Food and Drink, Düsseldorf

If you go to Düsseldorf you have to know that the city is the "Altbier"-area. Altbier is considered Germany's oldest beer style. It's a dark beer especially brewed in the area around Düsseldorf. Never ever order a Kölsch (from Cologne) in Düsseldorf - the waitress may beat you up ;-) - that could also happen if you order an Altbier in Cologne.
Cologne and Düsseldorf have an old competition about the importance of the cities. Cologne is bigger and more famous in the world than Düsseldorf which is more poshy and the capital city of the county Northrhine-Westfalia. Probably this "battle" will never end. So never order an Altbier in Cologne or a Kölsch in Düsseldorf.

The answer is of course 'Alt Beer', the speciality of Dusseldorf.

This fine brew can be sampled in may places, but one of the four brewpubs (or indeed all four) would be a good place to start.

The sterotype (at least in the UK) of of beer being served in Germany is mainly derived from Munich, where lusty young Frauleins with enormous jugs (of Beer) serve battalions of men in smoke filled bier-kellars or in leafy gardens.

Things are a bit different in Dusseldorf. Mainly male waiters in smart, almost miltary uniforms, dispense the beautiful nectar into small tall glasses rather than almighty steins. The beermat is then marked with a precise tick. At the end of you session of drinking, you simply present your beermat and recieve your bill !

All wonderfully Germanic, but I can't see it catching on in Swansea or Doncaster....

Altbier is what you drink here. Pils is also an option and popular, but Alt rules the scene. There is many different brands, some of the most popular are the ones brewed in the pub, or at a brewery belonging to the pub. These would be Schumacher Alt, Uerige, Fückschen Alt, Frankenheim Alt. Schlösser Alt is also popular.

Honestly, most people who have heard of the rivalry between Düsseldorf and Cologne think it's stupid. I think so too. But one fact is that normally everywhere south of Langenfeld (which is a little south of Düsseldorf) people drink "Kölsch" the beer from Cologne. North of that people drink "Alt beer". I stumbled across the sign on the pic and I couldnt believe it. To find a place that sells Kölsch in the Ddorf Old Town...some waiters dont like it when tourists happen to want a Kölsch...I ve seen it, they turned really rude.....not a very thing that is I guess, but thats the way it is.

This is one of Düsseldorfs local schnaps: The Killepitsch. I guess its only popular in Düsseldorf and maybe some small towns around it, I have never seen it somewhere else. It is a brew, some 45% alc. its black, kinda brownish, taste kinda like a Jägermeister. Best thing is to down it with an Alt Beer. One good place to drink it is the small pub "Et Kabüffke" on Flingerstr.1 right in the old town. You can also buy from the outside of the pub, they have a small window through which they serve the stuff. Enjoy

This is probably the most global altbier that you can find almost anywhere in the world. There fore I actually never had this beer in Düsseldorf but else where when it was the only Alt Beer available.

Düsseldorf has more than Altbier… If you like shots, you ought to give the Killepitsch a try! It’s a 42% strong liquor made out of 98 different herbs, berries and fruits. Personally I think it tastes like a really bad cough medicine, so whenever I “have to” drink it, I always knock it down at once… But don’t you worry; many Düsseldorfer don’t even know about the Killepitsch, so you can simply forget that you ever read this and just stick to the Altbier…- it’s the most famous (and best tasting) drink from Düsseldorf anyway… :-)

There’s a small Killepitsch bar in the Altstadt with a shop next to it, where you can buy your own bottle of Killepitsch…a souvenir for someone who deserves it???!!! :-) It’s also possible to order both the liquor and Killepitsch gear on their homepage, where you’ll also find some cocktail recipes as well as the amusing Killepitsch story.

As said in the General Tip, Germans love their dogs and they take them everywhere, even when they go to the pub. In this pub, dogs aren't allowed, but since the pub does want to have customers they created this Hunde Bar. hile the dogs' owner is enjoying his Alt Bier the dog has his own bar. Not sure what runs from the tap....hmmmm...

Schlöffel Alt Bier is one of the finest beers I have ever tasted. The good thing about German beers is that it is always so affordable. It is usually cheaper than coke or fanta, so the choice is easy.

The Alt Beer is unique for Dusseldorf,
here I am with few other VT members in a sunny afternoon at the Uerige, the most famous beer place in Dusseldorf's.

Left to right:
Knutt, IceBear7, M_Althaus, HORSCHECK, hundertmorgen & sabsi.