Brauerei Barth-Senger

Or is it just Brauerei Senger?  I'm not sure.  I know the braumeister's name is Hans Senger.  Who's Barth?  Maybe a former partner or co-owner.

http://www.bierland-oberfranken.de/deutsch/brauereien/brauereiportraits/fraenkische_schweiz/landkreis_bamberg/brauerei_barth-senger_159/details_44.htm

Anyhow this classic little brewpub in Schesslitz, Oberfranken is my all time favorite.  The place is just 4 tables, a serving counter, and 1 beer served gravity poured from a barrel.  It is simplicity at it's best.  Yet this beer is no simpleton.  It is a wonderful, brownish, vollbier that can only be enjoyed in that very room.  You want it, you've got to go get it and I can tell you it's worth the trip.  But my love for this place has more than that to it.  It's just a classic.  They've got a tradition there of knocking on each table as you enter (before you sit down) and as you leave.  Believe me it pays to heed this tradition as the locals will warm up to those that do follow this rite of passage into the pub.  Do it not and the air in the place seems to grow heavier and the stares longer.

I know this from experience having failed to observe the tradition upon my first visit.  I went in with my wife and our friend Isabelle on a cold March afternoon and we entered and immediately sat down.  Two other tables were occupied by local patrons and they stared at us, took a drink, stared again, and this continued during our entire stay.  I realize a man walking in with two beautiful women (one whom happens to be 6' tall) is probably not a regular occurence in this pub but failing to knock didn't help.  Nevertheless, the wonderful woman that serves the beer, who happens to be one of my favorite beer servers in the world, was friendly and quickly brought us each a beer.  As soon as it hit my lips I knew I hit paydirt.  I wasn't going anywhere for a while stares or no stares.  We stayed for a couple more before heading off down the street to Drei Kronen.  Another great brewpub only a few doors away.  What a place, this Schesslitz!

I did take note of the few people that entered and left while we were there and was able to observe the custom of knocking on tables in action.

So the second visit, one year later, was much more interesting.  This time a group of 7 of us pulled up in a van, after touring the brewpubs of Geisfeld and Rossdorf Am Forst, and marched into Senger like a production line and boldly knocked at each table and said hello to the other patrons as we did.  The affect was like cutting open the atmosphere with a machete.  The place erupted into laughter and before we knew it we had mug in hand and were clinking glasses in the middle of the room with all the other patrons with a hearty "Prost!".  And we had a great time.  We didn't want to leave.  In fact I'm pretty sure we stayed for a 2-3 hours and had at least 3 or 4 rounds.  But my memory is a bit foggy.  I do know a few toasts and good natured teasing occured between us and the other patrons and the beer was just perfect.

Senger is the real deal.  A quaint, and usually quiet, locals brewpub serving a beer they can be rightfully proud of.  I hope this place is around for a long time and I get to visit a few times more.


The picture on this link gives a good idea of the size and look of the place:

http://www.bierland-oberfranken.de/deutsch/brauereien/brauerei_wirtshaeuser/schweiz/landkreis_bamberg/brauereistube_barth-senger_159/details_51.htm