Visiting Germany will satisfy your cravings for spectacular sceneries and a grand European adventure. Still, it is not the only thing this exceptional country offers, but it also quenches every traveler’s thirst for a great beer. Many best breweries in Germany serve classic German beer and various options for fresh local craft beer.
One of the best highlights when traveling in Germany to taste their incredible beers and Oktoberfest is held in Bavaria, Germany, which shows smiles and mugs full of beers to drink.
Due to the country’s overwhelming breweries and beers, it is ideal for hitting pubs, drinking beers, and interacting with the locals.
It creates a great and memorable trip to Germany. To do so, check out the best breweries to visit and taste authentic German beer.
Best Beer Halls & Breweries in Germany
BrewDog DogTap Berlin
Address: Im Marienpark 23, 12107 Berlin, Germany
Located in Berlin-Mariendorf, the BrewDog DogTap Berlin is a brewery, bar, and event center all rolled into one. BrewDog Berlin is the European presence of the BrewDog breweries. BrewDog is a brand of brewery that is dedicated to the production of the finest craft beer.
The BrewDog boasts a 2500 m² taproom that carries about 40 different beer brands and has a vast number of taps all in one place. As a bonus, all this beer can be drunk while sitting in one of the most beautiful beer gardens in the world.
And in case you get tired of beer, there are several other attractions. There is an excellent menu of food to order from, everything ranging from burgers to elaborate meals for the whole family. There is also a museum dedicated to the history of beer and a school for those who want to learn more about beer.
Meanwhile, DogTap Berlin is an event center next to BrewDog Berlin. While the BrewDog serves the best craft beers, the DogTap offers the best event experience for any event. Whether it’s a company convention, a family wedding, or a regular party, the Dog Tap offers unique spaces that can be adapted to your needs.
Whatever the occasion, a kitchen team is always on hand to create tailor-made menus. Also, equipment such as a sound system and tasteful furniture are available to make your event a success.
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Hopper Brau GmbH & Co. KG
Address: Beerenweg 12, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
Hopper Bräu GmbH & Co is a brewery and bar located in Hamburg, Germany. The brewery is dedicated to brewing new and innovative craft beer using exotic ingredients and recipes.
The brewery aims to save beer by introducing newer, fresher beer recipes instead of sticking with the old brands. Each beer is produced with the input of the community of beer lovers around the restaurant. A tasting process is open to the public to decide which beer should eventually be produced.
The beers include shore leave, bright excitement, the American Dream, and gold digger. The brewery also produces seasonal beers, such as the senate goat, double hopper, and tutti frutti gooseberry.
The Hopper Bräu has become one of Germany’s leading craft beer destinations and has received several awards for its beers. Its senate goat drink received the best craft beer award from Meiningers Craft.
The brewery hosts tours to take interested participants through the various stages of the brewing process that goes into making beer. There are also brewing classes for those who want to go further and actually learn to brew their beer.
The brewing classes offer a hands-on approach; the participants can sometimes take their beer away. There are also weekly beer-related events held at the bar that dive into beer and other related topics for the community of beer enthusiasts.
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Berliner-Kindl-Schultheiss-Brauerei
Address: Indira-Gandhi-Straße 66-69, 13053 Berlin, Germany
The Berliner Kindl Schultheiss is a brewery located in Berlin, Germany. It was founded in 1872 in Rixdorf, Germany, by eight Germans who intended to create a world-class brewery. The brewery was initially called the Vereinbrauerei Berliner Gastwirte zu Berlin AG.
The brewery was renamed the Berliner Kindl Brauerei AG in 1907 during a trademark revamps, and the now famous golden boy was added to its logo. Although the brewery suffered damages during the second world war, it was eventually renovated, and brewing resumed in 1947.
Though now using modern state-of-the-art equipment, the brewery adheres to the old, traditional brewing methods that have been in use since its founding. The brewery uses the traditional quartet of malt, hops, yeast, and barley in brewing its beers – only occasionally adding something extra to switch things up.
The first beer brewed at the brewery was the Berliner Kindl, a beer after the variety of the bottom-fermented Pilsner, which gained popularity then.
The beers at the brewery range from white beers like the Berliner Kindl Weisse and the Berliner Kindl Weisse Raspberry to the Berliner Kindl Bock Dark and the Berliner Kindl Radler.
The Jubilee Pilsner, the brewery’s most famous beer of all time, was a special beer brewed for the 750th anniversary of Berlin. The brewery offers several tours for people who want to walk through the brewery and observe its processes up close and personal.
