EdWin Photography

This weekend at Tech am See on Lake Zug, I experienced Swiss friendliness at its finest.

A gentleman walked up to me with a huge smile, shook my hand, and said, “I’m so happy to finally meet someone older than me.”

I looked at him and replied, “Asshole.” 🤣

We laughed together, realizing we were the oldest in the crowd, but giving a damn about it. It was a fun event.

Today I toured the historic Riegele Brewery in Augsburg, and I learned a few things that surprised me.

Did you know that Augsburg is one of Germany’s oldest cities? It was founded by the Romans as Augusta Vindelicorum around 15 BC, making it over 2,000 years old. And right in the heart of this ancient city stands Brauhaus Riegele, whose brewing history dates back to 1386—more than 600 years of brewing tradition. (Riegele)

One of my favorite discoveries was that beer quality laws existed in Augsburg centuries before Bavaria introduced the famous Reinheitsgebot in 1516. During the reign of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in the 12th century, Augsburg already had regulations to protect the quality of its beer. (Wikipedia)

Walking through the brewery, tasting its outstanding beers, and hearing the stories behind them made me appreciate just how deeply brewing is woven into Bavarian culture.

Sometimes history isn’t found in museums—it’s served fresh in a beer glass.

🍺 Prost from Augsburg!