Breweries in Franconia

Breweries in Franconia

Tray with beer at Brauereigasthof Rothenbach This guide lists breweries, brewpubs, beer cellars, brewery museums and other attractions related to beer and beer culture in the southern German region, Franconia. Franconia is the northern end of the Bavarian state, and offers stark contrasts with the state's southern end, which is dominated by Munich, where the Oktoberfest happens early each autumn. Being administratively part of the state of Bavaria is a sore point with the locals, so you are wise to avoid calling people "Bavarians" or assuming too much of an overlap between the region and Munich, as they are about as distinct from one another as "Bavaria proper" and its western neighbor Baden Württemberg.

Understand

See also: German beer and wine

Franconia is sometimes divided into Beer Franconia (Bierfranken), which is the Upper Franconia and Middle Franconia regions, and Wine Franconia (Weinfranken), which is most of Lower Franconia, where the wine culture is stronger. The subdivision of Franconia into Upper, Middle and Lower Franconia dates only to the 19th century and in parts doesn't correspond to historical, religious and cultural boundaries and has furthermore changed slightly as late as the 1970s when the Bavarian government fused smaller communities and slightly redrew the boundaries of Middle, Upper and Lower Franconia. That said, it is still the most commonly used and accepted subdivision and has been used here due to its overall prevalence if nothing else.

Franken has well over 250 breweries and over 1,000 different beers. The highest brewery density in the world can be found in Upper Franconia in Franconian Switzerland (which is not in the country of Switzerland). In a triangle formed by Nuremberg, Bamberg and Bayreuth, the tradition of small breweries has continued to the present day.

Types of beer

According to an old law (variously purported to date back several hundred years) beer is supposed to be made from malts, hops, water and yeast and nothing else. However, today's regulations actually allow a lot of other ingredients and "adjuvants" to be used in the brewing process as long as they cannot be detected in the final product. While the smaller breweries listed here by and large do not do most of what's allowed by the law, brewing today is not exactly the same as when the Reinheitsgebot (purity law) was first passed and neither are the ingredients.

With the ungespundet beer, the bung apparatus sitting on the store tank, the pressure regulator is opened, the carbon dioxide escapes making the beer lower in CO<sub>2 </sub> and foam.

While beer that is produced by big breweries (sometimes derisively called Fernsehbier because breweries that can afford to make TV spots tend to converge on one type of beer with similar flavor) is usually filtrated to extend its shelf life, many breweries covered in this guide have at least one type of beer on offer that isn't. While this ungefiltert beer has a shorter shelf life, it often has a more complex flavor and is arguably healthier (as far as any alcoholic beverage can be good for your health) because it contains more vitamins, micro-nutrients and the like. Unfiltrated beer is usually sold under names like "Kellerbier" and is sometimes only available from the tab due to its shorter shelf life.

A specialty of Bamberg in particular is smoked beer or Rauchbier locally known as "Schlenkerla". The malt is smoked prior to brewing. It's assumed that most beer used to have a smokey aftertaste because almost all malt was dried over (smokey) fires, but given modern technology, today's smoked beer is produced on purpose rather than by accident. It's certainly an acquired taste and local folklore contends that taste improves after a certain amount has been consumed.

Bierkeller

A specific Franconian tradition rarely found elsewhere is the Bierkeller (literally "beer cellar"). The Bierkeller arose during the period prior to artificial cooling, when beer could only be brewed during certain times of the year and had to be stored as cool as possible to avoid it spoiling as many of the modern technologies to extend its shelf life were not yet invented. The cellars were dug into mountains or simply underground outside of town and often planted with chestnut trees that gave shade in the summer but had roots shallow enough to not damage the underground caverns. Cellars were kept cool by their underground location and through ice which had been cut out of lakes and ponds and was stored under straw to last through the summer. Soon enough, brewers started to sell beer right from the storage caverns and put up simple banks and other equipment to give patrons a place to consume their beer. Traditionally only cold food or street food style foods were sold, but today some Bierkeller have branched out into full on restaurants. In more traditional Bierkeller it is still acceptable to bring your own food, though beverages - including soft drinks - should always be bought from the restaurateur. While the invention of artificial cooling made the use of underground caverns for storage redundant, the associated gastronomic activity had become popular enough for the Keller to stay open into modern days. Bierkeller are today a common destination for hikes or Sunday outings with friends and family during the summer. Some Keller are close enough to one another to enable bike tours from one to the next in a single day and some are even served by the S-Bahn or other public transit.

Talk

With few exceptions (mostly Bayreuth and Bamberg) the towns and villages on this list receive few to no international tourists and the breweries mentioned here are by and large still family-owned traditional businesses. This means that you'll have mixed results trying to communicate in English and English language menus are the exception, rather than the rule. Rural brewpubs in Franconia are still a place where dialect is alive and well and combined with the many technical terms related to beer (some of them even regional terms that won't be understood even by some brewers in northern Germany) you might wish to know some terms that the German Phrasebook does not cover. Note that Franconian pronunciation is famous for pronouncing "P" like "B" and "T" like "D" which will sometimes shine through even when people speak English.

  • Brauerei: brewery
  • Gasthof/Gasthaus: pub/inn
  • Gasthof Brauerei: Brew Pub or Brewery Tap
  • Seidla <SIGH-d-luh> - Franconian dialect for half a liter; almost exclusively used referring to beer (a Seidla Bier)
  • (Bier)keller <beer-keh-luh> - see above; note that you say "auf den Keller gehen" (literally: go on top of the cellar) for visiting one
  • Maß (Bier) <mahs> - a liter of beer; less common in Franconia than in Munich but certainly not unheard of
  • Radler <rah-dluh> - a mixture of roughly equal parts beer and lemonade the word literally means "cyclist" and refers to the fact that it allows you to go on with you bike tour with less DUI concerns
  • Brotzeit <brot-site> - a (usually cold) snack that does not qualify as a full on meal Brot means "bread" and Zeit means "time"
  • Kellerplatte <KEH-luh-pluh-teh> - an assortment of different types of sausage and/or cheese; a commonly served type of Brotzeit in a Bierkeller
  • Schäufala (different spellings exist) <shoy-fuh-luh> - a dish made from pork shoulder named for the shovel-like appearance of the bone. The dish is notable for its crusty pork rind
  • Schlachtschüssel <SHLAKHT-shui-sell> - meats and sausages from freshly slaughtered pig.
  • Gaas Seidla <Gahs sigh-dluh> - a mixed drink made from beer, cherry wine and coke. Available pre-mixed from some of the listed breweries

