Münster Pub Guide
Bars - Brewpubs - Beer gardens

Introduction
This is a small guide to beer pubs in Münster. With around 1,000 pubs for only 250,000 inhabitants, the locals can´t complain of having nowhere to go.

The city is famous for the idiosyncratic Pinkus Müller brewery.Their signature beer, Pinkus Müller Altbier, has little in common with that of Düsseldorf, apart from being another stubborn survivor of pre-lager German brewing.
Münster Beer
As early as the 16th century Münster was a renowned brewing centre. The main product of the town's breweries was Keut, a beer brewed from wheat, barley and hops. During the 1500's it had gradually pushed out the older Grutbier (or Grussink). In 1591 the town boasted 56 Keut brewers, who exported as far as Emden, Osnabrück and Ravensberg. The trade became a major source of income and local officials checked the quality of every barrel before it left the town gates.
Keut
Keut had developed in the low countries during the late Middle Ages, where it was called "Koyt" or "Koit". It was originally unhopped, being flavoured with a mixture of herbs called "gruit" (or "grut") and brewed from a combination of oats, wheat and barley. In the Netherlands, beer firm Jopen markets a Koyt inspired by a 15th century recipe from Haarlem.

The spelling may have varied, but Keut remained closely associated with Münster well into the 18th century. The "Oeconomischen Encyclopädie“ of 1773 has thse entries:

"Koite, der eigenthümliche Nahme des Bieres zu Münster in Westphalen;"
"Münsterisch, Bier, Koite genannt."
Alt
But in the 19th century, Keut itself was ousted by a new rival: Altbier. Few of the town's 54 breweries in 1872 made anything else. Münster's last Keut brewer, Heinrich Krimphove, died in 1908. By 1912 there were just 40 breweries left.

Alt used to be served by handpump in Münster.The Pinkus Müller brewery history from 1966 has a photo of one that looks like it was still in use. The text says: "eine Handpumpe, die aus dem Faß das Glas füllt. Von diesen "Pümpkes" haben Müllers zwei Stück." (page 50: "a handpump, that fills the glass from the barrel. Müllers have two of these "Pümpkes".") It further states that Alt was lagered for 8 or 9 months to get the right "wine-like" lactic acid character.

Münster Altbier is a blond, lightly-hopped, top-fermenting beer. Long lagering adds the signature lactic acid tang. Today, Pinkus Müller, the only brewery left in Münster, are the last to make this style. At least until American micros start running out of obscure beers to recreate. (For the real purists, I have Keut recipe from 1600.)
Source:
"Pinkus Müller Der Singende Bierbrauer in Münster" by Walter Worland, 1966.



Münster Pub Guide
Pub Listings


Töddenhoek
Rothenburg 41,
48143 Münster.
Tel: 0251 - 431 56
Fax: 0251 - 490 2605
Email: ringer@toeddenhoek.de
http://www.toeddenhoek.de		  
Opening hours: Mon - Sat 10:30 - ,
Sunday closed.
Number of draught beers: 5
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks, meals.
Large pub in a rustic style.
Rating: Public transport:


Blechtrommel
Hansaring 26 - 28,
48155 Münster.
Tel: 0251 - 651 19
Fax:
Email: dvr@blechtrommel.net
http://www.blechtrommel.net		  
Opening hours: Sun - Mon 18:00 - 01:00,
Fri - Sat 18:00 - 02:00
Number of draught beers: 7
Number of bottled beers: 5
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks €4-8, meals €7-9. Beer €3.30-3.70 for 0.5l.
A pub close to the harbour.
Rating: Public transport:


Die Dorfschenke
Neustr. 18,
48167 Münster.
Tel: 02506 - 12 4
Fax:
Email: 0 25 06) 12 4
http://www.dorfschenke-wolbeck.de		  
Opening hours: Mon, Wed - Sat 16:00 - 24:00,
Sun and public holidays 10:00 - 14:00 and 16:00 - 24:00,
Tuesday closed.
Number of draught beers: 3
Number of bottled beers: 3
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks €5-8, meals €8-15. Beer €3 for 0.5l.
Pub in a 300-year-old house in Wolbeck.
Rating: Public transport:


Schwarzes Schaf
Alter Fischmarkt 26,
48143 Münster.
Tel:
Fax:
Email: info@schwarzes-schaf-muenster.de
http://www.schwarzes-schaf-muenster.d		  
Opening hours:
Number of draught beers: 2
Number of bottled beers: 3
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks, meals. Beer €2 for 0.3l.
Studenty pub.
Rating: Public transport:


Altes Gasthaus Leve
Alter Steinweg 37,
48143 Münster.
Tel: 0251 - 455 95
Fax: 0251 - 578 37
Email: info@gasthaus-leve.de
http://www.gasthaus-leve.de		  
Opening hours: Mon - Sun 12:00 - 24:00
Number of draught beers: 7
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks €3-7, meals €7-10. Beer €1.40 for 0.2l.
Münster´s oldest pub, dating back to 1607. Destroyed by bombs in 1941, it was rebuilt between 1949 and 1961. Until 1914 the building also housed a brewery. It´s decorated in a beerhall style with exposed beams and pine-topeed tables.
Rating: Public transport:


Pinkus Müller Brauereiausschank
Kreuzstraße 4-10,
48143 Münster.
Tel: 0251 - 451 51 or 451 52
Fax: 0251 - 571 36
Email: info@pinkus-mueller.de
http://www.pinkus-mueller.de/		  
Opening hours:
Number of draught beers: 4
Number of bottled beers:
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks, meals.
The brewery tap of Pinkus Müller. An old-fashioned, "brewhouse"-style pub with exposed beams and lots of wood.
Rating: ***** Public transport:


Drübbelken
Buddenstraße 14-15,
48143 Münster.
Tel: 0251 - 421 15
Fax: 0251 - 421 95
Email:
http://www.druebbelken.de		  
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 11:30 -14:00 and 17:30 - 24:00,
Sat - Sun and public holidays 11:30 - 24:00
Number of draught beers: 3
Number of bottled beers: 5
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks €3-9, meals €7-19. Beer €3.90 for 0.5l.
A rustic pub/restaurant specialising in local dishes and Pinkus Müller beer.
Rating: Public transport:


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© Ron Pattinson 2006