Ever Ancient, Ever New

That's a phrase the Norbertines use to describe their order, and the community at Schlagl is a perfect example of one that has thrived by adapting to the needs of the times. We stayed overnight in their beautifully renovated wing that houses guest rooms and a seminar center, and we enjoyed lunch and dinner in their awesome restaurant. They also have their own brewery, and the beers are very good!




They even have a little demonstration garden in front, which shows the method they use to grow the hops. In this part of Austria - near the borders of Bohemia in the Czech Republic and Bavaria in Germany - you can see whole fields filled with these frame contraptions. I've done my share of brewery tours over the years, but I keep learning new things all the time!


No twist-off caps and wasted packaging here! I love that in Europe the beer bottles are returned and reused, as are these durable plastic racks. Schlagl is "the beer of Austria's only abbey brewery" and has been produced since 1580. They have modernized the plant quite a bit over the years, and they now have a website as you can see from the address on the side of this van.