THOMBANSEN Restaurant | Brauhaus | Brauerei
Address: Lange Str. 3, 59555 Lippstadt, Germany
The Brauhaus / Brauerei Thombansen is a restaurant and brewery located in Lippstadt in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the German district of Soest.
Thombansen was founded in 2000 by Daniel Thombansen, the brewmaster at the Thombansen. The restaurant and brewery are housed in a half-timbered building that has been standing since 1758.
Although the main attraction is Thombansen’s beer, it also has a restaurant with an ever-changing menu to keep things fresh. German dishes, such as the Malzmeister Schinkel and international dishes, are available. There’s also the option of having something as simple as a beer and a burger.
The Thombansen brewery serves a wide range of beers, ranging from several classic beers to beloved hand-brewed craft beers. As much as 500 liters of wort can be produced in the brewhouse every day, according to the Thombansen website.
The craft beers served are innovative takes on old beer techniques. They incorporate several ingredients that are traditionally not used in brewing beer. The most famous examples are the beers brewed with components such as oranges, coriander, pumpkins, and lemongrass in the mix.
A tour of the Thombansen brewery is possible for those interested in going behind the scenes to learn more about how the beers are brewed. However, tours must be prearranged, which is not complicated; you only have to let the brewery know.
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Eschenbräu
Address: Triftstraße 67, 13353 Berlin, Germany
The Eschenbräu is a brewery in Wedding, Berlin’s Mitte borough locality. Brewmaster Martin Eschenbrenner runs the Eschenbräu. Martin founded the Eschenbräu 15 years ago and began by brewing his beer, which continues today. The Eschenbräu is particularly unique because it serves different beers at different seasons.
Summer features an imperial stout aged for over a year in a red wine barrel known as a “Red Wedding.” The Red Wedding is brewed in such a way that it is a blend of coffee, lactose, oak, wine, and vanilla, all artfully mixed in a single beer. Panke Gold, an orange-colored, fruity beer, is served in the autumn.
The spring features a robust, malty, pale version of the German bock beer known as a Maibock. In wintertime, extra-strong Old Swedes are served.
Besides the seasonal beers, the Eschenbräu also offers a wide selection of beers, especially craft beer. From Black Mamba and OPA Rudi to the Winter Beer, the Eschenbräu always has a beer for everyone.
The beer cellar alone can seat up to 150 people at a time, while the beer garden, located under an oak tree, can accommodate up to 200 people.
In the garden, people mill about sipping beers, eating, or chatting with friends. The Eschenbräu also has a restaurant and offers a fairly robust menu to go with the beers.
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Brauhaus Spandau – Restaurant & Hotel
Address: Neuendorfer Str. 1, 13585 Berlin, Germany
The Brauhaus Spandau is a brewery, hotel, restaurant, and bar located in the Spandau borough of Berlin. The Brauhaus Spandau is located in a part of Berlin that is especially suited to tourists because of its closeness to places such as Berlin’s Olympiastadion (Olympic Stadium). The building in which Brauhaus Spandau is a building from the 1800s, and to this day, the Brauhaus Spandau retains an Imperial era look.
The hotel comprises seven rooms, five double rooms; the other two rooms are a brewmaster suite and a brewmaster apartment. All of the rooms are clean, comfortable, and tastefully furnished. They also have a telephone and a TV set, and all have WiFi access.
Along with the hotel, there is a restaurant that serves German delicacies and cuisine to visitors. The restaurant offers a unique experience because the meals are served with all the brewery’s ambiance.
The restaurant’s constantly changing menu emphasizes the ingredients’ quality and freshness. Most ingredients used in the restaurant are brought directly from farms in the surrounding areas of Berlin.
The brewery in Spandau was founded in 1994 and remains the only brewery in Spandau. The beer garden can seat over 600 people and is also used for several events. The Brauhaus Spandau brews as many as 13 beers originally made in Spandau.
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Mauritius Brauerei GmbH
Address: Talstraße 2, 08066 Zwickau, Germany
The Mauritius Brauerei GmbH is a private brewery located in Zwickau, Germany. The Mauritius Brauerei GmbH was founded in 1859 and has been at the forefront of beer production and innovation in Zwickau. Jörg Dierig, the Managing Partner, currently runs the brewery. The brewery has received several awards, including its commitment to its employees’ safety.
