The copper beer kettles in Wichtel Hausbrauerei in Stuttgart are the centerpiece of a relaxing place to have lunch, and a more upbeat place to wind down in the evening after a day of work. The brewmaster of Wichtel still follows the beer purity law of 1516 even though it has been repealed. (Warren Peace/S&S)
Known for its diversity of residents from around the world, Feuerbach, a district in western Stuttgart, Germany, is home to a wide variety of places to grab a beer.
But after living in this area for about six months, I have become very fond of its only brew pub, Wichtel Hausbrauerei, for its relaxing environment and great beer.
The first thing I noticed was the antique look of the beer kettles in the middle of the pub. The still-operational kettles, about 8 feet tall and made of polished copper, set the mood for the entire place. Tiled floors connect to the ceiling supported by huge steel beams and red bricks. Looking up, you’ll notice huge steel structures with chains and pulleys hinting that this may be a renovated factory.
While the drink menu also features wine, nonalcoholic and juice beverages, I haven’t tasted any of those. I go there for its fine traditional brews.
The standard offerings are pilsners and Hefeweizen, and both are as good as I have tasted since moving to Germany. The pub supplements them with seasonal beers, including a recent Christmas beer that was a smooth, dark beer that went perfectly with the homemade pretzels sold there. It also sells up to 3-liter bottles or kegs so you can take home your favorite fermented beverage.
Like many breweries in Germany, the pub abides by the since-repealed German beer purity law from 1516. It mandates that only water, hops and barley can be used in the beer-making process. Critics say it limited the experimentation in the fermenting process, but I find that it kept beers simple and clean-tasting.
Wichtel also serves food. If you go there to eat, you won’t be disappointed, but you won’t be blown away either. They have salads, snacks, schnitzel and pizzas. A different special is posted by the front entrance each day.
On my latest visit, I had the special. It was a great Maultaschen with Spätzle and gravy. Both are a specialty of the local culture here, known as Swabian. It wasn’t anything to write home about, but for less than 10 euros it was a good deal.
During daylight hours, the pub is quiet and sprinkled with groups of friends eating together and lone business people enjoying a cold brew and reading newspapers. The pub recently reserved a section for families with a small play area filled with toys and books for the little ones, and has a children’s menu.
But when the sun sets and the suits go home, the crowd grows younger and larger. It livens up with music, conversation and laughter. It is not overly loud, but isn’t the place for an intimate date. Try it for a friendly after-hours place to grab a quality beer. I suggest making reservations if you plan to go in a group during the weekend because it gets packed.
There is another Wichtel in Böblingen south of Stuttgart. I haven’t been there, although I suspect it is similar to the one I frequent.
Know a restaurant or entertainment spot you’d like to see reviewed in After Hours? E-mail John Taylor at taylorj@estripes.osd.mil .
Location: The Wichtel in Feuerbach is at Stuttgarter Str. 21.Directions: From Patch Barracks, take Hauptstrasse and follow the ramp onto A831 after passing under the overpass. Merge onto B14 and continue onto Wildparkstrasse and then L1187/Rotenwaldstrasse. Stay on L1187 to Botnanger Strasse, then turn left and follow Botnanger as it becomes Beethovenstrasse/K9501, goes through two roundabouts and becomes Schumannstrasse. After a few miles turn right onto Stuttgarter Str. and the pub will be on the right, next to an OBI building supply store. (The Wichtel in Böblingen is at Graf-Zeppelin-Platz.)Hours: 11 a.m. until midnight Sunday through Thursday, until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.Food: Kitchen is open until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until midnight Fridays and Saturdays. It serves pizza (5-9 euros), schnitzels (7.80-9.20 euros), sausages (3.70-6.30 euros), salads and a variety of soups, snacks and desserts.Drinks: Pils and Hefeweizen both cost 3.10 euros for ½ liter, 5.50 euros for 1 liter and 8 euros for 1½ liters. All beers available in 1-, 2- and 3-liter bottles and in kegs to carry out. You can watch the beer-making process during slow hours by contacting the pub staff to learn when it will be done.Clientele: Young, mainly German crowdEnglish menu: YesWeb site:www.wichtel.de ; includes English version.Phone: Stuttgart-Feuerbach – 0711-820-51-690; Böblingen – 07031-306-98-99.