Get in

See also: Franconia#Get in

If you're not already in the area, the best entry points are Nuremberg and Bamberg, which are both served by long distance trains run by Deutsche Bahn as well as Intercity buses. Bayreuth also makes for a good entry point, but it has been awkwardly off the main rail routes since the 19th century. If you're arriving from farther away, the airport of Nuremberg (IATA: NUE) is certainly the closest and most convenient, but Munich airport (IATA: MUC) and Frankfurt airport (IATA: FRA) are better connected internationally and a train from there can get you into the region in a few hours.

Get around

All modes of transportation have their downsides here, so it depends on where exactly you're going what the best option for you is.

By public transit

Most of this region is covered by the VGN tariff union centered on Nuremberg and the Nuremberg S-Bahn serves many places in the region. However, bus service to some of the smaller towns or outlying Bierkeller in rural areas can be sparse or nonexistent.

By car

You should know this already, but do not drink and drive under any circumstances. While some places listed here are indeed best reached with a car, the local roads can be curvy and treacherous and both snow and fallen leaves are a serious risk for almost half the year. Don't get too frustrated when you're stuck behind someone admiring the landscape and going way slower than the legal speed limit and leave the risky overtaking maneuvers to the locals.

By bike

Given the concerns about drinking and driving that come with going on a brewpub tour and the sometimes less than satisfactory coverage with public transit, riding a bike can be a worthwhile way to explore the region. Generally speaking you should have no problem parking your bike (don't forget to lock it, though), but not all rural roads are perfectly equipped for cyclists. Keep in mind that Franconian Switzerland is more mountainous than the rest of the places covered in this guide. The German cyclist association ADFC provides some information in English as well and they have Bett & Bike, a program aimed at certifying bike friendly lodgings.

Upper Franconia

Ahorntal

  • Held Bräu (Brewery with brewery inn), Oberailsfeld 19, 95491 Ahorntal, 49.8124°, 11.3536°, +49 9242 295. Wednesday is rest day. Brewery has been family-owned for over 300 years. All year, there is light beer, dark peasant beer, wheat beer and Pils, as well as the fasting season Bockbier and the Advent Season wheat bock beer.
  • Brauerei Stöckel (Brewery with brewery inn), Hintergereuth 4, 95491 Ahorntal, 49.8508°, 11.4541°, +49 9246 275. Tu-Su from 09:00, closed Monday. With its own brewery chapel. The specialties of the brewery are Pils, Lagerhell, Ahorntaler Landbier, premium white and seasonal the festival beer. Steinbier

Altenkunstadt

Since the brewing pans used to be made of wood, they were heated from the inside with hot stones. After the invention of the boiling pans made of metal, this went out of fashion. In the old brewing process, the beer worts are heated by the addition of hot stones. This caramelizes a part of the malt sugar and gives the beer a caramel. The old-fashioned Steinbier (stone beer) is produced by the local brewery, Leikheim, and can be tasted in the inns.

Aufseß

Brauereigasthof Rothenbach Kathi Bräu Aufseß is well-known for its breweries. It received an entry in the 2001 Guinness Book of Records as the highest brewery density in the world: The 1,317 inhabitants have four breweries, which works out to one brewery for every 330 residents.

Brauereigasthof Reichold Brauerei Stadter

  • Brauerei Reichold, Hochstahl 24, 91347 Aufseß, 49.884266°, 11.267421°, +49 9204 271. Closed M Tu, but for thirsty hikers the brewery is open all day, there are bottles of beer and non-alcoholic drinks. Apr-Nov: open daily from 17:00. In the summer with outdoor seating beer 0.5 l- €2.8, Pork schnitzel with mixed salad, potato salad or french fries €7
  • Brauerei Stadter, Sachsendorf, 91347 Aufseß, 49.91532°, 11.23972°, +49 9274 8193. hot food from 11:00–00:00, M closed. On so-called "Erlebnisbrautage" you can help with brewing, from the water to the finished original gravity.

Bad Staffelstein

Bad Staffelstein and its districts have about 10,000 inhabitants and ten breweries. There are over 40 beer types made by the breweries. Some of them are only available at certain times of year or for special occasions. For a beer aficionado, this wide variety of beers makes Bad Staffelstein a very attractive destination.

  • Brauerei und Gasthof Reblitz, Am Mahlberg 1, 96231 Bad Staffelstein - Nedensdorf, 50.11606°, 10.96520°, +49 9573 96500. Tu-F from 16:00, Sa from 15:00, Su and public holidays from 10:30, M closed day. The self-brewed dark land beer is available all year, from 30 April to mid-October there is a bright yeast white beer and from Friday after All Saints there is the bright Reblitz-Bock, as long as the stock reaches. All beers are only served in the inn. 28.9.15

Staffelberg-Bräu

Bamberg

Steinkrug of the brewery Greifenklau Mahrs-Bräu

The historic city centre of Bamberg is one of the world cultural heritage sites designated by UNESCO. But the city also has a cultural heritage to offer in its beer. Those who visit the city should definitely try a smoky beer. This beer specialty is only available in the Bamberg area.

The most famous of the forty Bamberger beer varieties is the Schlenkerla Rauchbier. It is served in the Schlenkerla Inn, and receives its particular flavour from the barley dried over a beech wood fire. It is distributed all over the world and can also be ordered on the Internet. The name is traced back to the odd gait of an earlier brewer, caused by an accidental injury. Experienced smokers will be glad of the fact that the smokers taste the right way after the third or fourth half litre (Seidla) at the earliest, which can be understood as a warning as well as courageous as a challenge.

A further regional and Bamberg beer specialty is the U (colloquially) for the 'unspread beer' (non-carbonated): The beer is produced unfiltered and without piling, thus with little carbonic acid and without overpressure in the barrel (Mahrs-Bräu).

