Dusseldorf's Old Beer (Altbier) Walk (Self Guided), Dusseldorf

Just as London has given us Porter, Dublin – Stout, Burton – the original (English) IPA, and Cologne – Kolsch, Dusseldorf has contributed to the world of beers its signature Altbier. They say, Dusseldorf and Altbier go together like onion rings and blood sausage. Curiously enough, though, this delicious, cool-fermented and malty brew, ranging in color from dark brown to copper, is not particularly well-known outside of Dusseldorf itself.

Despite the lack of widespread recognition, Dusseldorf's Altbier is certainly well appreciated and ubiquitous throughout the city. The name “alt” literally means old. The Altstadt (Old Town) in Dusseldorf is the epicenter of local beers and undoubtedly the best starting point to sample Altbier. Nicknamed “the longest bar in the world”, the Altstadt is packed with 300 or so bars and pubs, each peddling Altbier as their primary beverage.

The bulk of the country’s Altbier is both brewed and drunk right here. It's no wonder that there are several legendary breweries venerated as local landmarks.

Uerige Brewery – their Altbier is one of the oldest, extremely distinctive and the most bitter of all the alt varieties produced in Dusseldorf.

Schlüssel Brewery – the history of this brewpub, the smallest of the four traditional breweries in the Old Town, goes back a few centuries.

Im Goldenen Kessel - The Schumacher Brewery – translating as “The Golden Kettle”, this is one of the oldest bastions of Dusseldorf beer production.

Kürzer Brewery – this “new kid on the block” opened its doors only in 2010.

Im Füchschen Brewery – the “Little Fox”, deeply rooted in tradition, has been around since 1640.

If you feel like a bit of pub crawling, while in Dusseldorf, do it in style with the help of our self-guided walking tour.