Imagine Boromir saying "One does not simply go to Düsseldorf and not have a beer" 😂. It's not mandatory of course - especially for those who don't drink alcohol - but for those beer connoisseurs it's almost a sin not to try the locally brewed brown liquor.
Thus, it was settled when we were finding ourselves again in the German city - we haven't seen enough of in spite of the many times we've been there - on a roadtrip with friends of ours, that we were going to try some locally fermented liquid. The first pub we came across was Uerige: a homebrewer skilled in top fermenting and who kept to the Reinheitsgebot (Purity Law) from 1516.
We asked at the register if there was enough seating for the amount of people we were there with and were escorted to one of the available six rooms of the building: the Neweaan (“next door”). This room is open for everyone who comes in and - in contrast to the other rooms - it's not possible to reserve the entire space. The walls in this room are completely decorated with paintings similar to those from the Middle Ages. The seating area - with the wooden benches and barrel tables - also felt like being transported back into time.
Not long after we were seated, a waiter came to our table and placed some glasses on our table, without us having placed an order. We tried to communicate to him that we didn't order anything yet and he tried to explain to us that we had to drink. We thanked him and thought that it was complimentary, but then someone remarked that it could be a scam. Tricking guests into drinking and seeing it later on the bill.
It was only when I translated some of the many placed signs that it became clear: drinking beer is mandatory and the glasses will be refilled. To be sure of one's seat one must at least have a drink. The cost of the service and amount of drinks was also explained. This calmed us a bit, because the pub did explain the procedure with the signs. On the other hand it would've been helpful if those were also in English. Another inconvenience to some is that the place only accepts cash and no card payments. Fortunately for us, I came prepared because of other experiences in Düsseldorf.
The dark beer was in spite of the miscommunication delicious: cooling, "hydrating" and had a bittersweet taste. The right amount of barley and bitterness, without being overpowering. After finishing our drinks and making a pitstop, we paid and left. At the door I got a glimpse into one of the other rooms and found it charming with its wooden furniture and stained glass windows.