i may also post this one again: i can recommend the finkenkrug in duisburg (-neudorf), sternbuschweg 71-73, germany.
its a comfy beer tavern which offers a great variety of beer. they have a nice winter garden and whilst summer theres also a cool beer garden.
its def worth a visit (if youre nearby).
one great beer garden i know is the stadtwald in krefeld, germany. maybe the beer range is limited, but its really prettty nice. unfortunately i cant find some good pics right now. the beer garden itself is quite big and placed between a big art nouveau mansion, which is mostly used as a restaurant and event venue i believe, and a nice lake, where you can ride the pedalo for instance, surrounded by hayfields and forests.
@ san: your little creatures and coockie both look like pretty decent places to hang out.
.."this world`s a bubble"..