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Bamberg

If you are interested in German Language courses, we highly recommend you check out www.Learn-German.com -- study German by day and Franconian beer by night!

The Fränkisches Brauereimuseum on the Michaelsberg has a wonderful select of old brewing equipment and breweriana.

The best beer bar in Bamberg is Cafe Abseits at Pödeldorfer Str. 39. It is around behind the train station. They usually have Andechs Dunkel on draft, along with beers from some of the smaller breweries in the countryside (on a rotating "Beer of the Month" basis). A bit out of the way if you are in the Altstadt, but well worth the walk. [map]

The official city and region website is www.bamberg.de

Getting there by train:

Trains for Bamberg leave from Wurzburg and Nürnberg frequently.

Check rail and bus schedules 

More information on Bamberg can be found at www.bamberg.info/www_tks/homeen_268_89_7_f.htm (English)  www.bamberg.info (German)

Points of Interest: Franconian Brewery Museum

New! Hotels in Bamberg

Breweries in Bamberg

Ambräusianum		Map
Dominikanerstrasse 10	Phone: 0951/5090262
96049 Bamberg
Opened August 2004!	Hell, Dunkel, Weizen  (draft only)
Bambergs newest brewery, just two doors down from Schlenkerla
6 votes received for an average rating of 3.00      How can I vote?
Comment from Fraser McDonald on 9/3/2004 3:55:03 AM
Excellent helles although at first I mistook it for a weisse it was so cloudy. The dunkel and the weisse are good examples of their type. I look forward to seeing how the beers develop as the brewery ages. Good food and service as well.
Comment from Bierman9 on 10/9/2004 11:43:05 AM
Following is my review, which was originally posted on www.beeradvocate.com. This pub was visited on 26SEP04. BierManVA, his friend Mark and I had just finished a great round of Rauchbier at Schlenkerla. We exited there on our short Bamberg Bier tour and headed to the "new place". I joked to them "Let me lay some BA on them!". We entered the place and I recognized the owner, Herr Mahr, from some internet photos. He was at the service bar, and we sauntered over. I showed him a BA card and said we were interested in his new place and were going to try some Biers. He welcomed us and said he offers a Weizen, Helles and Dunkel, plus Schlenkerla Rauch as well. He recommended the Weizen, as his best offering. Cool! We had a round and I asked to pay; he said "No problem, it's on me!" Way cool! We took our Biers and grabbed a table for some lunch. This is a nice-looking place; different from the typical Bamberg pub in that it's actually bright and airy! There's a cheery look here, with lots of light wood, both in the furniture and in the big-ass beams supporting things. The place is long and narrow from front to back, with tables to the right and left upon entering, the service bar near mid-room on the right, brew-kettles a bit further on the left, and more tables in an upstairs/downstairs courtyard area near the back. The wood is incorporated around some heavy stone archways existing from many years ago. A pleasant mix of modern German with the old original architecture. No music was heard playing, just the happy banter of Bier-drinking patrons. Service, in addition to Herr Mahrs hospitality, was friendly and efficient. We all agreed that the Weizen was indeed a tasty Bier, and the Würstplatter and Schnitzels we downed were well-made, ample and filling. Thnx to Herr Mahr for making our visit all the better. Please stop by when in downtown Bamberg. Prosit!!
Comment from Jim & Wendy Stebbins on 10/17/2004 9:00:15 AM
We were in the braueri several times before the renovation & new ownership. The food has always been great & so has the bier. It now has a better, more airy & cheerful atmosphere.I love the addition of the copper brew kettle.We met some very fun & interesting Germans from Auschafensburg, during the "Sandkerwa" Festival in August. Spent the entire afternoon trying the different biers with them. No complaints about this place & the bier was great.We recommend it during your visit.
Comment from scott rankin on 2/2/2005 3:23:35 AM
I agree it is very nice inside, but the beer leaves very much to be desired. I have been here numerous times hoping it would get better, but it hasn't.
Comment from Jussi Rokka on 2/2/2005 8:33:25 AM
The place is very nice and has a good atmosphere, but - sadly - the beers are as yet not in the same quality bracket as the other Bamberg breweries. And it doesn't help when you get a feeling of unclean beer lines in the taste. As I'm only a casual visitor, that hopefully was just bad luck.
Comment from Andrew Clarke on 11/19/2006 1:56:31 PM
Visited here on evening of 11th November,2006. Would have to agree with the last two contributors. Lovely place, great food but beer just not as good as other local breweries. Reminded me of US brewpub. Similar beer too. Very heavy, unfiltered but unsatisfying. Somewhat cloying.