Brauerei Fässla Gravity cask in the Schlenkerla

Bayreuth

Manns-Bräu In Bayreuth there are two specialties, which are only offered in two pubs. First, the Buschenbier (from the tuft, which is hung up to indicate that the delicious Buschenbier is present) in the Mohren Bräu always on the first Thursday–Friday of one month to the Saturday into and then as long as it lasts. Secondly, Becknbier, which is periodically served by the bakery Lang. Both beers are ungespundet beers which are to be drunk within a few days.

  • Mohren Bräu, Tristanstraße 8, 49.95740°, 11.58047°, +49 921 1635936. Monday to Friday from 17:00. Directly at the Festspielpark, one of the few preserved old Franconian inns, tasty own beers 0.5 l- €3.5, very good local food to popular prices €3-12 and plentiful portions, good audience of all couleur, in the festival time many artists (beer €1.50 and Leberkäse from the oven €1.50).
  • Becher Bräu, St.-Nikolaus-Straße 25, 95445 Bayreuth, 49.93858°, 11.55190°, +49 921 68993. The oldest brewery restaurant in Bayreuth, a quaint inn in the western part of Bayreuth with very cheap little things and also larger dishes for the beer. Bayreuth cult! But not for people who are bothered by the whispery of the host. "You want a small beer? Wait you're doing a big one!"
  • Schinner Braustuben, Richard-Wagner-Straße 38, 95444 Bayreuth, 49.94198°, 11.58161°, +49 921 67673. 10:00-14:00 and from 17:00-24:00, Sunday evening and Monday closed. Right at the Villa Wahnfried, very good kitchen, reasonable daily dishes, good beers.
  • Liebesbier, Andreas-Maisel-Weg 1, 95445 Bayreuth, 49.94555°, 11.56717°, +49 921 46008020. Daily 17:00-00:00. An idea of the Maisel brewery, over 100 regional and international beers from the barrel and from the bottle. There are steaks, fish, burgers and regional products in a rustic atmosphere. 21.2.16
  • Manns-Bräu, Friedrichstraße 23, 95444 Bayreuth, 49.94018°, 11.57530°, +49 921 1638988. Daily 10:30-22:00, F 16:00-22:00. Cozy guest house with beer garden in the alley. Mann's Bräu - Special Beer Dark is brewed at the Bayreuther Becher Brewery. 21.8.16
  • Maisel's Brauereimuseum, Kulmbacher Straße 40, 95444 Bayreuth, 49.94577°, 11.56690°, +49 921 401234, brauereimuseum@maisel.com. The visit to the museum is only possible with a guided tour, which takes place daily at 14:00. Groups of 12 or more can also book a different appointment by arrangement. The tour takes about 90 minutes. Finally, there is a glass of Maisel's white wine or a non-alcoholic drink for the tasting in the "old bottlery". Adults €5, youth €3
  • Bayreuther Katakomben, Kulmbacher Straße 60, 95445 Bayreuth, 49.94823°, 11.56272°, +49 921 401234, katakomben@bayreuther-bierbrauerei.de. Guided tours for individuals are held daily at 16:00. Further dates can be booked for groups of 12 persons or more by appointment.. The tour of the catacombs takes about 60 minutes. The visitor learns details of the brewery history, but also how the catacombs have been used elsewhere. The temperature in the catacombs is 10°C, so do not forget warm clothing. After the tour, there is a freshly drawn AKTIEN Zwick'l Kellerbier in the "Bräustüberl". Adults €5, youth €3

Burgebrach

Buttenheim

Less than one kilometre from the motorway exit, to the left is the town, on the right there are parking lots and the shaded beer cellars of the two Buttenheimer breweries.

  • Löwenbräu Keller Buttenheim, Eremitage 3, 96155 Buttenheim, 49.79959°, 11.03342°, +49 9545 509346. M-Sa 11:00; Su from 10:00, warm meals M-Sa 11:30-14:00 and Su from 11:00, daily 16:30-21:00, closed Tuesday (May-Aug) or TumW (Sep-Apr), business rest from Christmas to early March. Gasthof with large beer garden and Franconian cuisine.
  • St. GeorgenBräu Keller, Kellerstraße, 96155 Buttenheim, 49.79997°, 11.03696°, +49 9545 44670. In good weather from Apr-Sep, daily from 14:00; on Sundays and holidays from 11:00. Big beer garden with children's playground, on Fridays there are mackerel and herring from the beech grill.

Coburg

Creußen

Ebensfeld

Ebermannstadt

Easily reachable by regional trains from Forchheim

Eggolsheim

  • Brauerei Gasthof Pfister, Eggerbachstr. 22, Weigelshofen, 91330 Eggolsheim, 49.78778°, 11.09202°, +49 9545 9426-0. Daily 11:00-01:00, on the morning only from 17:00, closed. Hot meals are served 12:00-14:00 and 17:00-21:00, on Sundays and bank holidays from 11:00. Franconian cuisine, on Sunday noon there is a large selection of roasts with potato dumplings. Seasonal dishes such as asparagus, mushrooms or carp.

Forchheim

Refreshment in the Kellerwald

Forchheimer Kellerwald

The cellars in Forchheimer Kellerwald 📍 were used to store beer prior to the advent of artificial cooling. Serving the beer on site was only the next natural step. This has resulted in the Bierkeller culture, which is in essence the Franconian variety of the beer garden (but don't use this term, lest you offend cultural sensitivities) with beer and Franconian cuisine served outside in the summer months. The operation has since been turned into a year-round thing with more permanent houses built for the winter months and more upscale cuisine than you'd expect from a more basic beer garden.

