What does a German pub sign look like?

Question

Are there any definitive characteristics that make pub/bar/brewery signs in Germany look unique? I know that I can recognize an Irish pub on sight - are there any features of German pub signs (or even the way the front of the building looks) that make them stand out? Colors? Fonts? Something I'm not thinking of?

I've tried Google image searching, but I may not be using the right keywords, and since I don't know what I'm looking for, this is a tricky problem.

Answer 1

There is a myriad of possibilities, as there are few restrictions on what a pub sign is supposed to look like.  Most of the guidelines refer to definition of size, suitability, historic context, etc.  Moreover, there are so many regional differences in community preference, local dialect, etc. that one cannot find a common German standard, if you will. For example, Bavaria in the South, where most of the beer is brewed/consumed uses terminology that is closer to that of its Austrian neighbor to the south, than that of its German counterparts in the North, East or West.  Also, the font can be old fashioned "fractura" style, art nouveau, or modern abstract - whatever the owner sees as the most fitting for his type of establishment.

Do a google image search for the following terms, which will give you pictures of establishments in the German-speaking region.  This will give you places in Germany, Austria, German-speaking Switzerland, and possibly also in Alsace-Lorraine, formerly German and now in France.

"Brauerei" or "Brauhaus" means brewery, but it can mean the large factory style or the boutique style which may operate a pub as well.

"Kneipe" is a bar, a drinking place, usually without food, and corresponds to the neighborhood pub, mostly stand-up places with a few tables.  "Bar" is the word for a bar, but you will not get great results as it has too many other meanings in German.

A similar name is  "Bierwirtschaft" which is an inn or pub specializing in beer.  I would not look up "Wirtschaft" even though this can mean a generic pub or inn in Southern Germany, but generally, without context, it is understood as the term for business or economy.

Then there are "Bierschänke" or "Ausschank" which again refer to (micro)breweries operating a pub on the premises.  This is more a Northern German term.

"Bierkeller" [beer cellar] comes from the time when the brewers would store the beer first in caves, then in vaults and other subterranean facilities to keep the beer cool.  Now these are simply popular joints, found in cities as well as in the country

And there is the ubiquitous "Biergarten" which are outdoor beer gardens, which may not necessarily be what you are looking for.

Finally, "Gasthaus" or "Gasthof" are the most common form of a beer or wine drinking inn; they often also rent out a few rooms, as the term literally means guest house (but they NOT sleazy places).  These are sit-down beer and/or wine drinking places where you can also get a decent meal.

You may notice that many of these establishments contain the term "zum" or "zur" which literally means "to the" or "of the", e.g. "Gasthaus zum Alten Hirten" is something like "Ye Olde Shepherd Inn".  You could include zum or zur with your above search terms to refine your results.

Another term you can add to your above terms is "Schild" which firstly means sign, decal, shield or plaque.  This will give you the more typical signs affixed to those establishments.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Try the name of the pub.  Example das zwei hund's. Pretty much anything with a german name.

Answer 3

I live in Germany - and only the traditional pubs (usually brewery pubs) have usually on thing in common: old German font.

I will list some links to pubs and you will be able to see the signs:

http://www.uerige.de/

http://www.frueh.de/

http://www.kneipen.de/Heidelberg/detail_...

http://www.brauhaus-vetter.de/

Or if you would like to search for pubs by yourself - go to following website:

http://www.kneipen.de/

click on any of the cities listed on the page, e. g. Bonn and click on the word "Kneipen" (in the top left corner)...

The pubs of the specific city will be listed with preview pictures. If you click on the pictures the profile for the pub will open and you can visit the homepage....

Or Google:

http://images.google.de/images?um=1&hl=d...