Mountain Brauhaus proprietors and siblings Ilka Casey and Mark Ruoff pose for a photo in the restaurant’s new outdoor mini-beer garden. (photo by Lauren Thomas)
The Mountain Brauhaus is honoring its motto, “Sit Long, Eat Much, Laugh Often,” with the recent addition of an outdoor mini-beer garden. Family-owned and operated since 1955, the German restaurant is perched just under the Trapps (the cliff face of the Shawangunk Mountains) at the corner of Route 299 and Route 44/55 in Gardiner. Known for its German fare, a family atmosphere and home to both locals and tourists, the Brauhaus’ owners decided to create a place for patrons to enjoy a draft beer or appetizers while they wait for a table, or just to have a drink with family and friends with a vista of the Gunks.
“We opened the beer garden last Saturday,” said Mark Ruoff, co-owner of the restaurant. “This is the time of year when we get really busy, and there are often people waiting on line for tables. So we thought this could be a place where they could relax and wait, have some beers, some food…”
The 30-by-10-foot outdoor seating area has an awning above it, several picnic tables and stunning views. Although it’s called a “beer garden,” Ruoff is quick to point out that they’re not in the business of brewing their own beer. “We let the Germans do that,” he said with a laugh. “They do a good job of it.” As for the most popular German beer they have on tap? “It’s a close tie between the Spaten Oktoberfest and the Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse.”
The outdoor beer-garden will remain open as weather permits. To learn more about the Mountain Brauhaus, go to www.mountainbrauhaus.com/home.html or call (845) 255-9766.