Shawn and Nico have asked us to write about Prohibtion today in Session #22.
Specifically: “What does the repeal of Prohibition mean to you? How will you celebrate your right to drink beer?”
I’ll start with a bit of a confession. My great grandfather ran for local office in the 1890s on the Prohibition ticket. He was a berry farmer and lay preacher who also wrote about community news for two nearby newspapers. A.A. Applegate was no neo-convservative. In a time when graduating from high school wasn’t the norm he reared six children who went to college on state scholarships. Some became artists and musicians. He is one of my heroes.
He didn’t use his newspaper columns as a pulpit so I don’t have any information why he chose to run on the Prohibition ticket. But read any of many histories about taverns and pubs during the final decades of the 19th century and you can see these were not family friendly places. Sometimes they weren’t even people friendly.
In contrast you have what we’ve seen during the past 14 weeks in Europe. This includes teenagers drinking (wine as well as beer) in the company of their parents. This includes shopkeepers getting together right after work at a cafe in Switzerland, some drinking coffee, some wine and some beer. And tables reserved on a standing basis (“Stammtisch”) in Germany. And the way they keep a tab with marks on coasters in Franconia or the simple slips of paper in the Czech Republic. And regulars solving the problems of the world in the back room of a German pension, beers in hand before most of the guests had finished breakfast.
Connect the dots.
I’m sure you will read lots of great posts about why the repeal of Prohibition was important, but it’s a topic I don’t feel like taking more time to write about when I can enjoy drinking beer some place where there was never was Prohibition and I can’t imagine there ever will be. Yes, I understand that might be shortsighted.
Fact is I’m pre-posting this because Friday we’ll be in Munich, and I’ll be focused on how to get from our hotel to Neuhauser Strasse 27.
“…and I’ll be focused on how to get from our hotel to Neuhauser Strasse 27.”
All roads lead there Stan, immer gerade auß! 😉
Are you getting there before 11:00am?
Oh, and by the way, if you walk out the front door of 27 Neuhauser, turn left (IIRC) and look for the Spaten sign, you’ll find a very nice, quaint, lower level Bierhall to dodge the tourists!
The Session is tomorrow…
Mario — read it through to the end:
“Fact is I’m pre-posting this because Friday we’ll be in Munich, and I’ll be focused on how to get from our hotel to Neuhauser Strasse 27.”
Stanley,
Be sure to make it to the Ayinger pub (directly across from the Hofbrauhaus). After 5pm they put on a cask of beer and serve ‘vom Fa?’ by gravity. When I was there last fall Thursdays were the special nights. Things you couldn’t usually get. Their Jahrhundert by gravity is amazing.
Oh and go to Schneider and get a bottle of the Aventinus Edelbrand. Man that stuff is good.
“(directly across from the Hofbrauhaus).”
Hmm? Did this replace the Hard Rock Cafe, or whatever monstrosity used to be there?
I need to get back to Munich soon.
My bad Steve, I caught that after I commented. You have to understand, I’m from the younger generation and attentions spans just aren’t what they used to be.
“…attentions spans just aren’t what they used to be.”
Mario — it’s not a generational thing, and it’s becoming….
…oh sorry, got side-tracked… it’s becoming pandemic! 😉
I still want to know more about the Munich Ayinger pub, Kristen? Kristen?
SteveH,
When i say directly across, its right out the front door. Whilst all the drunken asshats are getting kicked out of the HB and puking in the street, I was tucked into the front corner with the wife and kid drinking fist fulls of cask beer.
“When i say directly across, its right out the front door.”
Nice. The last time I was in Munich, that was a Planet Hollywood or Hard Rock Cafe — or some such place of marketing lunacy for being (what, 8 feet?) directly across from the HB. Really can’t wait to get back there now!
Steve (and Kristen),
The Hard Rock is still there. Ayinger is next door. Hard Rock serves Ayinger beers and has really comfy looking couches. I know this because the Ayinger WC was out of order and they sent us over the Hard Rock.