Comment from Edo on 1/2/2007 11:43:14 AM
The place looks neat, and well taken care of. Like a modern German Brewpub instead of an old Franconian Brauereigasthof. The beers were rather disappointing, even the Ambräusiator Doppelbock. Luckily they served samplers of their beers.
Comment from Jan-Erik Svenson on 11/10/2007 4:48:00 AM
Standard modern German craft brewery with no particular connections to Franconian brewing culture. The beers are clean but lack character.
Add your own review of Ambräusianum
Brauerei Fässla		Map
Obere Königstrasse 19/21
96052 Bamberg
	Lager, Pils, Dunkles Märzen (Zwergla), Hefeweizen Hell und Dunkel
Hotel rooms are available
18 votes received for an average rating of 3.94      How can I vote?
See more pictures from Brauerei Fässla
Comment from Julie Moran on 1/1/2003 5:35:04 PM
My two visits were in the late 1980s, the beginning of the American Micro movement. The exchange rate was favorable, the prices were great, the beer was fluffy and beautiful. The property was wonderful and the brewery was cantankerous and pretty (the brewer gratefully alowed us a look around). The rooms were clean and charming, the food was great, and everyione I met there was so friendly. It is the perfect stay in Bamberg, no question. Very fond memories ...
Comment from Andy Thomas on 1/19/2003 6:27:53 PM
I went to Fassla once, it was in the early 1990's. Although the brewer that showed me around was very nice, the beer had a metallic taste I attributed to hot side aeration. I am a brewer and a detail guy, it was a bit too much for me. I moved on to the rauchbeer after that night.
Comment from Jos Brouwer on 1/31/2003 2:49:43 PM
Fäßla is my "local" whenever I am in Bamberg (4-5 times per year only - sadly). Need I say more?
Comment from Mark Kissel on 2/6/2003 8:35:42 AM
Just returned from Bamberg and visited Brauerei Fassla with Frank Wetzel. Had limited time and drank a Pils (or two). This after having a rauchbier from Schlenkerla Brauerei. Mild taste with full flavor. I rated the beers individually and gave this one a 4! Good bier for a warm/hot day during the summer months; seems like you would be able to drink several of these with no problem.
Comment from Jan-Erik Svensson on 4/16/2003 4:25:55 AM
A little sticky but nicely aromatic beers in a semi-traditional setting (the beer is served through fake barrels). Sometimes, the Pils is very tasty and pleasant. Hearty atmosphere of a traditional family brewery.
Comment from Tom Perera on 4/30/2003 5:32:56 PM
Bamberg's best Lager and Bambergator, the best Bockbeer. This place has that magic that wipes away the world's problems and stills existance, leaving you at rest to meditate and ENJOY great beer.
Comment from Guy K on 6/3/2003 12:34:00 PM
Very good beer and a nice room ! I go there every day when i`m in Bamberg
Comment from Richard Sanders on 7/23/2003 6:01:55 PM
First visited this Pub/Brewery in 1987 when the accommodation was basic. Now vastly improved with the Pils my favourite beer
Comment from scott rankin on 11/13/2003 3:49:42 AM
Great Bock Bier, although others in my party thought it was a little too strong. The hefeweizen is also outstanding. There is something to be said about gnomes who drink beer.
Comment from Henry Lindenau on 12/2/2003 4:10:31 PM
My favorite spot in Bamberg!
Comment from joe mclaughlin on 3/4/2004 4:33:30 PM
twas nice.........had only a few lagers to check the place out. the brew was a nice change of pace frome the smoked malt stuff but the atomosphere was a bit to smokey and cramped.
Comment from Dave Brown on 9/18/2004 3:22:46 AM
Just back from another enjoyable stay at the Fässla. The rooms are good value, and as I was driving the car park at the back was very useful. The lagerbier was also as good as I (vaguely!) remembered.
Comment from Steve Leonard on 7/29/2005 9:57:53 PM
Visited late May. Two nights in very clean, cheap, great single rooms. We loved it. Beer was as good as others. The mangnt was so polite and trusting. New rooms ,very large on second floor will be very nice to stay in. Beer is good, but so much more beauty to this city.
Comment from mike004 on 12/14/2005 1:22:07 AM
My favorite Bamberg brewery. A high volume pub, popular with locals. Not too many tourists. Lagerbier and pils are top notch. Mike
Comment from Zupfer on 3/6/2006 8:26:54 PM
I often drink Faessla Pils. If you are a fan of the beer dwarfs painted on the walls near the front door, you can find a redux in Taps Brewery and Fish House in Brea, California. Faessla is traditional Bamberg and is directly across the street from Brauerei Spezial. If you walk south on the Koenigstrasse, you will find Maisel Weissbierhaus on the west side of the street. Even further south another half mile (cut through an alley next to Maisel and continue south another half mile or less) and you will find Keesmann and Mahr.
