PARTNER BAR
Beim Almosmüller
Nestled in the heart of Nuremberg within the walls of a former mill is Beim Almosmüller, a whisky pub with a fascinating history and a distinctly ‘Franconian’ regional feel. SMWS ambassador Ralf Dänzer introduces it as one of the most recent additions to the ever-growing list of Society partner bars
Beim Almosmüller comes as a welcome addition to the Society’s partner bar network, offering a unique range of local beers and whisky. What sets this venue apart is a fascinating history dating back more than eight centuries, which owners Monika Goetz and Ralph Friedrich embed at the heart of their pub that celebrates the culture of Bavaria’s Franconian region. What emerged from their efforts is a very memorable watering hole with an unmatched atmosphere.
At the end of 2019 Moni and Ralph discovered the venue for sale by coincidence, which at the time was being run as a Mexican restaurant. Having spent many years in traditional professions and raised their children, they didn’t think twice before jumping at the opportunity to open their own pub.
ABOVE: The exterior of Beim Almosmüller
ABOVE: Moni and Ralph from Beim Almosmüller
“We admit, we’re not professionals in hospitality – but we’re passionate,” says Moni. This passion for hospitality and, of course, for whisky, started more than 30 years ago, when they both came to Nuremberg as students. They met in an Irish pub, where Ralph was working as a barman, and Moni started working as a waitress. During these four years funding their student life, their love of hospitality, whisky – and for each other – was founded and settled.
Both being creative and experienced in renovating, it almost seemed like the listed monument Almosmühle was waiting for them. The name of the mill refers to one chapter of its vivid history during the Middle Ages, when all its millers were obliged to mill a certain amount of their grain for free as an “almosen” (gift) for the poor.
Beim Almosmüller in the heart of Nuremberg celebrates the culture of Bavaria’s Franconian region
Strolling around the estate of the mill and the miller’s house, you’ll discover unique architecture without a single right angle. Passing the entrance door and climbing the stairs brings you to its vaults – but this is not the cellar. It is the ceiling of the first floor which hundreds of years ago carried the load of grain. From the 17th century on, this part of the mill hosted the miller’s private rooms. This is what the name of the pub refers to – Beim Almosmüller, which means ‘At Almosmiller’s’. After having dedicated more than a year to a thorough renovation to make the place their own, Moni and Ralph finally opened their pub in the summer of 2021.
When asked about their vision for Beim Almosmüller, Ralph explains: “We both love beer and whisky and knew we wanted to offer a good selection of fine whiskies, but we didn’t want to open an Irish pub”(which in Germany is the most common venue for whisk(e)y).
ABOVE: A quiet corner of SMWS partner bar Beim Almosmüller
“And as for the beer, because we’re situated in the Franconian region with a huge variety of local beers of great quality, it was just obvious that we would go for these.” Accompanying the drinks are small but delicious one-pot dishes, or typical platters of regional sausage and cheese. Moni adds with a grin: “With making up this concept, we somehow invented the first – at least as far as we know – ‘Franconian pub’. We rely on regional products and complement these with delicacies from all over the world.”
All in all, the couple want to offer a home-from-home for all those who love to enjoy great beer and drams in great company.
However, as Ralph rightly says, what makes Beim Almosmüller stand out is its wide selection of whisky. From the very beginning, Moni and Ralph worked closely with whisky experts from Germany’s leading whisky region, Northern Bavaria, to curate a diverse selection of whiskies that would satisfy all palates. ‘Beginners’ will recognise some commonly enjoyed standard whiskies, while connoisseurs may discover new surprises among a variety of independent bottlings.
Now, the pub has taken its next big step by partnering with the SMWS to become a new partner bar. “This is a great opportunity for us to enlarge our range of excellent whiskies as well as becoming known by more future guests,” says Moni. “And it also confirms that we’re moving in the right direction.”
Ralph adds: “We’re very much looking forward to the partnership and, of course, to all the great SMWS stuff coming up – and so do many of our regular guests, several of them being SMWS members already.”
Thanks to this partnership, all SMWS members will have access to a wide range of tastings and events, allowing them to fully indulge their passion for whisky.
Beim Almosmüller is a unique gem in the heart of Nuremberg, with a fascinating history and a passion for whisky that is sure to delight whisky enthusiasts as well as lovers of Franconian pub culture. And their home-from-home-concept works: “Sometimes it’s almost overwhelming when at night people are leaving with a warm and hearty ‘thank you for the wonderful evening!’” says Moni gratefully. “But, hey, we’re just doing our job!” And they are doing it well.
Discover Franconian culture for yourself at https://almosmueller.de/
ABOVE: Moni and Ralph relax with a Society dram