The Mauritius Brauerei GmbH is committed to the highest standards of brewing beer. The brewery is a strong proponent of the city of Zwickau, as shown by its name mentioning Mauritius, the patron saint of the city of Zwickau.
The brewery also partners with the city and several other organizations to host festivals, concerts, sports competitions, and other events to bolster the city’s economic and cultural well-being. It also shows its commitment because it uses raw materials sourced from the region in its beer production to the extent they are available.
The brewery’s menu includes the Zwickau Pilsner, the first Zwickau beer that still bears the original seal from 1859. Other beers include a Mauritius Bock Dark, a Mauritius Winter Beer, and a Mauritius Hop Crown. The kitchen staff cooks a special, fresh cuisine with regional recipes to go with each sip of the tasty beer.
The dishes include grilled monkfish with roasted sweet potatoes, roasted chicken and root vegetables, roast beef, mashed potatoes, and several other dishes.
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Erdinger Brewery
Address: Franz-Brombach-Straße 1, 85435 Erding, Germany
Erdinger Brewery is a private brewery in Erding, Germany, and is a very well-known brewery for its wheat beers, and it is the biggest wheat beer brewery in the world. A German known opened the brewery Johann Kienle in 1886. The current name of the Erdinger Brewery was given to it by Franz Bombach, who was the owner in 1945.
The Erdinger Brewery prides itself on its commitment to brewing only beer with Bavarian roots or weissbier. As such, the brewery proudly adheres to what is known as the German beer purity law, which was first introduced by Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria in 1516.
The Erdinger offers a collection of different wheat beers ranging from the Leicht, a light beer, to the dark brown Dunkel beer and the Festbier, brewed seasonally during the legendary Oktoberfest in Bavaria. The Erdinger also offers an alcohol-free beer – Alkoholfrei – currently marketed to sportspeople as a post-activity drink.
Erdinger Brewery offers a tour through its facilities for people curious about the processes of making excellent wheat beer. The tour offers a walk through both the processes as well as the history of the brewery and also involves a tasting at the end of all the different varieties of beers Erdinger offers. There is also a side serving of Bavarian sausages and pretzels with the beer.
Im Dom
Address: Michaelstraße 75-77, 41460 Neuss, Germany
The Brauerei Im Dom is a brewery in the city of Neuss, Germany. The Im Dom is the only brewery left standing in the whole town of Neuss and is a significant part of Neuss culture; notably, it’s the only link it has with illustrious brewing history.
The Im Dom is one of the oldest breweries in Neuss and Germany. Its origins can be traced as far back as the year 1601.
The Weirtz family purchased it in 1801, and to this day, the brewery is owned by the Weirtz family. At some point, the Weirtz family leased out the brewery and its facilities to the Schlösser brewery, and for a very long time, no beer was brewed at the Im Dom.
However, this situation was remedied when the lease was not renewed in 2008, and after some renovations, the Im Dom was back to brewing and serving beer.
Today, the day-to-day brewery operations are overseen by Thorsten Kelm, the resident brewmaster. The I’m Dom serves three main beers in the traditional Neuss top-fermented brewing style.
The famous altbier is Dom’s Alt, Dom’s Gold, and the peculiar Neuss wheat beer. Other than the three main beers, other types of beers are brewed seasonally, and they are usually innovations from Thorsten Kelm, the brewmaster. There are also several tasty regional dishes to go with the beer at the I’m Dom.
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Dortmunder Actien Brauerei GmbH
Helfmann, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons
Address: Steigerstraße 20, 44145 Dortmund, Germany
The Dortmunder Actien Brauerei is a German brewery located in Dortmund, Germany. The brewery was opened by three German businessmen, Laurenz Fischer, Heinrich Mauritz, and Friedrich Mauritz. Three of them, in partnership with German brewmaster Heinrich Herberz, opened the Dortmunder Actien Brauerei in 1868.
The Dortmunder Actien Brauerei was initially called the Bierbrauerei Herberz & Co. In 1872 the brewery became a publicly-traded company and changed its name to Dortmunder Actien Brauerei.
The Dortmunder Actien Brauerei was one of the first German breweries to export their beer to other parts of the world. In 1879, the brewery began exporting beer to other countries such as India, Belgium, and Australia. As of today, the DAB is exported to over 35 countries worldwide.
The Dortmunder’s signature and most popular product is the DAB, a beer named for the brewery’s initials. The beer is a pale, crisp lager made with the bottom-fermentation process. The DAB has received several awards, including two Grand Prix awards at world exhibitions in Paris.