Comment from Martin T. on 6/17/2006 8:11:00 AM
Superb brewery (visually) right in front of Spezial on Obere Königstrasse. They have 2 beers on tap, the Pils and Lagerbier, the rest being available in bottles. The 2 I had weren?t especially Franconian in confection, but were clean and drinkable. Lots of characters stand in the schwemm on weekends, makes for some very curious people watching! Gold Pils (tap review): -A ring of foam stands above the transparent, aqueous golden. -Dry hay and herbal supporting hops make up most of the flavor profile. -Very clean, watery, and frail-bodied, just too light and characterless for my tastes in pilsner. -Aroma and flavor are consequential, no surprises here. -Herbal hop bitterness lingers amicably. -Tiny, spritzy bubbles can?t revive this serviceable, but too-easy-for-the-region pils. Zwergla (bottled review): -Frothy foam and clear reddish-brown hues adopt an icea tea look after but a few minutes. -Like their Pils, this has an aqueous, überclean feel, which is ridiculously drinkable. -Toffee and roastiness present simple ideas to the flavor spectrum. -Charred meats subtly suggest depth in the nose. -Flaky roasted malt bitterness rises in the back. -The tiny bubbling and lean body are too slippery for my tastes. -Everything?s so timid and watery, this is ultimately boring and appears to be brewed for the masses.
Comment from Corey Wood on 4/29/2006 8:37:24 AM
I'm an exchange student in Bamberg and each morning on my way to class I ride by the Fäßla Brewery, the smell of the fresh beer in the morning is amazing. I would have to say that my favorite Fäßla Bräu so far would be the Weizla, it's a wheat beer as the name would imply, it looks like a pils and tastes absolutely amazing. The brewery can be pretty busy though, so if you are looking to just sample some of the beers you might want to try the Kneipe in the Fußgängerzone, which even has specials through the week, so if you plan ahead you can try each beer for one euro a piece
Comment from Andrew Clarke on 10/22/2006 2:32:19 PM
Stayed here in August 04 for 3 nights. Great value rooms.;Clean with a decent breakfast. Beer not half bad either! Although perhaps not as charachterful as some others in the region, still a damm sight better than most of the muck we have to put up with in Ireland. Shame they don't do a rauchbier. Looking forward to a return trip next month.
Comment from Andrew Clarke on 11/19/2006 2:00:14 PM
10 of our group stayed here. Accomdation incredibly good value. Somewhat basic but rooms clean and warm. No complaints. Don't bother with the breakfast. Nothing to write home about. Pils was very good. Lager also good but we all preferred the pils. Very much a local working mans pub with punters downing beers at 9am! Owner very friendly. Well worth a visit.
Comment from Edo on 1/2/2007 11:47:21 AM
Spend the night here in a good and clean room. Breakfast was also good. Had the Fässla Lager from tap. An excellent brew. The tap room is very noisy and smoky, but nevertheless a good place to stay.
Comment from Mike Nelson on 7/25/2007 7:59:25 AM
I am an American engineer fresh out of college. I recently went to Europe for the first time and toured Germany with some family. We drank plenty of the local beer at each town (and I have a huge collection of used beer-mats to prove it). By far, my favorite drinking experience was at Fassla. Every beer there (and we tried them all) was smooth and very balanced. On top of that, the restaurant was a neat hole-in-the-wall type of place with very good, pretty cheap food. We also just happened to be there when the locals were celebrating one of their friend's birthdays, so we were serenaded by the drinking songs of some completely plastered, middle-aged Bamburgers... Bamburgians? Whatever, this place is great. Be sure to visit if you're in town and get the Zwergla!
Add your own review of Brauerei Fässla
Brauerei Heller ('Schlenkerla')		Map
Dominikanerstrasse 6	Phone: 0951/56060  Fax: 0951/54019
96052 Bamberg
Since 1678	Märzen (Rauchbier), Helles Lagerbier, Rauchweizen
		Closed: Tuesday
26 votes received for an average rating of 4.27      How can I vote?
Comment from Jos Brouwer on 2/3/2003 2:15:57 PM
What the Hofbrauhaus is in Munich, is the Schlenkerla in Bamberg. Or so the Bambergers say. Although somewhat touristical, it is still one of the classic brewery taps in Bamberg. Still alot of tradition, and heavily frequented by locals (unlike the Hofbrauhaus). If you haven't been in Schlenkerla during a visit to Bamberg, you have not really been in Bamberg.
