Vulkan Brauerei Mendig: the deepest beer cellar in the world

A beer lover’s gem in the Eifel: the Vulkan Brauerei Mendig

Beer from the Eifel is without doubt something special. The barley fields between the gentle hills and the fresh brewing water drawn from deep layers of volcanic rock are silent witnesses to centuries of brewing tradition in this region. A trip to the Vulkaneifel, the volcanic Eifel, goes far beyond the art of brewing, though. At the Vulkan Brauerei in Mendig you can enjoy exclusive tours of the vaulted cellars, culinary highlights and spectacular sights in the surrounding area.

Beneath the ground, things are still simmering

A landscape shaped by extinct volcanoes, by geysers such as the Geysir Andernach and by bubbling lakes: it sounds exotic, and yet you will find it in the far west of Germany. The Vulkaneifel, the volcanic Eifel, is a comparatively young upland range that stretches across the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. The last volcanic eruption in the region lies several thousand years in the past, but the active geysers show that the Vulkaneifel is still geologically alive. Most of the hills around Mendig are the remains of extinct volcanic cones. Viewing towers such as the Eifelguck on the 557-metre Hochkelberg near Sassen tempt you with a breathtaking view as far as neighbouring Luxembourg and Belgium. Volcanic activity can be watched at the Laacher See, the collapsed caldera of a volcano. And in Andernach you will find the tallest cold-water geyser in the world. The pressure of the carbon dioxide built up underground shoots the water up to 60 metres into the air every two hours.

The Vulkan Brauerei brings the underground to life

Mendig lies in the heart of the Vulkaneifel, about five kilometres from the Laacher See. The clean spring water, filtered by the volcanic rock, made an ideal basis for brewing. Until the 19th century the hard basalt in the deep layers of rock was quarried here to make millstones. The tunnels and rock cellars this left behind stayed at a constantly low temperature, which made them perfect for storing beer. Little wonder, then, that the town once had 28 breweries. Today only the Vulkan Brauerei is left. This long-established craft brewery still holds to its original beers, which are deeply rooted in the region. At the same time it has broadened its range well beyond brewing. Feeding its guests, with hearty local dishes as well as culinary specialities, is now a firm second pillar of the business. Its three function rooms seat 300 people in all, ideal for weddings and birthday parties. On sunny days the beer garden gives 200 guests a glorious view over the upland landscape. The highlight of the brewery is what is probably the deepest beer cellar in the world. 153 steps take you around 30 metres below ground. Between rock walls of basalt that bear witness to the elemental force of the old volcanoes, an hour-long tour tells you everything about the history of brewing in the region. Back at the surface, a beer tasting with a beer sommelier or a walk through the glass-walled brewhouse rounds off your visit to the Vulkan Brauerei.

Log cabin charm by the lake

So that you do not have far to travel to the Vulkan Brauerei, it is worth staying at the Waldsee Rieden. The holiday village there has a range of holiday homes in different architectural styles. From the classic bungalow with a panoramic terrace to the multi-storey log house with a view of the lake, every holidaymaker will find the right base here. Beside the lake there is a café, a restaurant and a pizzeria, and any number of cycling and walking trails pass the site. The Nürburgring, the Rhine and the Moselle are all within easy reach of the Waldsee Rieden and the Vulkan Brauerei. The maars of the Eifel, the crater lakes left by its volcanoes, are as well worth a visit as Eltz Castle, Cochem Castle, Ehrenbreitstein Fortress or the fairy-tale Bürresheim Castle.

The pick of them are the houses “Susi”, “Tommy” and “Annika”, awarded five stars by the DTV, the German Tourist Association. These homes have everything you need for a perfect holiday by the lake.