Brauhaus Schacht 4 / 8. Düsseldorferstr 21,
47051 Duisburg

We'd been to Dusseldorf before and knew that Sunday wasn't the busiest day and we'd read about a brew-pub in Duisburg that seemed to tick all the right boxes. So a quick hour long train journey took us there. It's a typical German town, obviously totally rebuilt within the last 70 years so it lacks a bit of historical culture. Not that we were that bothered (although JP wasn't too happy walking the streets as we tried to find this pub). In reality it is straightforward, but we exited the Hauptbanhoff from the wrong door and were lost straight away. The quickest way is straight out of the MAIN exit and take a left turn down Düsseldorferstraße. It's in the pedestrianised shopping centre. However, if you're feeling a bit delicate (or it's raining), take the U-bahn - it's only one stop from the Hauptbahnhof. Once there, the beer is worth the journey. As I mentioned, we went on a Sunday and not a lot seemed to be happening. Because it was quiet we expected a first class service from the two young girls behind the bar. We didn't get it. We ordered a Gruben Gold, a lovely 4.6% beer at 2.90 euros for 40cl  that barely touched the sides. We also ordered food. This was a mistake because although the food was fantastic, the girls didn't seem to think that we would want our glasses topping up so we waited almost 30 minutes before we could catch their attention again. This time we tried a "Ruhr Pott". This was a nice and dry 4.8% pilsner at 2.30 for 33 cl.. Almost worth the wait. Twenty minutes later, it was time for another. Fifteen minutes later, the girls decided to serve us. This time I had a Ärwin's Weizen Gold, which as the name suggests is a Bavarian style wheat beer of 4.8%at 3.60 euros for half a litre. This was really refreshing. Time for a change so we had the fourth beer on offer which was a MULVANY's. I feared the worst thinking it may have been some sort of Caffreys or other Oirsh shite. It wasn't. The beer is a Dunkell at 2.30 euros for 0.3 of a litre and is named after Sir William Thomas Mulvany, the founder of the Zeche Hibernia in Gelsenkirchen. Whoever or whatever that is.Anyway, the resulting beer was a beautiful dark beer of 5%. The brewery also offer seasonal year round beers (depending on the season) such as AERZEN - A bottom-fermented beer with 12.5% Wort and an alcohol content of 5.2%, Golden in color and aromatic taste. The only sell this in March as we were there in October we didn't get the chance to sample it. The others were MAIBOCK which  has a mild, spicy taste. With 16.5% Wort and an alcohol content of 6%, PROOF BEER a bottom-fermented beer with 12.5% Wort and an alcohol content of 5.2%, full-bodied and strong taste. They serve this in September. Finally at Christmas, the have a special festival beer - ÄRWINATOR 
Doppelbock, a dark, mild with an alcohol content of 7.5%, 18.5% Wort and malt and aromatic taste. If you don't mind a half hearted service (admittedly from a couple of fit birds) then a visit to this brew pub is worthwhile.

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