Comment from Mark Kissel on 2/6/2003 8:42:46 AM
This was my first time at Brauerei Heller (Schlenkerla) and the time was well spent and appreciated with Frank Wetzel. I intentionally went here to try the rauchbier (smoked bier) and the setting was great as was the bier!! I was expecting a stout dark bier and instead I received a full bodied, wonderful tasting experience. THIS IS THE BEST DARK BIER I HAVE EVER HAD!! On a rating of 1-5 it is a 5! If you are a dark bier drinker, this is the one to try.
Comment from Jan-Erik Svensson on 4/16/2003 4:34:10 AM
This must be the most pleasant tourist trap in the world. Powerful and very clean Rauchbier in a very old-fashioned Gaststätte. Perhaps the pub you should visit in Bamberg if you have to pick just one and have'nt been there before.
Comment from Richard Sanders on 7/23/2003 6:00:58 PM
The pub is excellent but the beer is an acquired taste, not for everyone. In my opinion there are alot better beers worth trying including the Special if you like "smoked beers" in Bamberg.
Comment from JW Dirkse on 10/8/2003 2:23:28 PM
Rauchbeer is an acquired taste, but you have to try it at least once...just not at the Schlenkerla. I found the Schlenkerla less friendly than other Bamberg breweries, probably because of the large number of tourists who drop in.
Comment from Nick B. on 7/27/2004 9:51:42 AM
Don't believe those who say that Schlenkerla is somehow unfriendly or a tourist-trap. Granted, it is the most famous tavern in Bamberg and thus the first port of call for almost every visitor to the city. However, the people there are fantastic and I made some very good acquaintances from Bamberg and Haßfurt (yes, not Hamburg or Tokyo!) whilst sipping this amazingly rich and unique brew. Schlenkerla: unmistakable beer, great people and the most beautiful setting that I have ever drunk in.
Comment from Kari Ylänne on 9/2/2004 2:34:10 PM
Of course it is full of tourists. Then again most of us here are tourists in Bamberg. Sometimes service is very slow but I love this tavern and its beers!
Comment from Bill Birney on 9/16/2004 9:53:38 AM
Spent quite a few evenings here in 1958-1959 when I was stationed at Panzer Kaserne (Warner Barracks). Visited again in May 1999 and it didn't appear to have changed a bit
Comment from Dave Brown on 9/18/2004 3:30:46 AM
I think the enjoyment of the Schlenkerla depends on how busy it is. I managed to get a small table on a Saturday night , and then had a very pleasant evening drinking the Rauchbier and having a fine meal. I think that once you have ordered once, the second beer is much easier to get! It's also one of the prettier drinking places I have seen in Bavaria.
Comment from Jim & Wendy Stebbins on 10/17/2004 9:12:19 AM
Schlenkerla = "one who walks with a limp" This is true, after 3 or 4 of these biers. We have spent many hours here, conversing with locals.VERY tradtional German food & decor,with a medieval look...Heavy,hearty meals & bier.To anyone who has never tried rauchbier (smoked)I would describe it as drinking "liquid bacon." We prefer the light smoked bier they offer, but even that still takes an "acquired" taste. It is usually always smokey & crowded with loud,rowdy patrons,young & old. Even so,we still recommend it for authentic atomosphere & quisine,& the "total experience" is worth a visit.
Comment from Jussi Rokka on 2/2/2005 8:41:07 AM
Breakfast with a roll filled with Leberkäse from the nearby Schlachterei and a couple of fresh Märzens in the Schwemme - it's heaven! Actually, I've begun to prefer the Schwemme here - that is unless I want to eat Bamberger Zwiebeln...
Comment from Todd Ashman on 6/29/2005 1:43:16 PM
Rauch bier heaven. Great location... It's what you travel here for!
Comment from Jos Brouwer on 8/26/2005 12:50:17 PM
Adding to my earlier review, and having enjoyed another week's stay in Bamberg recently: it is a wonder that you can enter Schlenkerla without having to pay an entrance fee. Still a great place!
Comment from Zupfer on 3/6/2006 9:11:06 PM
The locals were in a snit because Schlenkerla abolished the "Schnitt." The Schnitt is a Franconian tradition of ordering half a beer for the last drink. It was often filled not far from the top. Henry Kissinger was here a few years ago and you will hear the story in the "Schwimm." Once you are known well to the denizens of the Schwimm, you will be remembered by name even after two or three years of absence. As I often say, the Schwimm knows everything.