The Dortmunder has been at the forefront of beer development in Germany. It was one of the first breweries to have a refrigerator installed in 1881, which enabled it to produce beer with the bottom-fermentation process.
A chemical and bacteriological laboratory was opened in 1893, and in 1959 the brewery began moving away from traditional wooden casks to lighter, more durable aluminum casks.
The Dortmunder Actien Brauerei, despite several recent financial troubles, is the last brewery standing in Dortmund today. Check out these top things to do in Dresden.
Brauerei Feldschlösschen
Address: Theophil Roniger-Strasse, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland
The Brauerei Feldschlösschen is a brewery located in the city of Dresden, Germany. The brewery was officially opened in 1858, twenty years after the Meisl brothers initially bought the Feldschlösschen, where the brewery is located. It was initially called the Aktienbrauerei zum Feldschlößchen.
The Brewery is one of several breweries which follow the German purity law in beer production. The brewery suffered severe damage during the second world war, but it resumed operations not long after, in 1945.
Over time the brewery has received several awards for its outstanding beer, including the Dresden Medal of Merit in 1909. The Brewery is significantly invested in the city of Dresden, and in 2005, it organized its first beer festival on the historical site of Coschütz.
The brewery has been through several ownership arrangements over the years, but it is now back in the hands of an East German brewery group. It was sold to TCB Beverages by Carlsberg in 2011 and has remained a part of the TCB family of breweries ever since.
The Feldschlösschen Pilsner, a unique local take on the famous pale lager, is easily the most popular beer produced by the brewery. In 2006, the brand’s logo was changed to incorporate the Pichmännel, a nod to local Dresden brewing culture and practices.
The brewery offers brewery tours to people, and the tours walk participants through the process that goes into brewing at the Brauerei Feldschlösschen. This process is largely unchanged from the brewery’s earliest days.
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Union Brauerei Bremen
Address: Theodorstraße 12-13, 28219 Bremen, Germany
The Union Brauerei Bremen is a brewery located in the city of Bremen, Germany. The brewery, founded in 1907, has undergone several ups and downs. Most notable is that it was closed for almost 50 years, from 1968 to 2015.
In 2015, the historic brewery was reopened, and operations began on the same site as the old brewery. The renovation of the old brewery and its reopening resulted from a collaboration between Lüder Kastens, a German architect, and Markus Zeller, former Managing Director of Beck & Co. The brewery’s main building, including the brewhouse, was awarded a Bremen Monument Preservation award and protected.
The brewery has a beer garden that can seat 180 people and offers several beer-themed events. In honor of the city where it is located, the brewery calls the beers it produces Bremer. Several different types of Bremer beer are available, such as the Keller Pils, Rot Bier, Weiss Bier, Pale Ale, and Irish Stout.
The brewery also has beers that are only brewed seasonally. There is a Union Alster Lemon served only in summer and spring, and it’s a unique combination of the light Bremer Union Alster with a sour, tangy lemon flavor. The Union Always Bock is served only in spring.
Several other varieties of beer are being brewed at the Union brewery, including the alcohol-free beers Freihart and Freestyle.
Karlsberg
Address: Karlsbergstraße 62, 66424 Homburg, Germany
The Karlsberg is one of Germany’s largest breweries. The Karlsberg Group is also a large brewing conglomerate that owns and operates several breweries and has several beer brands under its umbrella. Karlsberg is usually called Karlsbräu outside of Germany to differentiate it from Carlsberg, a Danish brewing company.
The Karlsberg Group also runs several other breweries and business enterprises. They include the Königsbacher Brewery, Mineralbrunnen Überkingen-Teinach, and the Brasserie de Saverne, which is a brewery in France. The Merziger, Klindworth, and Niehoffs Vaihinger, which produce juices, also belong to the Karlsberg Group.
The brewery was founded in 1878 and has been handed down several generations in the same family, making it one of the oldest family-run breweries in Germany. It is currently run by Richard Weber, the great-grandson of Christian Weber, the brewery founder. Subsidiaries of the Karlsberg group include the Karlsberg Brauerei GmbH, Karlsberg International Brand GmbH, and the Brasserie Karlsberg holding.
The Karlsberg brand logo features a star representing the brewery guild symbol and symbolizes Karlsberg’s commitment to the traditional quality brewing process.