Frensdorf

  • Brauerei-Gaststätte Büttner, Untergreuth 8, 96158 Frensdorf, 49.83491°, 10.85988°, +49 9502 342. F 16:00-22:30, Sa Su 14:00-22:30 and every other Tu, see homepage. The brewery has been family-owned since 1870 in the 8th generation. There are brotzeit, pizzas and on Saturdays schnitzel. 24.9.16

  • Brauerei Barnikel, Dorfstraße 5, 96158 Frensdorf-Herrnsdorf, 49.79267°, 10.88639°, +49 9502 293. Daily 10:00-13:00, W closed. A document from the year 1366 mentions the Schenkhaus in Hernstorff, beer has been brewed for more than 600 years. There is Franconian cuisine and pizza. 24.9.16 Der Schmausenkeller

  • Brauerei Müller, Lange Str. 2, 96158 Frensdorf, 49.82287°, 10.88772°, +49 9502 280. Beer sales in the brewery at noon, the beer is served in the Schmausenkeller (see below). 24.9.16

    • Schmausenkeller, Am Bahnhof 13, 96158 Reundorf, 49.81457°, 10.89603°, +49 9502-608. Mid-March to 4th weekend in October: M-F from 16:00, Sa from 15:00, Su holiday from 11:00, in bad weather closed Thu; Dec and Jan: M Th F from 16:00, Sa from 15:00, Su from 11:00, W Th closed. The Schmausenkeller of the brewery Müller is a beer cellar on the edge of the forest with playground and bowling alley. In the winter you can find space in the half-timbered building. There is Franconian cuisine and pizza. 24.9.16

Gräfenberg

See also: Fünf Seidla Steig

Regional trains connect Nürnberg Nordostbahnhof and Gräfenberg. From Nordostbahnhof take U2.

The Fünf-Seidla-Steig is a brewery trail about 19 km long to the five private breweries in the communities of Gräfenberg and Weißenohe.

Hallerndorf

The Braumeister in the brewhouse

  • Brauerei Rittmayer, Trailsdorfer Straße 4, 91352 Hallerndorf, 49.7598°, 10.9831°, +49 9545 509214. Tu W 16:00-23:00; Th-Su 11:30-14:00 and 16:00-23:00, closed M. Franconian and international cuisine.
  • Brauerei Lieberth, Forchheimer Straße 2, 91352 Hallerndorf, 49.7591°, 10.9820°, +49 9545 8558. Beer sales: M-F 08:00-12:00 and 14:00-19:00, Sa 08:00-16:00. The Brauereigasthof is open daily from 17:00 on weekends and on Sundays from 10:00; closed M W and during the summer. .
    • Dorfkeller Lieberth, Kreuzbergstraße 17, 91352 Hallerndorf, 49.757324°, 10.978997°, +49 9545 4437373. Beginning/mid-Apr to end of Sep: M-F from 15:30, Sa from 15:00, Su holidays from 10:00; closed in bad weather. Specialty is caraway roasts. Friday’s mackerel and herring from the charcoal grill 16.2.2017
  • Gänstaller Bräu, Schnaid 10, 91352 Hallerndorf, 49.7705°, 10.9479°, +49 9542 7741255. Founded in 2011, specialties such as Imperial Indian Pale Ale or Quartor-Doppelbock
  • Landgasthof Brauerei Rittmayer, Willersdorf 108, 91352 Hallerndorf, 49.7440°, 10.9617°, +49 9195 94730. Hot meals are available M Tu 17:00-21:00; W-Su 11:30-14:00 and 17:00-21:00. Rittmayer has his own recipe brewed and stored the young beer itself. Cozy inn with its own carp and cattle breeding and a large selection of dishes.
  • Brauerei Roppelt, Stiebarlimbach 9, 91352 Hallerndorf, 49.7554°, 10.9471°, +49 9195 7263. Daily from 10:00; hot food 11:30-14:30 and 16:00-21:00; closed W Th. Franconian cuisine, carp from their own ponds, game specialties from their own hunting.
  • Brauerei Witzgall, Schlammersdorfer Straße 17, 91352 Hallerndorf, 49.7692°, 11.0055°, +49 9545 7452. Daily from 09:00, Th closed. The Witzgall family has been standing in the brewhouse since 1898 and behind the counter. The Landbier always receives good grades in international rankings. The Christmas beer is available from mid-November to mid-January.

On the Kreuzberg On the Kreuzberg On the Kreuzberg near Hallerndorf in the middle of the forest, below the medieval pilgrimage church, three breweries invite you to eat and drink. From the parking lots to the first beer you have to walk a few steps.

At the foot of Kreuzberg

  • Roppelts Keller, 49.7565°, 10.9497°, +49 9195 7263. Daily from 11:00; Wed-Thu from 15:30. The beer cellar is at Stiebarlimbach at the foot of the Kreuzberg and is connected by a narrow footpath with the beer cellar on the Kreuzberg, walking time about a quarter of an hour.

Hallstadt

  • Gasthof Eichhorn Schwarzer Adler, Dörfleinser Str. 43, 96103 Dörfleins, 49.93164°, 10.85912°, +49 951 75660. Tu W F Su 09:00–23:00, Th 09:00–19:00, Sa 09:00-20:00. There are Kellerbier and from the beginning of October Bockbier. The brewery is one of the last breweries, which still has its own brew for the village community. Usually every two or three weeks the village community comes together to fill their own barrels.

Heiligenstadt in Oberfranken

Himmelkron

  • Gasthaus zum Roten Ochsen, Laitscher Weg 4, 95502 Himmelkron, 50.05034°, 11.59990°, +49 9273 7622. Daily from 10:00, closed from 14:00-16:00 except Sundays and holidays, W closed. Meat from own breeding and slaughtering, homemade dumplings, amber colored house beer, brewed according to old recipe. Main courses €9-17 29.11.2016

Hirschaid

Hof

  • Meinels-Bas, Vorstadt 13, 95028 Hof, 50.32507°, 11.91805°, +49 9281 141366. Daily from 11:00, continuous warm kitchen. The brewery restaurant of the Meinelbrauerei is a cozy restaurant with a beautiful natural beer garden. One specialty is the dark Doppelbock Absolvinator, which is only available at the beginning of Lent in Meinels Bas.

