Thread: Forget tiers, go with what works and is fun!!!

Right. Shaving soaps, and creams. And, of course, their "finer points".

Having tested more than one hundred fifty of them, I have come to a simple conclusion. They either work, or they do not.

There may be subtle differences, but they are subtle.

Here is the kicker:



Serves one. German.

That would be Regensburg. And here is its local soap:



Never mind the soap, though, here is a full frontal of the Bier. The Helles is very nice, even by Bavarian standards, but the Dunkles rules supreme:

[Edit: unfortunately, it says, "You have included a total of 9 images in your message. The maximum number that you may include is 7. Please correct the problem and then continue again.", so you guys will be missing out on some pictures...]

And if you think you have seen Bratwurst, you have not been to Regensburg's Wurstküche...


That's right. Founded in 1135 AD, they serve some of the nicest sausages around. "Around" being Oberbayern und Oberfranken. So if you think you have ever tried a decent Bratwurst, and have not been to that area, you have not.

But I digress. We were talking about shaving soaps. Having moved to Munich (or, as we call it, München) in February, I had to leave my signature marble vanity behind in Berlin. Nevertheless, this is about the soap, not my vanity. So here goes...

Hand made, with pride. A "Wollfett" (commonly referred to as wool fat) soap with the scent of freshly washed Linnen (also known as Leinen​ or "cloth").


Thirty swirls...


Sixty swirls...


Ninety swirls...


Ready for action...


So there. It is fun. It works. Forget tiers.

Is it wrong that I like the beer and sandwich fixings snapshot the best????

Originally Posted by AntiqueHoosier

Is it wrong that I like the beer and sandwich fixings snapshot the best????

Not necessarily, no. Here are some more shots (Ivan, fix this!):

Really a great place, my uncle retired from the military and moved to Munich, 30 years ago, visits to see him have always been an experience. Tc

@Robin. Do many towns there have there own soaps like local varieties of beer? It always fascinated me that there were so many different local beers made there, or so I have heard.

There are far more breweries in the wider area than soap makers.

Upper Franconia is the World Champion Beer Brewer

The primary administrative division for the region of Upper Franconia in northern Bavaria has with around 200 breweries the highest concentration of breweries of any region in the world. More than 1,000 different beers are brewed in “Beer Country” Upper Franconia. Upper Franconia has more breweries than every country in Europe and worldwide can only be beaten by the USA, China and Russia. (Bierland Oberfranken e.V. - English)

But there are quite a few small soap makers around. Unlike a number of US "artisan" soap "makers", they actually make their soaps instead of using Chinese base products and readymade scents, so there is a lot to high quality stuff discover. Like Tabula Rasa from Berlin, Meißner Tremonia from Dortmund, and many others.

A good mate of mine is coming over to Germany in December to visit family and introduce his girlfriend to them. That obviously has implications in the greater scheme of things, but I digress. The point being, some good German soaps will be accompanying his luggage back to South Africa.

Love Germany, been there many times. My favorite city is Hamburg and my favorite hangout Groninger's. Food and beverage galore. Neat place, used to be a bomb shelter during WW2, and it was turned into a micro brewery.

I have been to some of the other cities as well. Lovely country.

Gröninger Privatbrauerei

I have a lot of comments Robin... some you may like, some you may not.

I've tried a great many soaps myself, and I find the variation between the top performers, and the bottom, a bit wider that you appear to think. In my opinion, they range from abject junk that belongs in the trash, to outstanding products. I personally have had great luck with the tier 1 soaps, having bought superior products by following it. I don't believe this is by accident!

I love the photos, but please do not post any more of German beer and sandwich fixins.. BTW, is that Blutwurst? The next criticism? I'm surprised, in this day and age, knowing what we know about the health effects of smoking, that apparently young educated people choose to do so. Quite surprising to me, but then again, I am not the keeper of the moral flame..

And finally, Robin, even though you have moved from Berlin to Munich, the bathroom may have change, but your "vanity" has never left you!

Now, on to the more serious. I have a friend named Gundel, with relatives in Germany. Some of them are brewers, and are the proprietors of a concern named, oddly enough, Gundel Breweries. Have you ever heard of it or tasted their wares?