Comment from Martin T. on 6/17/2006 8:05:00 AM
A classic Franconian tap room with gorgeous dark wood everywhere, lamp ornaments, carved chairs, etc. The abbey room is particularly spectacular. The food is your standard regional fare, and was reasonably priced. The only beer on tap (gravity cask) is the Märzen, and it is quite simply a hallmark of the genre. An absolute must visit when in Bamberg, no doubt. Schlenkerla Märzen (bottled review): Eating prosciutto while walking in a damp, smoked filled tunnel...Wooden torchlight in hand, you finally reach the end of the corridor and find a creamy apple pie waiting for you...Quite an illuminating, heavy fog... The tap version at the Schlenkerla Ausschank in Bamberg is even a little smokier if you can imagine that, but also very drinkable. The lingering, coating smoke is beautifully blended with quaffability, and the finishing drying effect just makes you want to have more. As good as the bottle, though more quenching. Schlenkerla Urbock (bottled review): Hang gliding over flamboyantly rich smoked gouda lakes, earthy grilled fumes reach your dripping saliva...I could just sail over this ubiquitous fragrance for hours...The voracious appetite which is created fuels the dive and welcomes the sweet dryness of a sticky, muddy roast...Light vinous mirth ensues, as balanced and quaffable flambéd characters reign...A centripetal force of bountiful rejoicing... Schlenkerla Weizen (bottled review): Beefy smoked salmon gracefully pushing upstream in rich, minty banana rapids...Sparse citrus trees look down on the splendid spectacle and sometimes send down some of their fruit...Museum-quality smoked malt which fades into a somehat faint aftertaste...Quite a thirst-spawning and mind-opening experience...
Comment from Andrew Clarke on 10/22/2006 2:39:25 PM
Without doubt one of the greatest bars and beers in the world. Took 4 friends here in August 04 and all were completely blown away by it. So much so in fact that we have ordered a number of on line consignments of the rauchbier since then. 12 of us heading back to it next month! Long may it prosper. Food great too, weisswurst superb!
Comment from Terry Clark on 2/3/2007 9:54:00 AM
I travel to Germany every year , and am on the stammtisch on Monday morning with a German friend , I go there every week when I am there , it is simply the best beer in the world for my taste , and the food is also great , on a scale of one to ten , it's definetly a 10. Plus the atmosphere is typically old German.
Comment from Bulwer Lytton on 12/20/2007 6:20:00 PM
"Schlenkerla Urbock (bottled review): Hang gliding over flamboyantly rich smoked gouda lakes, earthy grilled fumes reach your dripping saliva...I could just sail over this ubiquitous fragrance for hours...The voracious appetite which is created fuels the dive and welcomes the sweet dryness of a sticky, muddy roast...Light vinous mirth ensues, as balanced and quaffable flambéd characters reign...A centripetal force of bountiful rejoicing..." Wow, a real masterpiece!
Comment from Andrew Clarke on 7/26/2010 3:01:18 AM
Was on a beer tour of Bamberg and Annafest 23-25th July and went to Schlenkerla again. Beer was fantastic, even better than I remembered. No question that the draught is so much better than the bottles we can get In Ireland.
Comment from Ed Pentis on 5/17/2010 6:29:57 AM
In my case, this is definitely a tourist trap because once infused with the heavenly Rauchbier, I cannot bring myself to leave. It is reason I am pulled to this city. I'd had this at home, so I made a beeline for Schlenkerla as soon as I got here on a Bavarian Bier Tour in '08. Drinking this bier at its home was completely mind blowing. The next morning as we walked by again, my wife talked me out of having breakfast there. That was my one regret in that town. So on my next Bavarian trip in '09, I broke away from our group squandering their time in a nearby town and got our bus driver to take some of us to Bamberg. I spent every minute of the 5 hours there in Schlenkerla. After a couple Rauchbiers before the kitchen opened at noon, I had lunch. Then I saw an especially tasty looking meal being consumed by a gentleman farther down my table. He told me it was the Bamberger Onion. He just happened to be the brewery's accountant. Since I wanted to be able to drink more Rauchbier, I had the Onion as a second lunch. Some other friends went to see other sights in town, but I figured, "It cannot get better than this." So I savored the incredible smokey aroma and taste of a couple more Rauchbiers, had a few pictures of me taken by the tile stove drinking the Best Bier on Earth, and then followed the group to meet the bus and then go to bed early back at the hotel. There will be a tour to Oktoberfest in 2010, and our tourbus has a planned 6 hour stop in Bamberg. And there is only one place I will be spending all my time again.
Comment from Jerome Scott on 4/17/2009 7:53:16 PM
I was introduced to this place in 1988 by some German friends who first asked me what German beer I liked best. Being an American I named a Pilsener. I was then taken on a journey of enlightenment that I have never forgotten. BTW, you go here first for the beer everything else is a pleasant afterthought.
Add your own review of Brauerei Heller ('Schlenkerla')
Brauerei Keesmann		Map
Wunderburg 5	Phone: 0951/26646  Fax: 0951/28486
96050 Bamberg
Since 1867 in the same family	Pils, Hell
Closes 3pm on Saturdays.
