Venue Review - Biergarten Restaurant

The Outside Facade of Biergarten Restaurant

“Im Himmel gibt’s kein Bier”! No don’t you say say it. I disagree. You take it back Germany polka band, you take back the lie that there is no beer in Heaven. Because if so, I have a lot of pints to catch up on. Hoi Hoi Hoi!

As seen on these pages, the Germany Pavilion is a rich hunting ground for finding unique and fun pints. And I can’t think of a better venue to capture the spirit of German beer tradition than the Biergarten Restaurant. 

An Indoor Beer Garden

The restaurant is buried deep into the Germany Pavilion. It has a walkway covering for guests waiting outside just in case there is rain. After check-in, we were led into an indoor beer garden. Like Blue Bayou in Disneyland and San Angel Inn Restaurante, diners are sitting in an outdoor-themed dining area. There just isn’t a water ride passing by. I will admit, that there has been some anxiety about dining at Biergarten due to notes I’ve seen about sharing tables with other parties. My group of two had our table and room for bags, while a three-person party had the same table right next to us. And while they were close we also had clear separation between our two groups. 

There is a stage up in front. A traditional polka band leads dinners through a 12 to 15-minute set where they invite chanting and dancing, especially for the kids looking to drop some Fortnite dance moves on the dance floor. I have to be honest, I found myself a little obsessed with the bells, as the performer flew through a table of notes in front of him. Maybe it was the beer talking. 

 

The Polka Band

The server offered to give us a tour of the buffet, but honestly, it was fairly straightforward. It started with salads and soup on both sides. This was followed by warm food as typically found in Disney buffets, and finally a shared meat and desert zone. And we can’t forget the kids' area. The online menu highlights numerous German dishes like schnitzel, sauerkraut, sausages, rotisserie chicken, spätzle, and more. Honestly, the food overall was fine. The meats and potatoes were all overall solid and filling. But being both German traditional food and Disney buffet, the food was filling but not game-changing. The best item for me was the Beer Cheese Soup, which makes the perfect condiment for dipping chicken schnitzel, pork schnitzel, and potatoes. For me, the soup, and a pretzel roll for dipping is the do not miss item on the buffet. Overall, the menu is approachable, where everyone will find something they can enjoy. 

The Spread!

For my beer I selected a liter, yes a liter, of “König Ludwig Weissbier Hell.” This is a Hefeweizen wheat beer with a dark opaque yellow color. It was style perfect giving me light sweet fruity tones that provided a sweet bread flavor. It has a light 15 IBUs and a drinkable 5.5% ABV. The shocking thing for me was the heaviness of the stein, which while it left my arm sore, didn’t leave me feeling even buzzed despite the large volume. I could have ordered a safer half-liter, safer I say since the volume in my tummy mixed with food and the other drink in front of me, left me overfull. The beer itself follows traditional Bavarian traditions and is considered true to style. The König Ludwig Schlossbrauerei Kaltenberg brewery was opened in 1871 by the Bavarian royal family, with the current ownership being the great-grandson of the last Bavarian king. And as you can guess, for much of the brewery’s history they had the monopoly on brewing! This makes “König Ludwig Weissbier Hell” very to style and fitting the traditional theme. 

“König Ludwig Weissbier Hell"

There are three other beers, which you can get in a flight of four. You can enjoy the hefe, but you can also grab a “Beck’s Pilsner”, “Warsteniner Dunkel”, or “Schöfferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen.” My second choice would have been the Dunkel. But I did laugh watching others toast with large steins of the pinkish-orange grapefruit brew as it looked electric!

Now, I don’t drink much pop. If you want my secret to losing 50 pounds, it was choosing between pop and beer. Beer won, especially since I didn’t drink it as frequently, cough cough daily, as soda. So when my kind server suggested “spezi” or “Mezzo Mix”, I leaned in. This soda ia a combination of “Coca-Cola” and “Orange Fanta”. With a soft drink included, I went ahead and asked for one. I used to be a huge fan of “Cherry Pepsi”, and would when needed take a “Cherry Coke”. I found “spezi” to be a less sweet and syrupy cola drink with a slight citrus flavor. I liked it quite a bit and drank around 3 glasses of soda. That volume along with the liter left me very full. 

"Spezi"

Who drinks here? You have the Disney Dining Plan and you need a reservation. Biergarten Restaurant may not be your first choice, but it definitely will be filling and has openings. Yes, you had to spend beyond your credits for a full-liter or half-liter of beer. But let’s be honest, you’re at a beer garden and it only makes sense. With four beers on tap, you will find something to match with “spezi” to pass the time and you await the Polka Band’s set.

Beer Review - Schöfferhofer Lemon Zest Hefeweizen

As I raised my cup of “Schöfferhofer Lemon Zest Hefeweizen” to my face and the bouquet of lemony aroma struck my nose, I had questions.

Is it Pledge (all rights reserved) or is it beer?

