Aufsturz

Mitte, Berlin –

With over 120 beers on the menu, Aufsturz is a beer drinker’s paradise.

Once patrons walk in the front door of this busy Oranienburger Strasse institution, they’ll find themselves in a clean but well-worn bar that is much bigger than it appears from the outside. The tan walls are decorated with impressionist paintings by local artists, a welcome visual flair that offsets the plain wooden tables and chairs.

Guests shouldn't bother trying to order without first seeing a menu, because the options can be overwhelming – although the menu does cleverly organize the beer by type to help patrons out.

An evening at Aufsturz is also a great opportunity to try something new like the potent kloster biers (which have an alcohol content of up to 14%) or the Bavarian rauchbier (smoked beer), which tastes like bacon.

Groups gather around the large wooden tables for discussion and drinks in the German Stammtisch tradition, while solo guests are more likely to station themselves at the bar or one of the few small tables.

A walk down the back hallway leads to Aufsturz’s club room, which offers live music most evenings from Wednesday to Sunday. Although the club charges a cover, the consistently solid lineup ensures that it, like the bar, is almost always full.