		Closed: Sunday
12 votes received for an average rating of 3.67      How can I vote?
See more pictures from Brauerei Keesmann
Comment from Jan-Erik Svensson on 4/16/2003 4:56:21 AM
The beer is a little blandish, but still a nice place to visit everytime you take a walk to Mahr's-Bräu.
Comment from Guy H. on 4/30/2003 3:15:07 PM
Outstandingly aromatic and delicious pils, served in a proper .5 l glass (not in a frou-frou .3 l stemmed glass with a doily).
Comment from Tom Perera on 4/30/2003 5:34:21 PM
Bamberg's best Pils.
Comment from Richard Sanders on 7/23/2003 6:00:35 PM
Good locals pubs with fine beers.
Comment from JW Dirkse on 10/8/2003 2:31:08 PM
Try the "Sternla" beer which is excellent. Great food too.
Comment from Mark Jamison on 7/8/2004 11:57:24 AM
I am not a big Pils drinker, but the Keesman is one of the best I've had. The Sternla is also delicious.
Comment from Dave Brown on 9/18/2004 3:25:16 AM
Can only agree that I think the Keesmann Herran Pils is the best Pils in Bamberg, and the food was excellent too.
Comment from scott rankin on 2/2/2005 3:26:11 AM
I agree, the Sternla is outstanding.
Comment from Todd Ashman on 6/29/2005 1:45:16 PM
Herren Pils is a great beer when you're looking for something lighter. Run across the street to Mahr's!
Comment from Dr. Heinzel on 12/2/2005 11:32:51 AM
............tried all of the Bamberg Bock's this autumn, but the ´KEESMANN was the best. Very well balanced, very tasty and not "thick" at all !
Comment from Zupfer on 3/6/2006 9:18:35 PM
Keesmann and Mahr in the Wunderberg are often mentioned in the same breath as the best beers in Bamberg. I cannot argue this point. I do not drink Kaiserdom and I suffer when I am in California.If you are there, you are lucky.
Comment from Martin T. on 6/17/2006 8:18:29 AM
More modern decoration than most establishments in Bamberg, but then again for North America this would be old. Everyone there was drinking the Herren Pils from tap, so we followed along. It?s a decent enough pils, but nothing special. The food though was a hit, the spargelsuppe (cream of white asparagus) was sumptuous, and the matjesfilets were equally delicate and flavorful. One of the best meals we had in our trip, but then again it doesn?t take much to stand out there food-wise. Sternla Unfiltriert Lager (bottled review): Any first impressions? -A bobbing head collapses into the peachy golden. -Bready pils malt makes up a very shy aroma. -Crisp herbal hop bitterness is splendidly balanced by the toasty, bready malts. -The comfortable carbonation lets the suave maltiness take the lead. What if you dig deeper? -A knowledgeable herbal, earthy, leafy hop bitterness amicably remains. -The biscuity bread crumbs come back after the hops? bitter scenario; this one is really balanced all the way. -Well-crafted throughout...what else can you expect from these Franconians? Herren Pils (tap review): -Wooden hops reach lightly citrusy fruitiness in the aroma. -Foam disappears within the clear, pale golden. -This is very light-bodied, and bureaucratically clean. -Spicy, wooden, herbal hops procure pleasant moments for the tastebuds. -A beauteous bitterness produces a drying effect. -Although a fun name, this Herren Pils is far from a "man?s" pilsner. -This is a well-made, flavorful yet accessible German pils, which doesn?t feel Franconian at all, imho.
Comment from Andrew Clarke on 11/19/2006 2:10:47 PM
The Herren Pils is the best pils in town. A super beer. Nice brewery tap too. Sternla also excellent. When visiting the Mahrs it is just over the road.
Comment from Andrew Clarke on 7/26/2010 3:54:47 AM
11 of us went to Keesmann last Friday 23rd July. Herren Pils and Sterla were superb again. A brewery worth supporting. We had in total 5 beers there, 40 large and 10 small. Cost €115. Can't argue with that.
Add your own review of Brauerei Keesmann
Brauerei Maisel		Map
Brewery closed in 2008
Large Brewery (over 100,000 hl/yr)
Moosstrasse 46	Phone: 0951/91827-0  Fax: 0951/16963
96050 Bamberg
They have closed and the brewery will be turned into apartments.	Pilsner, Hell, Lager, helles und dunkles Hefeweizen, Märzen, Leicht, Dunkel
This picture is of the Maisel Keller attached to the brewery. They also have a tap room called "Bamberger Weissbierhaus" at Oberekönigstrasse 38 -- just down the street from Spezial and Fässla.
