An Altbier tour of Düsseldorf: the four house breweries in two hours
Uerige, Füchschen, Schumacher, Schlüssel — a self-guided Altbier tour through the Düsseldorf Old Town, with a few pointers from us.
Düsseldorf Altbier is not old beer. The name comes from the old way of brewing, top-fermented rather than bottom-fermented like a pilsner lager. Düsseldorf held on to that tradition in the 1840s, as a deliberate answer to the Bohemian pilsner trend. Today Altbier is brewed this way only in Düsseldorf and the surrounding area, in some 30 different brands, four of which have their own brewhouse in the Old Town.
The four house breweries, all within a five-minute walk
Uerige — Berger Straße 1
Probably the most famous Altbier in Düsseldorf. Character: strong and bitter, dark amber, with a pronounced hop note. The speciality is potato pancakes with apple sauce, or the famous Killepitsch. A warning: the Köbes, as the waiters here are called, will bring you a fresh glass the moment yours is empty. When you have had enough, put your beermat on top of the glass.
Füchschen — Ratinger Straße 28
A little milder than the Uerige, with a finer note of caramel. A spacious courtyard, and very popular with locals. The brewery was founded in 1848 and has stayed in the same family since.
Schumacher — Oststraße 123
The oldest of the four, founded in 1838, with a second house, Im Goldenen Kessel, on Bolkerstraße. Character: faintly sweet and very balanced. The speciality is a Halver Hahn, half a rye roll with Gouda, mustard and onions.
Schlüssel — Bolkerstraße 41–47
In the house where the poet Heinrich Heine was born. Schlüssel-Alt is the mildest of the four, almost easy-going. A lovely courtyard and a traditional room. The speciality is Rhenish Sauerbraten with dumplings and red cabbage.
The order we would suggest
- Start at 5 pm at Schlüssel (Bolkerstraße), the mildest, to warm up.
- At 6 pm to Schumacher (the Goldener Kessel house on Bolkerstraße).
- At 7 pm to Füchschen (Ratinger Straße), which has the best food menu.
- At 8.30 pm to Uerige (Berger Straße 1), the strongest beer of the four.
Frequently asked questions about Düsseldorf Altbier
Frequently asked questions
- What is Altbier?
- A top-fermented dark beer brewed in the old way, and the traditional speciality of Düsseldorf. Character: malty and bitter, dark amber, around 4.8 per cent alcohol.
- Which house breweries are there in Düsseldorf?
- The four traditional ones are Uerige, Füchschen, Schumacher and Schlüssel, all in the Old Town and five minutes apart on foot.
- What is a Köbes?
- The traditional waiter in a Düsseldorf brewhouse, recognisable by the blue apron. He will keep bringing fresh glasses until you place your beermat on the empty one.
- How long does an Altbier tour take?
- A self-guided tour of all four house breweries takes about two to three hours.
Experience Düsseldorf — from the hotel.
31 rooms in Friedrichstadt, within walking distance of Königsallee and the Rhine. Book directly with the hotel for the best rate, with cancellation terms that depend on the rate.