Bamberg Breweries — All 9 and What Makes Each Special

Why Bamberg Is Different

Most German cities have one or two surviving breweries from the 19th century, if they're lucky. Bamberg has nine — all within or immediately adjacent to the old town, almost all still family-owned, almost all with their own tavern or beer cellar.

This is the result of geography (no industrial expansion pressure), history (Bamberg survived World War II nearly intact), and a local beer culture that simply never accepted consolidation. Each brewery has its own following. You don't drink "Bamberg beer" — you drink a Schlenkerla, a Mahrs, a Fässla.

The Breweries in Detail

1. Brauerei Schlenkerla

Schlenkerla is the reason international beer lovers come to Bamberg. The rauchbier (smoked beer) has been brewed here for over 600 years — the malt is dried over beechwood smoke, giving the beer an unmistakable bacon-and-smoke character. The first sip either converts you immediately or requires a second attempt. There is no middle ground.

The tavern itself is one of the most atmospheric in all of Franconia: dark vaulted ceilings, narrow tables, regulars who've sat in the same spot for decades. The Märzen on tap is the entry beer. For the brave: the Ur-Bock.

What to order: Rauchbier Märzen (start here) or Ur-Bock (for veterans)
When to go: Open daily from 9:30am, closed Mondays
Address: Dominikanerstraße 6, 96049 Bamberg

2. Brauerei Spezial

If Schlenkerla's intensity is too much to start with, Spezial is the answer. The smoked beer here is milder, more approachable — still unmistakably rauchbier, but with less intensity. The tavern is smaller and more personal. Visit both for the direct comparison.

What to order: Rauchbier Lager — lighter colour, smoother smoke profile
Address: Obere Königstraße 10, 96052 Bamberg

3. Mahrs Bräu

Among those who know, Mahrs is the favourite. The Ungespundetes — literally "unbunged" — is one of the best beers in Franconia: full-bodied, soft, almost no carbonation, drawn directly from a wooden barrel. The tavern is family-run, the prices honest, the atmosphere exactly what you picture when someone says "Franconian pub."

Mahrs is not a tourist spot. That is its greatest achievement.

What to order: The Ungespundetes — always. Then the Kellerbier.
Address: Wunderburg 10, 96050 Bamberg

4. Brauerei Fässla

Fässla is directly opposite the train station — convenient if you've just arrived, strategically unfortunate if you've already had too much elsewhere. The brewery has its own guesthouse, meaning you can sleep directly above where your beer was brewed.* The Gold-Pils is the flagship: clean, pale, very drinkable.

What to order: Lagerbier (the house beer) or Gold-Pils
Stay here: Gasthof Fässla on Booking.com* →
Address: Obere Königstraße 19, 96052 Bamberg

5. Brauerei Greifenklau

Greifenklau sits on Stephansberg hill — a climb rewarded with one of Bamberg's finest beer gardens. Views over the old town, old chestnut trees, beer straight from the cellar. The Lagerbier is unspectacular in the best sense: well-made, honest, refreshing.

What to order: Lagerbier — classic Franconian, no pretence
Note: Seasonal only, summer months. Check opening hours before visiting.
Address: Laurenziplatz 20, 96052 Bamberg

6. Brauerei Keesmann

Keesmann is Bamberg's best-kept secret. Less tourist-facing than Schlenkerla, less famous than Mahrs, but the Herren Pils counts among the finest beers in the city. Family-run, fourth generation, exceptional consistency.

What to order: Herren Pils — one of the best pilsners in Franconia
Address: Wunderburg 5, 96050 Bamberg

7. Bamberger Hofbräu

The city beer. On every menu in Bamberg, reliably brewed, clean. Not a highlight, but not a mistake. Order a Märzen here to calibrate your palate before the rest.

8. Wilde Rose Keller

The Wilde Rose brewery closed in 1971. What remains is a seasonal beer cellar on the Stephansberg with views over the city. Beer is supplied by Brauerei Trunk. Not a brewery visit in the classic sense, but a good summer detour.

What to order: Kellerbier (from Brauerei Trunk)
Season: Summer only, check opening times

9. Klosterbrauerei Bamberg

In a monastery, historic setting, more of an excursion than a regular haunt. The beer is solid, the location unique. Worth a visit if you want Bamberg's brewing history in the most literal sense.

How to Do Bamberg Properly

Day 1: The classics. Lunch at Schlenkerla (Rauchbier mandatory), afternoon stroll through the old town, evening at Mahrs Bräu — the Ungespundetes from the wooden barrel. That's Bamberg in one day.

Day 2: The depth. Morning at Keesmann (Herren Pils), midday at Greifenklau on the hill (if in season), evening at Fässla or Spezial. After that, you know Bamberg.

Where to Stay in Bamberg

For a brewery visit, staying in or near the old town means everything is walkable — including the journey home after an evening at Mahrs.

* Affiliate link. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.