Wednesday 9th January 2013

Bob Thompson

Neuwirt is that classic combination found in southern Germany of Pub, Restaurant and Hotel. On the edge of the old town that leads down to the banks of the Donau (Danube), it was once the home of Juliusbräu. Once there were fourteen breweries in Neuburg, now there is one. Nevertheless we should be grateful as it is very traditional. They either started production in 1828 or 1858 depending on which source you use.

The original brewery was badly damaged by fighting during World War 11 and, although the pub and hotel were reconstructed and extended, the brewery was moved to a site near to the station where it opened in 1950. Please see a photograph of it that could be a lot better if it wasn't taken from a moving train.

However, back to Neuwirt which remains the brewery's tap. On entering you find yourself in a corridor that leads through the building and out in to the Biergarten which is in the courtyard. Thankfully, not open on this freezing cold day, but it looks like it is a pleasant spot in the warmer months.

First left off the corridor is the Gäststübe with its tiled stove; the main room and bar of the pub. There is a side room off this which seems to be used most of the time. There is another room on the right of the entrance that is normally used for special occasions.

In the main room we took a circular table in the apex of the room and ordered the Julius Lager Hell (light) (4.7%) beer. I was with fellow imbibers Russell, Steve, Patrick and Vaughan and most of them ordered food. It was lunchtime, after all. I wasn't so hungry so I ordered a potato soup that arrived full of pieces of floating sausage, so was very substantial. We liked the beer although it was not as bitter as some that we have had in the area.

Anyway, looking further down the menu we saw Julius Dunkles (dark) was also available on draught so this was our next beer. We all rated it highly as it had all the right dark malt tastes but along with a lovely medium bitter aftertaste. It was advertised as being new and it certainly was as I can find no reference to it previously. These were the only draught beers available. The wheat beers were in bottle and came from the Gutmann brewery which leads to the suggestion that Julius Bräu only brews top-fermenting beers.

However there was a range of four speciality beers in 0.33l bottles. These were Julius Unfiltriert (4.7%), an organic light beer; Julius Laetitia (5.2%), a Festbier in the export style; Julius Märzen Spezial (5.4%), a Märzen with a high original gravity and finally Julius San Cucino (5.4%), a brown Festbier named after a patron saint of food and drink.

As these are beers brewed for specific dates in the calendar it is hoped that they are available on draught at the appropriate times.

The brewery is an outlet and one can take away beer when it is open on Monday to Friday from 07.00 to 19.00. It is to be found at Augsburger Strasse 135, 08431 2069, and it would be a good place to purchase the speciality beers.

As mentioned earlier the pub is also a hotel. It has 20 rooms of four different categories and the rates are very reasonable. There are some very good package deals. The one that caught my eye was for one night in a superior room including a welcome drink, a four course meal, a buffet breakfast and selection of beers to take home, all at €65 per person. A single room supplement was an extra €15. Please remember this offer existed in January 2013 and may not be available when you read this.

Although the draught beer range was limited this is a great pub to visit, with a lot of Bavarian atmosphere.

Important Information:

Neuwirt, Fäberstrasse 88, Neuburg an der Donau, 86633

Open: Wednesday to Monday 10.00-14.30; 17.00-24.00. Tuesday: Closed.
The kitchen is open: 11.30-14.00 and 18.00-21.30

From the station it takes around fifteen minutes to get to the pub.
Turn right into Adolf-Kolping-Strasse. You will arrive at a roundabout, cross to the other side. Then you should be in Blumen Strasse. Follow this as it bends left and eventually you will arrive at a main road, Münchener Strasse, with the pub visible on the opposite side.

For the brewery begin as above. At the roundabout turn right under the railway line into Augsburger Strasse and in a few minutes you will see the brewery on the right.

Update January 2020. Hours are now: Monday: 17.00-24.00; Tuesday: Closed;
Wednesday- Sunday: 11.00-14.30, 17.00-24.00.
The kitchen is open: Monday: 18.00-21.30; Wednesday-Saturday: 12.00-14.00, 18:00-21.30;
Sunday/Holidays: 11.30-14.00, 17.30-21.00.