Austrian Beer - Part 2: Gösser, Gösser Everywhere

This post is regarding Gösser beer. It is a pretty straightforward pilsner that I enjoyed numerous times on our trip, or according to my wife too many times on our trip. This beer is available all over Austria, or at least that's how it felt because every time I turned around I would see their logo plastered somewhere, and I even drank a few out of the vending machines. (Yes vending machines, more on that later.)

Gösser itself is as I previously stated; a pretty straightforward golden pilsner. There are other varieties, such as dark, but I stuck with the pilsner because it was May and unseasonably warm by Austrian standards, or so the locals kept complaining. We couldn't help but be amused by their complaints considering we're from Houston, it felt like March to us...you know, cool mornings, warm afternoons with low humidity. But I digress. More on the beer. It is certainly not a light beer but is light enough to enjoy a few (or more) on a warm day spent walking and sightseeing without feeling like you just ate a whole pizza. It is definitely crisp and refreshing as any good pilsner should be.

I can't leave you without discussing my own little fascination with the ubiquitous "full service" vending machines all over the place. I first noticed them where we were staying in northern Linz in the dorm area of the Johannes Keppler University. My first thought was, okay, this is a university and we are in Austria, no big deal. But then I noticed them elsewhere as well. My wife got really tired of me seeking out those "full service" vending machines on a regular basis. I say what the hell, where else can you find a vending machine that offers a snack for the kids, a soda, water or sports drink for the wife, and a cold Gösser for the old man?

And oh by the way...the Gösser was cheaper than almost everything else in that beautiful marvel of vending technology. Just slap a euro or two down that slot and you're good to go!

Now if I could just get one of those for the garage...