history to pass up, even if it isn’t the best beer.The pilsners are great where ever you go.
Some ideas here:
http://www.aleiens.com/profiles/blogs/historisches-heidelberg
http://www.aleiens.com/profiles/blogs/koelsch-in-koeln
http://www.aleiens.com/profiles/blogs/altbier-in-duesseldorfs
http://www.aleiens.com/profiles/blogs/bamberg-tour-live
And a couple of other places
http://www.aleiens.com/profiles/blogs/belgian-beers-in-brussels
http://www.aleiens.com/profiles/blogs/a-beer-twirp-in-antwerpen
Have a great time!
-e
+1,
sounds dreamy. It is fun to plan vacations in the winter.
Kai is right. There is so much in that region that it will be easy to miss a lot trying
to find the perfect spot/attraction. Sadly for me my only experience there was
with the Rhinehessen wines. I was not into beer yet. And let me tell you
you have not had reisling untill you have it there and it is dry or half dry…OH MAN!
That is good wine. It find it difficult to find dry reisling in the US. We seem
to import only the sweet varieties.
Around here it isn’t unusual for a winery to make both. I guess they don’t grow Reisling in CO though.
Kai has the perspective that I learned when living in Germany, you can only see and do so much in a day, relax and enjoy it. Most Americans want to see it all, and run themselves ragged. The OP may or may not have the chance to go often, so he wants the high points, and running full tilt may be his only option.
As far as the wines go I agree. We lived in the Rheingau, and learned to love the wines. Our German friends would say “The French export the good stuff and drink the crap, here we drink the good stuff and export the crap.”
It’s the distance to Munich. You spend a full day traveling and train tickets aren’t cheap either.
Kai
Yep OP said Northern…and that Ain’t Munich…
+1 on Köln. I was so impressed with the architecture.
And where better to sample Kolsch?
Maybe blatz can sneak a water sample in Koln? 8) ;D
No need for that in the age of the Internet: http://www.rheinenergie.com/download/produkte/wasser/trinkwasser_linksrheinisch.pdf and Ihr Energieversorger aus der rheinischen Region - RheinEnergie
But that water is rather high in alkalinity and not necessarily the best water to brew a Koelsch with. So brewers are very likely to treat it before using it.
Leave it to me to turn Blatz’s Germany thread into a water chemistry thread 
Kai
ROLF thats funny
So funny you threw up?! ;D
Wish I could help you. I’ve never been there but would love to have an opportunity to go. Good Luck.