9 votes received for an average rating of 3.11      How can I vote?
See more pictures from Brauerei Maisel
Comment from Jan-Erik Svensson on 4/16/2003 4:58:45 AM
Extensive range of different brands. Most is Einheitsbier, but some specialties - like the Kellerbier - are nice. Available throughout Bamberg, but I especially like the place at S:t Michaelsberg near the beer museum.
Comment from JW Dirkse on 10/8/2003 2:36:08 PM
There are better beers in Bamberg, but nothing beats sitting in the Maisel garden on a summer evening with a group of friends eating a currywurst. Great people working there and excellent kellerbier.
Comment from Jim & Wendy Stebbins on 11/1/2004 1:09:09 PM
A very good "bock" bier. Fast,friendly service & lively atmosphere.Nicely decorated & very clean.The food was wonderful. You will want to return many times.
Comment from scott rankin on 10/6/2005 3:04:54 AM
I agree, the Bock bier is very good. Was able to put down 7 at the bockbieranstich last week. Friendly people, nice beer garden. Appears to be newly romodeled on the inside with a lite colored wood. I'll be back.
Comment from mike004 on 9/5/2006 3:49:40 AM
If you are going to Mahrs/Keesmann, it is worth the additional walk to the Maisel brewery. The Pils I had was first rate and the meals are great value. Mike
Comment from William Moran on 5/3/2008 3:06:46 AM
The Maisel, Mahrs, Keesman beer triangle is well worth the visit. The three are within walking distance of one another and I have visited the 3 in one day. I prefer the Mahrs, and Maisels Beers to that of Keesman but my wife liked the Keesman. Maisel has good food, served while open, and the larger of the beer gartens. Mahrs & Keesman only serve food during the lunch and dinner hours.
Comment from Birgit Murphy on 3/12/2010 9:05:48 AM
I grew up at the Maisel Brewery. My grandfather Rudolf Maisel founded the business in 1894.
Comment from Birgit Murphy on 3/12/2010 9:05:48 AM
I grew up at the Maisel Brewery. My grandfather Rudolf Maisel founded the business in 1894.
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Brauerei Spezial		Map
Obere Königstrasse 10	Phone: 0951/24304  Fax: 0951/26330
96052 Bamberg
Since 1536, Since 1898 in the same family	Lager, Märzen (Rauchbier), Rauchweizen
Closes 2pm on Saturday.
Hotel rooms are available
19 votes received for an average rating of 4.21      How can I vote?
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Comment from Jos Brouwer on 1/31/2003 2:51:59 PM
Where Schlenkerla is the best known smoke beer of Bamberg, those who know Bamberg better prefer the "Spezi" as their favourite Rauchbeer. So do I. Don't miss the "U" - Ungespundetes - usually available on draught in January.
Comment from Mark Kissel on 2/6/2003 8:49:25 AM
The second stop of my short time in Bamberg with Frank Wetzel and while here I had this Brauerei's version of rauchbier. Compared to the Schlenkerla this one is mild flavored and in my opinion, not as full flavored. I gave it a 3 however, in a tight spot, I could sit and drink this one for quite sometime.
Comment from Jan-Erik Svensson on 3/28/2003 6:43:36 AM
This is definitly the number one beer drinking haunt in Bamberg. The beer couldn't be better, and the tap room is great.
Comment from Linda Chaponot on 4/3/2003 7:01:32 AM
Just got back from a week's stay there. Great place to stay for the price and breakfast. The smoke beer is so smooth that it was hard to stop drinking. Since I prefer a mellower flavor, I liked that beer more than Schenkerla. The brewery was always packed with locals, but they do accept reservations for a table.
Comment from Guy H. on 4/30/2003 3:18:38 PM
Nice pub, good (and very drinkable) beer that lacks the smoky depth and complexity of Schlenkerla. I disagree with the statement -- "those who know Bamberg better prefer the Spezi as their favourite Rauchbeer" -- it's a nice beer but Schlenkerla is one of the world's greats.
Comment from Tom Perera on 4/30/2003 5:35:16 PM
Bamberg's best "U".
Comment from Richard Sanders on 7/23/2003 6:00:00 PM
Good locals pub with outstanding beer and good local food.
Comment from joe mclaughlin on 3/4/2004 4:39:00 PM
this was my home for 3 days in feb. 2004 and i could not have picked a more comfortable accomadtion. the rauchbier is smoother than than the shlenkerla ,which i liked, and the food and service were superb; never having to wait more than a moment for a refill or a meal.
Comment from Dr. Heinzel on 3/5/2004 3:38:09 AM
The brewery-tap is great, of course. But try to enjoy the exellent Rauchbier, which is not so "cruel" in comparison to the Schlenkerla, on a warm summer evening at the Spezial-Keller (Oberer Stephansberg, not far from the Heller(Schlenkerla)-brewery). Beautiful view over Bamberg, a better place is hard to find....!