Kemmern

Brotzeit in Wagnerkeller

  • Wagner Bräu, Hauptstaße 15, 96164 Kemmern, 49.95341°, 10.87494°, +49 9544 6746. Sa W 12:00-00:00, M F Su 15:00-00:00, Su breakfast from 10:00-12:00, Tu closed. Fränkischen Restaurant with self-brewed beers from the barrel, brotzeit and small hot dishes. In addition to Easter, Pentecost, Kirchweih and Christmas a festive beer, from November Bockbier
  • Wagner-Bräu-Keller, 49.94999°, 10.86147°, +49 170 9136003. Tu Th F from 15:30 (summer months), W from 14:00 (also winter months), Sa from 13:00, Su public holidays from 09:30 with lunch table; M closed. Large beer garden outside the village by the mountain. There are Franconian brotzeit, canned meats, mixed breads, bratwurst, alternating: Schnitzel, steak. On Sundays and holidays there is a warm lunch table.

Kronach

The term 'Schmäuß' emerged in the Renaissance and Baroque times. At that time, every citizen of the Upper City had the right to brew beer between Michaeli Day on 29 September and Georgi Day on 23 April. In between, the Kronach Oberstädter were not allowed to brew a beer, except for a greater festivity, such as wedding or child baptism. Then the town council could approve an additional brew, the so-called Schmäuß. The concept still exists, today as a special beer on historical festivals, today it is included in the brewery's range, a dark beer with 4.5% alcohol, the Schmäuß brew.

  • ´s Antla, Amtsgerichtsstraße 21, 96317 Kronach, 50.24178°, 11.32426°, +49 9261 5045950. 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-23:00, M Tu only in the evening, Su 11:00-23:00. "Antla" means little duck. Beautifully situated in the old town of Kronach, the beer garden offers a view over the lower town. The rooms are renovated and cozy. On the menu there are many duck dishes, as the name suggests to the locals. There are always 's Antla elns, 's Antla raftsmen and 's Antla Kellerweizen, also from 6 Jan Starkbier, February Antilater, April Frühlingsbier, May Maibock, Corpus Christi Katharina von Bora, July Löschbier, August Festbier, September Erntedankbier, October Schwärzla, November Christmas beer
  • Kaiserhof-Bräu, Friesener Straße 1, 96317 Kronach, 50.24112°, 11.32798°, +49 9261 1048. Tu-Su 11:00-14:00 and 17:00, closed M. The house has been in existence since the 15th century. Franconian cuisine is served. In addition to the usual beers, there is the Schützenfest beer in July/Aug, the Kronacher Festbier in Nov/Dec, the Kronator Dec-Mar

Kulmbach

Copper brew kettle in Kommunbräu In Kulmbach, there are three breweries, the 'Kulmbacher', which is known from television and the small Kommunbräu. From an idea of a few Kulmbach people in the 1990s arose a brewery cooperative. In 2016, the inn "Zum Gründla" was added.

  • Zum Mönchshof Bräuhaus, Hofer Straße 20, 95326 Kulmbach, 50.11485°, 11.46879°, +49 9221 80514. Tu-Su open from 11:00; closed n, except on holidays. Restaurant on the brewery grounds with regular events and museum beer in the pub. In the summer with Kulmbach's largest beer garden.
  • Kulmbacher Kommunbräu, Grünwehr 17, 50.11065°, 11.46525°, +49 9221 84490, info@kommunbraeu.de. Daily 10:00-00:00. Quaint pub with copper brew kettles in the dining room, monthly changing beer and regular events, and a small beer garden.
  • Gasthausbrauerei "Zum Gründla", Am Gründlein 5, 95326 Kulmbach, 50.11955°, 11.43764°, +49 9221 823884. M 16:00-23:00, W-Su 11:00-23:00, closed Tu. Kulmbach's youngest brewery, with an inn with good and inexpensive Franconian food. Main dishes €4-10 11.5.16
  • Bayerisches Brauerei- und Bäckereimuseum, Hofer Straße 20, 95326 Kulmbach, 50.11439°, 11.47006°, +49 9221 80514. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. Both museums are housed on the premises of the Mönchshof brewery. In the brewery museum there is a brewery with a glass brewing kettle, each visitor gets a glass museum beer (0.2 litres). Since 2015 a spice museum has been added to the range. Adults €4.50, both museums €7, pupils, students, retirees and severely handicapped €4, both €6, children in family supervision up to 6 years free 23.11.15

Königsfeld (Oberfranken)

  • Brauerei Grasser, Huppendorf 25, 96167 Königsfeld, 49.93239°, 11.15019°, +49 9207 270. Daily from 09:00, day of rest. Brewery and distillery. Single and double rooms with shower and WC. Specialties are Zwetschgenbames (over prunes wood smoked cattle ham), smoked beef ham and the special sausage, a currywurst with onions, garlic, curry sauce and cheese. From 6 Jan Winter wheat, in March Josefi Bock, in November Kathrein Bock, in December Christmas beer

Memmelsdorf

Guest room Drei Kronen

Neudrossenfeld

Der Bräuwerck Biergarten

Neuhaus an der Pegnitz

Brewer's star at Hombauer Since the early middle ages there has been a communal charter in the municipality which is still used today. Brewed in the common brewery house. The commissions have not always opened, only one of the three communes alternates, the traditional six-breasted brewer's star, the brewer's sign, is used as a sign.

Pegnitz

In the past, beer was brewed only in the cold months, because the beer did not hold up well in the summer heat. In Pegnitz in 1728 an agreement was made, and 1852 precisely defined that during the summer months usually the authorization to the pubs change from week to week. This was called Flinderer. Today it is alternated weekly, from Tuesday to Easter until June, in various Pegnitz restaurants. The exact dates can be found on the homepage of the city. To complement the Flinderer Starkbier, try favorite local dishes such as liver and blood sausages, white and red head cheese, aspics, boiled pork belly, bratwurst, roasted or sour in the onion soup, ribs, horseradish and roast pork with dumplings.

