Five views, no comments. No rats among us, who drink beer in cellar?
"rat" of "rath" is German for "counselor", legal or governmental type.

rathskeller
n.
5Ger < rath (now rat) (akin to READ1), council, town hall + keller, cellar: because frequently located in the cellar of the city hall6 a restaurant, usually below the street level, where beer is served