Joe Schutzman is a Newport firefighter who loves Northern Kentucky’s culture, sense of place – and beer. Find Joe’s previous columns and more on NKY dining here.
Had I not been part of this, I’m not sure I would fully believe it. This is the story of how two friends in Northern Kentucky independently met two friends from Munich and how it all has something to do with Schneider-Weisse beer and Herb & Thelma’s Tavern in Covington.
Our story first begins in February of last year in the cockpit of a DHL cargo plane. Having departed Munich International, it has just landed at CVG. One of the pilots, Max Siebourg, is a Munich resident who frequently flies this route. Ready to unwind after a long flight, Max is looking for a place to grab some dinner and a beer. Somehow, he finds his way down West Pike Street to Herb & Thelma’s.
This is when Zack Elkins enters frame. Zach, a lifelong NKY resident and local firefighter, is a good friend of mine. As he tells it, this was his first time venturing down to Herb’s. Zach was headed for the entrance when he encountered a tall, dark-haired stranger standing out front. The stranger was on the phone speaking German. Zach proceeded inside, and a little while later, the stranger walked in and sat down at the bar next to him. He introduced himself as Max, and from there they began to talk over pints of Schneider-Weisse beer. What was supposed to be a quick drink and burger for Zach turned into an eight-hour hang at the bar with Max and a friendship that has been going on now for the better part of a year and a half.
Now, fast forward to the fall of last year. I’d just landed in Munich. I was accompanied by several friends, including NKY beer celebrity Charles Dietz. If you have ever been to a keg tapping night at Hofbräuhuas in Newport, Chuck has probably served you a beer. He is the Keg Meister and master of ceremonies there. Chuck, who is worthy of an article in his own right, has played a huge role in my love of beer and of Bavarian culture. He was my initial tour guide during my first trip to Germany, and we have been drinking and traveling ever since.
Whenever we get to Munich, the first place we hit, sometimes even before our hotel, is the world-famous Schneider Bräuhaus. This hallowed ground is the original brewing operation of Schneider-Weisse. Today, it serves as their flagship taphouse and restaurant. Folks familiar with this series know that this small independent Bavarian brewery, brewing the world’s best wheat beer since 1872 and now run by the 6th generation of the Schneider family, is by far my favorite beer in the world.
Chuck, who is also a Herb and Thelma’s regular, had also met Max before, and now that we were in Germany, Max had come by to have a beer with us. This is where I first met him, but the coincidences don’t stop there. As it turns out, one of Max’s close friends is Markus Augstburger, who happens to be the business manager of the Bräuhaus.
Several folks in our group had also already had the privilege of meeting Markus, but this was my first time meeting him as well. He was such a gracious host, and the pride he has for Schneider-Weisse beer and Bavarian culture is evident.
He took us on a tour of the Bräuhaus, and he showed us how everything works. The pride and craftsmanship aren’t just for their beer either. Markus explained that their food program proudly serves only regional dishes sourced solely from regional growers, butchers, and producers. After this, we all sat around a few tables doing what beer drinkers do best. We laughed, drank, talked about life, and celebrated an evening spent making pleasant memories with good company.
And now we come to June of this year, where everything comes full circle. Northern Kentucky had the privilege of hosting Markus this month. His colleague and operations and event manager of Schneider-Bräuhaus, Thomas Holler, also joined him. They were on a goodwill mission to spread the word about the greatest beer in the world to the tri-state region.
I enjoyed an afternoon with them, along with Chuck and Zach, at Schützenfest, a local German heritage festival put on by Cincinnati’s Kolping Society. This is where Zach finally got to meet Markus, and we both got to meet Thomas for the first time. Amongst the beer and music and festive atmosphere, I couldn’t help but marvel at how I had gotten here. Somehow, my friend Zach meeting Max in Northern Kentucky through pure serendipity led to me meeting his friend Markus in Munich and led to this moment right here.
And finally, we return to Herb and Thelma’s, where this roller coaster all began. Owner Joe Fessler has recently put Schneider-Weisse back on tap! So make sure you pop down to try this golden elixir, and the sooner the better, as my friends and I are doing our honest best to drink them out of it. Come for a beer, and don’t be afraid to say hello to whoever happens to be sitting next to you. As this story shows, who knows what adventure will happen next.
