Brauerei Schumacher Stammhaus

Brauerei Schumacher Stammhaus is the main house of the Schumacher brewery at Oststraße 123 in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, a few minutes from the main railway station. Founded in 1838, it is described as the oldest of the city's Altbier breweries still operating, and the Stammhaus, meaning home house, is where the Schumacher Alt is brewed and served from the barrel. As a brewhouse rather than a chef-led restaurant, its context is brewing heritage. The Alt is dark, malty and moderately bitter, and it is poured in the small glasses typical of the city. The kitchen serves classic Rhenish and German dishes. Rheinischer Sauerbraten, a marinated roast, and Schweinshaxe, roast pork knuckle, are the substantial mains, and the Halve Hahn, a rye roll with cheese that despite its name contains no chicken, is the traditional local snack to eat with beer. Beyond the Alt, the drinks list is short, so the focus remains on the house beer. The dining room is an old-school brewhouse with wooden furnishings, a mix of regulars and visitors, and a noise level that is lively without being as intense as the Altstadt hotspots. Dress is casual. Because it lies outside the old town centre, it tends to be calmer than the Bolkerstraße houses, which makes it a sensible choice for visitors arriving by train or looking for a seat without a long wait. Small parties can walk in, while groups are advised to book through the brewery. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest periods, and weekday lunchtimes are the easiest. Prices are moderate, with beer by the small glass and mains in the usual brewhouse range. The same beer is served at the brewery's Altstadt house, Im Goldenen Kessel, so the Stammhaus offers the original setting for the same Alt.