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Wiesbaden street with Italian restaurantsI've been in Wiesbaden a number of times over the past several years on short vacations visiting in-laws, so when I was there this August after visiting Adeptus in Münster I decided it was high time I put forward an article for the ICB travel section. Especially since some of you may have heard of Wiesbaden recently with the Irish soccer team playing Georgia in the neighbouring city of Mainz.

Wiesbaden is a Spa town, or rather a city, with a population of over 300,000 people. Wiesbaden is the capital of the federal state of Hesse. The city sits on the northern banks of the River Rhine 30km west of Frankfurt International Airport and is in the heart of the Rheingau (Rhine district) which is famous for Rhinegau wines. Wiesbaden is a very nice place to visit if you are in the Frankfurt area or if you want a good base from which to explore the Rheingau valley that stretches from Wiesbaden to the town of Rüdesheim. The city of Wiesbaden has been famous for its thermal springs and spas since Roman times so if you are a bit worse for wear from too much beer or wine then you will have plenty of options for rest and recuperation.

Danube ferryI recently went to Vienna and Bratislava spending a few days in each city. Flew from Cork to Bratislava and bussed directly to Vienna. Spent two full days there seeing the sights and sampling what Vienna had to offer, then took a ferry to Bratislava on the Danube (very pleasant 75 minute trip!) and spent few days in Bratislava before returning home. I took notes on beers I encountered on my travels so here they are for your perusal!

 

This town is hard on the feet with its many steep inclines and cobbled streets, but that is all the more justification for stopping off, resting your weary legs and having a restorative pint of life giving ale. This is not a straight forward as it might seem because pubs serving craft beer are few and far between. True, most pubs of the older style have a cask or two on, but invariable it is the rather disappointing Deuchar's IPA which just doesn't make the grade. In cask this beer is a mere 3.8% abv and rather insipid, and doesn't provide what the slightly stronger bottled version offers. The Deuchar's 80/- is also quite common and fills the need for a mild dark beer, should it come upon you. A little of bit of footwork might result in stumbling upon some Deuchars XPA which is slightly stronger, much more satisfying on the hop front and the best of Deuchar's offerings.


"They got bars in New York that never close
And bars where the people take off their clothes
And bars where the young folks dance all night
And bars where a fella can pick a fight
If you want to you can spend the n
ight, behind bars"

- Talkin' Big Apple '75 - Loudon Wainwright III
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If none of that takes your fancy, or even if it does, you can also spend the night in a bar that has 66 taps and over 130 bottled beers.