Brewery – Brauerei Schumacher
House – Stammhaus – The Source
Address – Oststraße 123, 40210 Düsseldorf
Date of first visit – July, 1997
Most recent visit – September 4th, 2024
Ruhetag – opens daily 10.00 until midnight
URL – https://www.schumacher-alt.de/
Schumacher Alt (4.6%) was Hector’s first exposure to this style of Bier, it took a bit of getting used to. Dark in colour, it was totally different in taste from a Bayerischse Dunkles. Altbier is top fermented, and so is an – Ale. Since retirement in 2015, a night in Düsseldorf became the route of choice whilst heading south to the Wolf Strassennfest, the timing of which has meant being here when the Latzenbier (5.5%) is tapped, along with the third Thursdays in March, and November. This stronger Bier attracts the crowds, securing a seat in – The Pit – is as much as one can hope for.
The Pit – is where Hector was expected to sit in the early visits to Schumacher. Why sit here, squeezed in beside the inevitable smokers when there is a large, bright, airy main room to settle in to? There one can also order classic German Bierhalle Cuisine.
Since the smoking ban, – The Pit – has become the place of choice, great banter with the waiters and whoever else may be in close proximity. 
Frikadellen or Gulaschsuppe often are incorporated into – Das Ritual.
A private room is available for groups which I had the privilege of occupying one evening. There is also an outdoor seating area adjacent to the brew-plant.
A day in Düsseldorf is not complete without a visit to Schumacher, especially as they tend to open that bit later.