  • Brauer-Vereinigung Pegnitz GmbH, Am Buchauer Berg 4, 91257 Pegnitz, 49.75829°, 11.54199°, +49 9241 4839937. Brewery Böheim Hell, Böheim Pils, Böheim Altfränkisch (Landbier), Böheim Hefeweizen, Böheim Flinderer beer, Böheim Christmas festivities around November and Böheim Bock in December. The beers are served in and around Pegnitz in the restaurants. 22.2.16
  • Jura-Bräu Privatbrauerei, Am Buchauer Berg 8-10, 91257 Pegnitz, 49.75865°, 11.54290°, +49 9241 2019. Helles, Pils, amber colored Unfiltered Zwick`l, dark Anno 1900 and Flinderer. The beers are served in and around Pegnitz in the restaurants. 22.2.16
  • Brauerei Herold, Marktstr. 29, 91257 Büchenbach/Pegnitz, 49.79313°, 11.51176°, +49 9241 3311. Daily 09:00-14:00, closed Tuesday. Self-brewed Beck'n beer and also specialties like Maibock and Weihnachtsbock. Homemade specialties from their own slaughter and also self-grown potatoes. On Wednesdays and Saturdays there is homemade bread, cakes and salt sticks. 22.2.16
  • Brauerei Gradl, Leups 6, 91257 Pegnitz, 49.81293°, 11.52470°, +49 9246 247, brauerei-gradl@gmx.de. Daily from 09:00, Tuesday closed. Dark dark from the wooden barrel and homemade brotzeit. Barn festival is in July and parish fair on the first Sunday in September. 22.2.16

Pommersfelden

  • Brauerei Hennemann, Sambach 33, 96178 Pommersfelden, 49.780813°, 10.842004°, +49 9502 4307. Th-Su from 11:30. Located in the district of Sambach, with a beer garden, Franconian specialties and homemade fruit schnapps. From October to spring salt water meat with beets fermented by lactic acid fermentation. 7.2.2017

Pottenstein

Pretzfeld

Reckendorf

  • Brauerei Gasthof Schroll, Hauptstraße 38, 96182 Reckendorf, 50.01981°, 10.82702°, +49 9544 20338. Daily from 09:00; closed Thu. Quaint inn in the town center. The most popular beer of the brewery is the Urtrunk and at Christmas and the fasting time a Bockbier is brewed. 13.04.2016
  • Gasthaus Schloßbräu, Mühlweg 8, 96182 Reckendorf, 50.02140°, 10.82852°, +49 9544 94950. M Th-Sa 10:00-13:30 and from 16:00, W only from 16:00, Su holidays from 09:30; closed Tu. Carp from own breeding and own butchery.

Information about the brewery

Rödental

Scheßlitz

Schlüsselfeld

Seßlach

The Kommunbrauhaus of Seßlach, 50.18753°, 10.84154°. is unique in its wide surroundings. It is brewed with the simplest methods, the right to brew exists since 1335. On "Fasstag" (barrel day) housebrewers come to collect their beer quantities in suitable vessels, such as drums, glass balloons, and canisters.

It is not long since the beer for the Reinwand Inn was still carried in vats across the Maximilian square. Today it is brought hygienically over a pipe from the Kommunbrauhaus to the inn, where it can ferment and mature in the vaulted cellar.

Stadelhofen

Brotzeit from the brewery Konrad Will

  • Brauerei Konrad Will, Haus Nr. 19, 96187 Schederndorf/Stadelhofen, 50.00559°, 11.15464°, +49 9504 262. M W-F 11:00-midnight; Sa Su 10:00-00:00, closed Tu. An excursion destination also from the wider surroundings. Beer garden and inn are always crowded. The beer is tasty and the brotzeits are sumptuous, at unbeatable prices. You should definitely try the "Ziebeleskäs", a piquant quark. The boss is Ferrarista, so there is every Formula 1 race live on a big screen at any time of day.
  • Hübner Bräu, Steinfeld 69, 96187 Stadelhofen, 49.97789°, 11.15470°, +49 9207 259. Daily from 08:00-23:00, closed Th except in the spring at Taubenmarkt, then it is F. Jan-Apr pigeon markets are held every Thu to exchange pigeons or other things and there are raffles. The beer garden is open from Apr-Oct.
  • Gasthof Lindner, Steinfeld 56, 96187 Stadelhofen, 49.97772°, 11.15747°, +49 9207 275. Tu-Su 11:00-13:00, closed M. From 1755 to 1955 beer was brewed in the inn, the brewery was demolished. The innkeeper continue brewing the beer in another brewery according to tradition. In the in-house distillery a variety of schnapps are offered. In the summer months there is a partially covered beer garden with 200 seats.

Stegaurach

  • Brauerei Müller, Würzburger Straße 1, 96135 Debring, 49.85782°, 10.85747°, +49 951 290836. Daily 11:00-14:00 and from 16:30, Th from 16:30; Su and public holidays from 09:30; closed on Mon, on holidays, then on Tue. 15.4.16
  • Mühlenbräu, Brückenstraße 19, 96135 Stegaurach-Mühlendorf, 49.86887°, 10.81334°, +49 951 29119. M from 16:00; W-Su from 11:00; Tu closed. Brewery with its own carp breeding. 15.4.16
  • Hausbräu Stegaurach, Ruhlstraße 6, 96135 Stegaurach, 49.86066°, 10.85511°, +49 951 299709. M-Sa 08:00-20:00. In 2001, the master brewer and malt master became self-employed and founded the Hausbräu Stegaurach. The range includes lager beer, pils, smoked beer, black beer, wheat and from October to Christmas Oktoberbock and wheat Bock beer. 18.4.16

Strullendorf

Der Schwanenkeller in Strullendorf

  • Brauerei-Gasthaus Sauer, Sutte 5, 96129 Roßdorf a. F, 49.86758°, 10.99840°, +49 9543 1578. Tu-Su hot food 11:30-14:00 and 16:00-21:00, closed M. Franconian cuisine, in the summer beer garden. Self-brewed Pils, unfiltered, yeast-thick Urbräu, yeast white beer, brown beer and seasonally a bright, tasty Rossdorfer Bock beer.
  • Brauerei Griess, Magdalenenstr. 6, 96129 Geisfeld, 49.88054°, 11.01151°, +49 9505 1624. M Tu Th F 15:00-22:00, Sa Su 10:00-22:00, closed W. Franconian cuisine, in the summer beer garden. Specialties Ziebeleskäse (fresh cheese), garlic cheese and Zwetschgenbames. At Christmas time, there is Bockbier.
  • Brauerei Krug, Alte Dorfstraße 11, 96129 Geisfeld, 49.88133°, 11.01393°, +49 9505 484. M W-F from 16:00, Sa from 14:00, Su holidays 10:15 after the mass at the church, closed Tu. Beer garden in the summer. There are brotzeit and alternating one sort of tap beer, no bottled beer.
  • Griess-Keller, In Geisfeld abbiegen, ist ausgeschildert, dann weiter bis zum Parkplatz., 49.87738°, 11.01054°, +49 171 7927315. M-Sa 16:30-23:00, Su holidays 14:00-23:00, closed in bad weather. On the menu are brotzeit and pizzas. Sometimes Fridays (see homepage) additionally grilled trout and mackerel. On Saturdays there is hot food and Sunday coffee with homemade cakes. Occasionally, there is also live music.