If you know what Pledge tastes like, you’ve got bigger concerns than is it beer! Call another adult, call Poison Control, call a medical professional…NOW!

Is it beer or is it a kid’s lemonade?

Also, if you are considering giving a kid a substance that may or may not be beer, I need you to slow down and ask the question again in your head, only say it out loud if alone!

And finally, does it really need a umlat? Yes, it needs an umlat…umlats are cool. They make your words sound fancy as you touch your tongue to your teeth… umlats are cool!

“Schöfferhofer Lemon Zest Hefeweizen”, see umlats are fun, is the 2024 Food and Wine Festival's new Schöfferhofer offering at the Germany booth found oddly in the Germany pavilion. You may know and love “Schöfferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen” which you can also find in Germany (and everywhere in the world including beer fridges in Antarctica) with this being a festival variant. Think of it as old man Loki using tons of Ricola cough drops, when “Schöfferhofer Prickly Pear Hefeweizen” was fun-loving Alligator Loki with all his sweetness! It is the official position of Between Pints one should not cuddle alligators. 

“Schöfferhofer Lemon Zest Hefeweizen”

Stop it Between Pints, and get back to business. “Schöfferhofer Lemon Zest Hefeweizen” is a yellowish cloudly wheat beer with a clear but not overly strong lemon flavor. It is not Pledgy-like, or at least what I imagine it would taste like. It’s sweet but not so sweet that it comes off as lemonade to me. Instead, it was a lightly sweet lemon bread, thanks to the wheat style. It carries no IBUs, just the citrus of the added lemon. Untapped is dishonest or confused and says it has a 0 ABV, which would make it wheaty juice! But let’s safely assume it should never be placed in a tippy cup and carries the same 2.5% ABV that other Schöfferhofer hefe’s carry. Yes, at that ABV, you likely could give it and should give it to a young one, young adults trying to drink around the world! Though it may make their reels and TikTok’s less embarrassing or funny as they hit drink number four.

“Schöfferhofer Lemon Zest Hefeweizen”, has also caused a great tragedy for this household! I place all the blame on you sir, assuming this beer’s gender! “Schöfferhofer Prickly Pear Hefeweizen” is gone. While it may not have been my favorite, those I cared about found this sweet yet odd is it a fruit, flower, or cactus creation highly beloved! I received many a dirty look when I said it was gone…at least for this moment in time. 

Who Drinks This?   “Schöfferhofer Lemon Zest Hefeweizen” is for those who enjoy lemon-flavored muffins and breads. It’s also for those who need to collect them all, drinking every Schöfferhofer flavor they can, keeping those variety packs moving off the shelf of their local grocery store. Finally, for those who want a light beer or beer that does not taste like beer, this is a pint for you.

Beer Review - Warsteiner Dunkel

A Pint of Warsteiner Dunkel

It’s hot and I’m getting ready to watch “Luminous: The Symphony of Us.” And I need to hold down my spot for a bit before the nighttime spectacular! A pint is required Being in World Showcase, it has to be international in style and my heart is singing Dunkel, Dunkel, Dunkel! Because my beer needs to have some darker malt to quench my thirst.

“Warsteiner Dunkel” is found in the Germany Pavilion. I purchased mine from the beer cart next to the lagoon on the main walkway, where you can also find the “Schöfferhofer Prickly Pear Hefeweizen.” In fact while in line I had to talk up the Prickly Pear option to a couple behind me. He found it a little silly, I reassured him that it was refreshing! But we need to get back on track! “Warsteiner Dunkel” can be found on other menus in Germany, including Biergarten Restaurant. It’s a light-tasting beer with 28 IBUs, but has a nice smooth malt tone to it. It’s also only 4.8% ABV. The dark color may make it seem like a heavy beer not meant for a hot evening. But Dunkel really is a light beer in taste, so don’t be afraid. It’s light but slightly malty beer!

I was lucky as I lived in an area with a brewery founded by German immigrants over 100 years ago and still following German brewing traditions today. This allowed me to sample some high-quality German-style beers made in America. Warsteiner makes this beer perfectly to style. On Untappd, the beer has over 100,000 ratings and a 3.65 rating out of 5. This beer is a success, and you taste the tradition, style, and workmanship in the cup. 

A Pint for Sunset!

We really should not be surprised. Warsteiner has been owned by the same German family since 1753, so there has been plenty of time to refine the recipes at this Warstein, Germany brewery. We could only wish that some of our favorite craft breweries today could have long family histories like this 100 years from now. In 1753, farmer Antonius Cramer was taxed for producing more beer than he was legally allowed to personally consume, creating a brewery. Today, his ninth-generation descendant leads the brewery. 

Who Drinks This? This is a great example of what Epcot can do to bring food and drink to Disney guests. Those who want an authentic experience, and try a German import that may not be as prevalent outside of the park should grab a pint. I find it refreshing, and a great beverage for people watching while I await the night. It is a brew that makes one feel as if they authentically are in Germany.