The Karlsberg Brewery offers several different brands of beer. According to the German purity law, the brands range from the Karlsberg Urpils made with fresh magnum hops to the fresh and mild Karlsberg Pilsner. Other beers include the alcohol-free Pilsner, the non-alcoholic Nature Wheat beer, the Fine Gold Pilsner, and so on.
Brauhaus Georgbræu
Address: Spreeufer 4, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Brauhaus Georgbræu is a brewery and restaurant located in Berlin, Germany, on the bank of the River Spree. The Brauhaus Georgbræu management team is made up of Annett Greiner-Bäuerle, who is the managing partner; Holger Lampe, who is the brewmaster; Matthias Kern, who is the chef; and Peggy Fischer, who manages the office and sees to its efficient day to day running.
The brewery has sitting areas referred to as beer rooms. The sitting area consists of eight rooms, each with its peculiar design, where guests can relax and enjoy beer and a meal. The rooms can also be used for celebrating a birthday or anniversary.
The Georgbræu serves a hearty menu of German dishes of several varieties. Light dishes include the Berliner Stulle and potato soup with Viennese sausage. The main dishes include a Berlin-style bratwurst, stuffed cabbage, and gratinated pepper. Dessert includes homemade berry stew, apple strudel, and several others.
The Georgbræu serves several drinks ranging from spirits to hot beverages. The spirits include the asbach brandy; the Bismarck; the jägermeister, the Fernet Branca, the Johnnie Walker/Jim Beam, and the moskovskaya vodka.
For people who want non-alcoholic drinks, the Georgbræu serves orange and apple juice, several beverages such as milk, coffee, and espressos, and other more popular drinks like Fanta, Coca-Cola, and Sprite. The drinks menu also includes an extensive serving of several wine brands.
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Privatbrauerei Hofmühl
Address: Gewerbegebiet, Hofmühlstraße 10, 85072 Eichstätt, Germany
The Privatbrauerei Hofmühl GmbH is a brewery located in Eichstätt, Germany. The brewery is the only one in Eichstätt, and Wilhelm von Reichenau founded it in 1492. The brewery was nationalized in 1803, over 300 years after Wilhelm von Reichenau founded it.
When it was nationalized, it was owned by the Duke of Leutchenburg and Ferdinand von Toscana. However, in 1876, it became the property of the Emslander family as Johann Emslander turned it into a private brewery after renovating it.
The Hofmühl brewery, as the only brewery located in Eichstätt, prides itself on its delivery of beer that is both high quality and has the distinct marks of the region where it is produced. The brewery prides itself on producing beer with only the highest quality materials locally sourced in the Eichstätt region.
The Hofmühl Brewery is also widely known for its emphasis on sustainability and an eco-friendly brewing process. This is particularly evident as the brewery uses the so-called “Merlin” organic brewing technology, which helps in saving as much as 60% of primary energy.
Although it is most widely known for its Hofmühl Hell, the Hofmühl brewery produces an extensive range of beers. They range from the award-winning Hofmühl Rother cellar beer to the Hofmühl Kellergold, Hofmühl Privat Pils, and the Hofmühl dark. The Hofmühl brewery has also taken to producing the signature beers made by breweries they take over using their unique formulas.
Oettinger Brauerei GmbH
Address: Leinastraße 61-63, 99867 Gotha, Germany
The Oettinger Brewery GmbH is a German brewery that has its headquarters in Oettingen, Bavaria. The Oettinger is one of Germany’s largest beer producers and one of the world’s biggest breweries by sales and production volume.
The brewery was founded in 1731 at the site of the Braugasthof Forstquell Brewery by the Kollmar family. The brewery is still a family-run business today, making it one of the oldest family-run businesses in Germany.
The Oettinger Brewery mainly focuses on the export market, and its beers cannot be found at taps in bars or pubs. They are usually found in cans and bottles at retail supermarkets. This focus on a particular sector results from a decision made by Günther Kollmar when he was in charge of the brewery.
He decided not to compete directly with other breweries in the gastronomy sector. Instead, he decided to focus on supermarkets and retail stores. The Oettinger does direct business with supermarkets even today.
Besides its headquarters in Bavaria, Oettinger has three additional sites in Braunschweig, Gotha, and Mönchengladbach, all in Germany. The Oettinger employs about 1000 people in total at all its facilities. The brewery also produces approximately two billion cans and bottles of beer each year. Today the Oettinger also produces several other drinks apart from its beers. Its beers are recognized worldwide for their outstanding quality; all the beers produced by Oettinger are GMO-free.
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