Trebgast

Viereth-Trunstadt

Goat roast to the church consecration

  • Brauerei-Gasthof Kundmüller, Weiher 13, 96191 Viereth-Trunstadt, 49.91272°, 10.75176°, +49 9503 4338. Daily from 09:00, W closed. The inn is a former hunting lodge, including the brewery, the beer garden, the distillery, the guest house and a small farm. The beers of the brewery have also received many awards including European champion titles. Drafting of the Maibock beer the 4th weekend in April and drafting of the Bock beer at the 3rd weekend in October
  • Brauerei-Gasthof Mainlust, Hauptstraße 9, 96191 Viereth-Trunstadt, 49.92338°, 10.77847°, +49 9503 7444. closed F. Brewery inn with beer garden, Franconian cuisine and accommodation facilities.

Waischenfeld

Brauerei Krug: Schnitzel mit Kartoffelsalat

  • Brauerei Krug, Breitenlesau 1 b, 91344 Waischenfeld, 49.8615°, 11.2919°, +49 9202 535. Tu-Su 08:00-00:00, closed n. The inn is a destination for guests from a wide area. No matter what day of the week and what time of day you come, there are always so many guests that you have to look for a place. The specialty is the schnitzel with potato salad, but also the other dishes are recommended. For a schnitzel and a self-brewed beer you can still get under €10. Dark lager beer, Urstoff, Pilsner, Weisse, Dark beer and Gaas-Seidla, a beer mixed drink from lager beer, cola and Kirschdessert wine with approx. 2.8% alc
  • Brauerei Schroll, Nankendorf 41, 91344 Waischenfeld, 49.8648°, 11.3371°, +49 9204 248. 09:00-23:00; closed Tu. Brewery tours on request. Landbier, Helles, from November to Easter Bockbier

Warmensteinach

  • Brauerei Hütten, Hütten 6-8, 95485 Warmensteinach, 50.00547°, 11.81244°, +49 9277 312. A brewery tour takes place every Thursday at 14:30. Registration with Touristinfo Warmensteinach +49 9277 1401. There is no brewery restaurant, but you can try the beers in the inns and buy them in the markets.

Wattendorf

The two breweries are directly opposite the street.

  • Brauerei Hübner, Hauptstraße 28, 96196 Wattendorf, 50.03247°, 11.12632°, +49 9504 207. Tu Th F Su 11:30-23:00; M Sa from 16:00; W closed. An unfiltered Pils and an amber colored lager beer are brewed. There is Franconian cuisine from its own slaughter, on Sunday roasts.
  • Brauerei Dremel, Hauptstraße 21, 96196 Wattendorf, 50.03275°, 11.12650°, +49 9504 271. W-Sa from 16:00; Su holidays from 10:00, lunch is served from 11:30; closed M Tu. A bright and dark unfiltered Zwicklbier and a white beer are brewed, besides, there are different Schnaps- and liqueur varieties from own production. There is Franconian cuisine and brotzeit from own production.

Weißenbrunn

Weißenohe

Klosterbrauerei Weißenohe The Fünf-Seidla-Steig is a brewery trail with about 19 km long to the five private breweries in the communities of Gräfenberg and Weißenohe.

  • Wirtshaus Klosterbrauerei, Klosterstraße 20, 91367 Weißenohe, 49.62980°, 11.25251°, +49 9192 6357. 15 Apr-31 Oct: W-Su from 11:00, closed M Tu except on holidays; 1 Nov-14 Apr: Th F from 17:00, Sa Su from 11:00, closed M-W. Franconian cuisine, in the summer beer garden. Hemp beer, ginger light beer. An old monastery, founded in 1058, beer production for almost 1000 years.

Weißenstadt

  • Brauerei Michael, Kirchenlamitzer Str. 66, 95163 Weißenstadt, 50.10545°, 11.88949°, +49 9253 265. M-Th 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:30, F 09:00-17:30, Sa 08:30-12:00. There is a selection of unusual beer varieties, such as rye beer, Indian pale ale or Polaris winter beer with a light glacier ice flavor or Autumn beer Mandarin with pronounced citrus aromas.

Weismain

  • Püls-Bräu, Burgkunstadter Str. 41 - 43, 96260 Weismain, 50.08846°, 11.23775°, +49 95 75 92 29 - 0. Tu-F 08:00-12:00 and 13:30-18:00; Sa 08:00-12:00.. Brewery, without own inn, but you can buy beer. The drink market is located on the Festungsweg 2a, in Weismain, in the yard of the restaurant Obendorfer (see below). 11-7-16
  • Brauereigasthof Obendorfer, Festungsweg 2, 96260 Weismain, 50.08548°, 11.24184°, +49 9575 207. Tu 16:30-22:30, W-F 10:00-14:30 and 16:30-22:30, Sa 15:00-22:30, Su 09:30-14:00 and 16:30-22:30. They let brew their beer at the brewery Püls Bräu according to their own recipe. 11.7.16

Wunsiedel

  • Bräustübl, Brunnenstraße 10, 95632 Wunsiedel-Schönbrunn, 50.02736°, 11.96997°, +49 9232 2813. Daily 09:00-00:00, closed Th; hot food from 11:00-14:00 and from 17:00-21:00. Over 200-year-old brewery gasthof of the brewery Lang, with Franconian cuisine and changing daily menu from own slaughter. Specialty is a "Schlachtschüssel", meats and sausages from freshly slaughtered pig. There are also 10 cheap beds for overnight stays.

