Since Schweinhaus Biergarten fired up its 1949 Ford pickup truck-turned-woodfire-grill in early July, the aroma of sweet and spicy German sausage wafts through the nearby sidewalks in downtown Bellingham, Wash. from afternoon to late evening. Those passing by on foot may be enticed by the senses, but even by car, Schweinhaus’ casual, Old World Bavaria vibe and beer stein-littered picnic tables are reason enough to pull over.
Neighbored by restaurant collaborators at The Copper Hog gastropub, Schweinhaus focuses on authentic German-style brews and brats. They believe the duo is best when paired and enjoyed in the fresh airas reflected in the eatery’s mantra: “We believe that good beer can be better outside. With sausage. So that’s just what we’re going to do.”
Choose from five different types of sausages: the classic bratwurst, hickory-smoked Cheddarwurst, Nurnberger, spiced Currywurst, and Weisswurst made with lean veal, pork, lemon zest, herbs and spices. Scarf them down solo, or fill up on the “Best Wurst Plate,” featuring one to two sausages, German-style vinegar-based potato salad, sauerkraut and three types of mustard (honey, stone ground and Dijon). No matter your pork preference, Schweinhaus serves them up hot, juicy and bun-lessnot to mention grilled on Lummi Island wood, in the back of what looked like a family friendly ford truck, was a flat-screen TV (perfect for game days). If you’re looking for wurst mit brot (with bread), enjoy yours with a hearty soft pretzel from local Ralf’s Bavarian Bakery. Either way, these wursts are as authentic as they get across the pondbought locally from Claus Meats and sourced from Wisconsin’s Bavaria Sausage Inc.
Then comes the biergarten half of the equation. Wash down your grub with a liter from the rotating beer selection, currently featuring brews from local favorites such as Chuckanut Brewery, Georgetown Brewing, Worthy Brewing Company and Ninkasi Brewing. German-style beer fans are especially well covered, with a wide variety of American and German made options. The end-of-summer Berliner Weisse offering is a classic refreshing sour from California’s Black Market Brewing, and Maisel’s Weisse is an excellent German import for the malty wheat beer loveressentially liquid bread with a slight spice, smooth head and creamy texture.
Meat, potato and beer fans: get to Schweinhaus to soak up the last bits of summer sunshine, German style.
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