On May Day we drove to Münchweier and Sulz to view their Maibaum. I wrote about that in my last blog post. After our brief stop in Sulz, we headed to the Dammenmühle just down the road. Its park-like setting with a small lake, wandering birds and towering trees is a feast for the eyes. Here, one is away from the hustle and bustle of busy lives. Tables sit along the edge of the lake, a lovely place under the trees (or in the sun) to enjoy coffee and cake or just a cold beer or wine on a warm afternoon.
Tables beside the lake with boats to rent and, on the right, birds outside the door of the brewery Gasthaus.
Below, children enjoying one of the horses (of which there are three) and black swans watching over their young ones. The swans were in the brook that flows through the property.
The peacock, king of the road!
The Dammenmühle is a well-known hotel-restaurant situated between Lahr and Sulz. In earlier days, it was the destination on a Sunday for many Lahr walkers. It is still a popular destination, as it was for Canadians during the Canadian military era here. It was closed for some time before re-opening after the new owners renovated it inside and out. They did not, however, ruin it by turning it into a modern Gasthaus as some have done at other Gasthäuser, thinking modern was better. All the warmth has been retained and, if anything, it is more beautiful inside and out today. They do, of course, have modern kitchens and facilities.
The picture below shows the Hotel-Restaurant Dammenmühle in the background and on the right, their guest house. The Brewery Gasthaus is facing that view.
As it was a lovely afternoon, many people were sitting at tables beside the lake, where one can have coffee and cake or just a glass of wine or beer. On this occasion, though, we headed straight to their new Brauerei Gasthaus that is situated just a few steps beyond. (As seen in the picture below.) Hans is at the table, forefront, along with a young couple we met there.
Their beer, Dammenbräu, is brewed by hand on the premises. Hans, who is a beer connoisseur, pronounced it to be excellent. They brew Pils, Export (regular beer) and Bockbier--a stronger and darker version of beer. Two views below of the brewing kettles: the one on the left is taken from the main floor as one enters the brewery Gasthaus; the picture on the right, looking down from the second floor.
The Brauerei is a beautiful building on two floors with wooden beams throughout. Both the first and second floors have tables, where they can serve up to 60 people. The following are some pictures from inside the Gasthaus. The ones directly below are all on the first floor.
Below left is the bar and to the right, part of the bar leading to a small room with one large table as shown underneath on the left. To the right, a stove for winter with the logs ready.
A view of the main downstairs room and the cuckoo clock
Now for a couple of pictures of the upstairs room
Below, Hans' Mass (1 liter) of beer upstairs in the Brauerei Gasthaus on an earlier visit
On this day (1 May) we wanted to sit in the brewery's beer garden, but... no tables were free. It was busy. At one table, however, there were just two people, so we asked if we might join them. That is common here in our area of Germany. They smiled and nodded. As time went on--the four of us enjoying our beer and wine--we began talking together and found that the young couple lived nearby. She is a professional photographer and he works in business in Freiburg.
Below, a view of the Hotel-Restaurant Dammenmühle from the beer garden at the Brewery Gasthaus. We were sitting at the table just behind the one in the forefront. Hans is at the left of the young woman.
Below: At the right side of the Gasthaus, the entrance to guest rooms
The Brauerei Gasthaus offers a small menu, including Schnitzel, Wurstsalat and Vesper, amongst other things. I had the Schnitzel with Bratkartoffeln on another occasion and it was excellent. Beer is used in the sauce for some of their cooked dishes. It is also used in their freshly baked bread, sold right there. Prices are very reasonable. The bread weighs 1 Kilogram (2.2 lbs) and costs E. 3.
Also on the menu of both the brewery Gasthaus and the hotel-restaurant are cakes and tortes, all made fresh. I have had wonderful tortes there, ones filled with fruit and whipped cream.
We did not have anything to eat that day, but our table partners had coffee and cake.
Two salads: on the left, salad leaves with cooked Schinken (cooked ham) and Munster cheese with a dressing and then topped with slivered carrots. On the right, Wurstsalat, a salad made with Lyona (a type of Wurst), onions and dressing. Monika and Gertrud had those dishes on our last visit a few weeks ago.
The three of us had lunch at the Brewery Gasthaus today, 8th of May. Below left, Monika's Flammenkuchen, a specialty of the Gasthaus, with Munster cheese, chopped Schinken (bacon bits), onions and chives. It was excellent.
The other dish is Schweinesteak with a beer sauce and Spätzle, also a house specialty. The sauce was excellent as was the pork steak. I did not care for the Spätzle, though; it was too soft for my liking and not typical. Others might like it. I am not a fan of Spätzle generally and never order it, but it is loved by almost everyone else.
On May Day they were barbecuing spareribs outside, something I love but did not have this time as we had our dinner already planned (leftover beef Wellington from the freezer, carrots, potatoes and truffle sauce, with a 1997 Bordeaux red wine, all of it superb later). Our meal below.
The Dammenmühle restaurant is open week days (except for Mondays, their day of rest) at 1400 hours (2 p.m.) for coffee and cake and in the evenings for dinner. On weekends they are open from noon hour on. They hold several special events throughout the year as well.
The Brauerei Gasthaus is open every day from 1100 hours to 2300 hours (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.). There is a Guest House in that building as well as rooms in the hotel. Weekends and public holidays are busy, so a stop during the week will be quieter. Even on a busy day, though, you will find a place to sit and enjoy the surroundings. Children love it here as many of the various birds and fowl wander freely.
The brochure for the Dammenmühle before the building was painted yellow.
We and our new acqaintances enjoying the beer and wine.
Prost! Prost!
cake.
The Villa Jamm below with Ulrike and Colin Starr walking by 
Canada Haus held many events during its 18 years, as shown on some of the photos at left. Jürgen Binder can be seen carving a turkey and Ingrid Puschmann saying, "I have now had enough, thank you."
Many people arrived and departed over the years from the CFB Lahr airfield, including special visitors from time to time.