Lower Franconia

While wine has historically been more prominent in this area, beer is brewed here as well.

Aschaffenburg

Bad Kissingen

Wittelsbacher Turm Bräu

Bad Neustadt

  • Karmeliter Bräu, Ludwig-Elsbett-Straße 5-7, 97616 Salz bei Bad Neustadt (im Ortsteil Salz), 50.29694°, 10.19360°, +49 9771 1323. Former monastery brewery founded in 1348 and thus one of the oldest still existing breweries of Bavaria, since 1923 as a family enterprise led: breeds Pils, Helles, Dunkles, Märzen and Radler. The brewery farm was moved to the district Salz, brewery sightings only on request, brewery inn is the Rathschenke in the town centre.

Gerolzhofen

Großostheim

  • Eder & Heylands Brauerei. The Eder brewery now owner of the Aschaffenburg Heylands and Schlappeseppel brands as well as Bavaria Weizenbier. Export and Pils under the names Eder and Heylands

Hausen (Rhön)

  • Rother Bräu, Birkenweg 2, 97647 Roth v. d. Rhön, 50.49017°, 10.12034°, +49 9779 81010. Locally oriented family brewery, organic beers, mixers and sodas are produced. Brewery view every Monday at 11:00. Öko Bier & Apfel, organic beer and apple, is a mixture of 65% beer organic drink and 35% apple juice from biologically controlled cultivation, alcohol 3.1% vol.

Hofheim (Unterfranken)

Kreuzberg

Beer garden in front of the monastery

Klostergaststätte, Klosterbrauerei Kreuzberg, Kreuzberg 2; 97653 Bischofsheim/Rhön, 50.37087°, 9.97588°, +49 9772 9124 - 0. Daily 08:00-20:00, until 21:00 deposit back. The Klosterbrauerei brews only for the serving in the monastery and for the direct sale. The Kreuzberg beer is probably for many the most important attraction in the monastery. It is brewed with a little more of the original wort and tastes best in its kind on the Kreuzberg itself. The kitchen offers hearty Franconian and Bavarian dishes. The traditional brotzeit to one Maß (one litre) of Kreuzberg beer is the portion cheese, but there are also more cold and hot food, the portions are certainly more than adequate, the prices but still quite cheap. On nice days (especially in late summer and early autumn), the monastery restaurant is often crowded in the afternoon. Before the drinks and the food issue long queues form, and the seats are scarce. Weather permitting beer garden. On Sundays and public holidays during the main worship services. The monastery is closed from the end of October until shortly before Christmas. Accommodation in the monastery is possible.

Lohr am Main

Maroldsweisach

  • Brauerei-Gaststätte Hartleb (Zum grünen Baum), Herrenstraße 9, 96126 Maroldsweisach (in town centre), 50.19663°, 10.66082°, +49 9532 240. The beer brewed in the brewery is an unfiltered land beer, which is also bottled and brought to bear. In addition, there are low-priced typical Franconian cuisine.

Miltenberg

Oberelsbach

  • Pax Bräu (Brauerei), Rathgeberstr. 7, 97656 Oberelsbach (Near the church, in the center), 50.44162°, 10.11762°, +49 178 80 68 958. A one-man brewery established in 2007. Breweries are made from whiskey malt and smoked malt as well as wheat beer, both of which are made from organic raw materials. The beer is sold in the one-liter bottle. Brewery visits on request.

Ostheim vor der Rhön

In 1995, after many years of cooking, Dipl.-Braumeister Dieter Leipold introduced the system of the lemonade made according to the principle of brewing. The sugar is converted into gluconic acid instead of by fermentation in alcohol by a (secret) fermentation process. The purely biological method of production was the prelude to the triumph of the Bionade as a non-alcoholic modern refreshment drink; It is made in the flavors of elderberry, lychee, herbs and ginger orange. Today the Radeberger Group produces the modern shower head. Further information:www.bionade.com

  • Streck Bräu, Ludwig-Jahn-Straße 11, 97645 Ostheim vor der Rhön (at the north-western edge of the town towards Oberwald), 50.45210°, 10.22400°, +49 9777 9265. The brewery Streck has existed since 1718 and produces pils, light, wheat, dark, export, organic beer, three beer mixes and several sodas. In the shop, there are articles about the beer. Brewery visits on Wed at 14:00 in the courtyard of the brewery, at the latest on the previous day, advance registration required.

Saal an der Saale

  • Brauerei Lang, Charlotte-von-Kalb-Straße 13, 97633 Waltershausen, 50.33728°, 10.38686°, +49 9762 92 92. W-F from 17:00; Sa from 14:00; Su from 10:00. The only brewery in the area Grabfeld. Brewed is Pils, yeast wheat, Lager, Bock and special beers like the dark "Franconian copper beer". Brewery tours by arrangement. There is Franconian cuisine in the inn.

Triefenstein

Werneck

Würzburg

Zeil am Main

Craftbeer of Göller

Middle Franconia

Erlangen

Gunzenhausen

  • Schorschbräu, Oberasbach 16a, 91710 Gunzenhausen, 49.10332°, 10.78775°, +49 9831 883250. The small brewery holds the world record with a beer with 57%. If you want to buy one of the special beers from 13% to 43% alcohol content, this cannot be done directly at the brewery but at Edeka Höfler 📍 22.2.16

Lauf an der Pegnitz

Neustadt an der Aisch

Kohlenmühle

Nürnberg

Gastraum im Barfüßer

Schnaittach

Spalt

  • Stadtbrauerei Spalt, Brauereigasse 3, 91174 Spalt, 49.17432°, 10.92516°, +49 9175 7961 0. The Stadtbrauerei is the last municipal brewery in Germany, with 5,100 brewery owners, the citizens of Spalt and the mayor is the managing director. Guided tours are offered from 20 people. The beers are brewed with cleavage aromas and served in the restaurants in and around Spalt. 25.2.16

Weißenburg in Bayern