Beer Review: Schöfferhofer Prickly Pear Hefeweizen

 

Schöfferhofer Prickly Pear Hefeweizen

Prickly pears are not pears! But they do come from a prickly plant! And they are SWEET!

One of the big wins for the 2023 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival was a beer offering in Germany. The “Schöfferhofer Prickly Pear Hefeweizen” was a family favorite. At the time we had them last year, I honestly thought that it was a one-and-done brew that would quickly be forgotten, except by us. The best part of this beer was the non-beer fans of the family enjoyed it. Which is great for when one is drinking around the world with a non-beer fan who wants to still enjoy the drinking and people-watching experience. Then…Spring 2024 it made a return to Germany.

“Schöfferhofer Prickly Pear Hefeweizen” is a no IBU 2.5% ABV Hefeweizen. The color and sediment let you know it’s a traditional Hefe. The mouthfeel is thicker than a Pils or Lager and lets you know you are drinking something substantial. The flavor profile also has some of the spiciness expected from a Hefeweizen. But, it is so so so sweet from the infusion of the prickly pear flavor. I laugh as sweet as my flavor note, and it reminds me of other prickly pear items I have enjoyed. But the sweetness and low ABV is a super easy and refreshing drinker that does let you know it’s a beer but it still has a lower ABV than your nationally distributed big brand pils, like Bud Light.

It can be hard to find in the Germany Pavillion. I had to ask when seeking out the Frozen Coke and Jager. This draft is found, at the time of this writing, at the beer cart next to the lagoon on the main walkway. There was quite a bit of traffic at this one stand, with a lot of folks grabbing a beer…but not a Prickly Pear. Of the ten people I saw in front of me, no one else grabbed this tasty brew. There was also no signage to indicate it was there, my one clue was there was a tap head handle.

I hope we will see more and more of this beer. When I did my last look on Untappd, there were rankings outside of Epcot. There were multiple ratings from different pubs in the United Kingdom. So maybe this will become a Schöfferhofer seasonal or occasional offering.

Prickly Pear, did I mention is not a pear? It is a fruit of a cactus, or the caucuts plant itself. But it's the sweet fruit that flavors the beer, it is needle free. Most palettes compare the taste to melons, or bubblegum. Basically, if you don’t enjoy sweet things, you may wish to polish one of these down.

Who Drinks This?: You’re at Epcot walking the world. You want something that is not overly boozy and is refreshing while still giving you beer feels. Sure there may be options that are more bitter, but this is the sweet low alcohol beer for you. And even non-beer drinkers are likely to enjoy this, like a cocktail while getting in their steps.

Cocktail Review - Frozen Coke and Jagermeister

St. George, the Dragon, and a Licorice Treat!

Google, “Where is the frozen Coke and Jager at Epcot?”

Results…Epcot!

Google, “Where can I buy the frozen Coke and Jägermeister at the Germany Pavilion in Epcot?”

Results…at a kiosk inside the pavilion.

I searched and searched and searched for an answer to this. Honestly, as a grown man, I hate asking for directions. I just want the web to tell me where to find stuff. I’m also a weirdo in two ways. I love black licorice. I don’t know anyone else who does in my world. But I love it. So usually a licorice-inspired beer is something I don’t need to share but get all to myself. Also, in the days of my super productive young adulthood, I never had a Jager era. I’ve never had it! I was too busy working when I should have been drinking this spirit! But when my wife found a TikTok with a frozen Coke and Jager that tasted like black licorice, she told me this unicorn was out there.

A tasty cool treat!

This drink is 100% what is advertises itself as. It’s a frozen Coca-Cola with a heavy pour of Jägermeister liquor in the bottom. When you get the cup, there is a clear line between the Jager and the frozen Coke. With the straw at the button of the cup on a first sip, you get a shot of the dark Jager and only the Jager. If you pull the straw into frozen Coke, you get all Coke. This leaves you to finish the cocktail by stirring stirring stirring so the two liquids marry each other. Yes, this will melt quite a bit of the Coke, but the layer left on top will keep the drink nice and chill on a nice day. The taste is exactly what you expect a cola with a licorice tone…a light one in my eyes. 

Look for the Green Bier Sign

Where do you actually find this? I saw posts, there were not a lot, that said, deep into the Germany Pavillion. That is incorrect. It’s found at the Germany Bier Stand near St. George and the Dragon. Me, I was thinking I would need to go back as far as Sommerfest, but you can see it easily on the walkway and jump in line. But middle-aged men beware, you may need to ask like I did. It’s not on the menu, though you can clearly see the frozen Coke machine from the line. This just reminds us, sometimes when you explore the world it can be a struggle to find the treats you are looking for!


Who Drinks This?: Weirdos like me! I don’t drink a lot of pop, but this might be a way for me to drink Coke. I just don’t see myself drinking a lot of it as there are many options to consider. But on a hot day when I want something black licorice in tone, I would 100% do this again. If you don’t like black licorice, you need to stay away!