Comment from Nick on 7/27/2004 9:36:18 AM
Although I only first went to Bamberg in August 2003 I have since returned on two further occasions, with a fourth trip to follow this year. I never fail to be impressed by all the beers brewed in the region, not to mention the beauty of the city and its surroundings as well as the brilliantly friendly Franconian people, with whom one can chat for hours "über Gott und die Welt". However, for me, one beer stands out even in this mecca of brewing, and that is undoubtedly Spezial. Subtler and fuller-bodied than its more famous cousin, Spezial is probably the best beer I have ever tasted, with a long malty finish that is simply divine. Despite its fullness one can drink it like water, so beautiful is this Lebenselixier! The surroundings may not be quite as stunning as Schlenkerla, the service not as outstanding as Klosterbräu, but the beer just pips its already fantastic competitors to the post. It is out of this world!
Comment from Fraser McDonald on 8/23/2004 5:32:56 AM
Always superb but in the summer you can't beat drinking at the keller in the hills.
Comment from Jussi Rokka on 2/2/2005 8:51:35 AM
I'm one of those who like Spezial Rauch a little bit more than the other Great. Sometimes it's an easy judgement to make, sometimes a close one, even though the beers don't change. The place is cosy, service and food very good and the hotel rooms just right.
Comment from scott rankin on 3/10/2005 4:22:41 AM
Wow. The beer is awesome. Definitely at the top of my list. Goes down very smooth and is more mild then Schlenkerla. It is all personal preference, but I prefer Spezial. We have also been lucky to have great service with a very helpful waitress we usually see. One of the jewels of Bamberg.
Comment from Zupfer on 3/6/2006 9:07:28 PM
The first comment is accurate for many, many people I know in Bamberg and surroundings. This is another place that just does not change over the decades. Here as in the othe breweries you will here no music. It is nice to hear and have group conversations.
Comment from Martin T. on 6/17/2006 8:23:25 AM
Classic Bamberg establishment, brewing all rauchbiers, save for the Ungespundetes Lagerbier. The Rauchbier Lager and the Ungespundetes are the only 2 on tap, the rest being available in bottles. The food was your standard Franconian fare, and similarly priced to its peers. Service is fast and friendly, particularly efficient even though the crowds are demanding when full. The hotel rooms upstairs are also recommended, clean, nice, comfortable. One of the top beer places in this lager paradise. Ungespundet (tap review): -A sticky foam recedes to a ring on the cloudy golden brightness. -Love handles galore in the mouthfeel, tons of wet hay to bite into, aided by the natural carbonation of course. -Citrusy cereal are a bit muddled mind you, the mouthfeel is so rich, they must be in awe. -Finishes pretty softly, with herbal hop flavors and bitterness, although slightly higher levels would have been lovely. -Not bright enough to stand out amongst the best (in my tastes), but this landbier could not be better balanced and rich. Another high quality product from Spezial. Rauchbier Lager (bottled and tap review): A subtle smoky mist rises and lingers atop a deeply beautiful rural simplicity...Oranges lying on the ground with a few grassy vegetables from the garden...Caramel winks meditatively as the chirp of a single bird breaks a profound silence... The wooden cask version at the brewery has a better mouthfeel, fed by natural carbonation, but satisfies as much as the bottle. A well-crafted rauchlager, no doubt. Rauchbier Märzen (bottled review): -A creamy head tops the dark red elegance. -A memorable aroma of earthy, smoky maltiness is linked to innumerable candied berries. -A succulent body remains drinkable, as is never as drying as Schlenkerla?s own Märzen. -Flavors are an exact replica of what the aroma had suggested, if a little more tame. -Earthy, wooden hop bitterness tops off the elaborate labyrinth. -A perfectly-executed, deluxe rauchbier which simply deserves as much notoriety as Schlenkerla?s. Weissbier (bottled review): -Generous foam covers the cloudy, dark orange. -Banana esters erupt, just in front of an earthy, wooden smokiness, which is lightly perceptible in the aroma. -The smooth yet active carbonation helps towards a creamy mouthfeel. -The dry fruitiness slowly fades into a doughy yeastiness. -Tamarind consults the nose. -Weizen lovers will like it, staunch rauchbier lovers might be disappointed by its subtleties, some might be weirded out by the rauch malt/weizen yeast combo, but the open-minded will find a well-crafted product with a nicely-developed personality.
Comment from Allan Thomas on 5/22/2006 2:51:31 AM
I have stopped at Spezial on several occasions. Extremely good value! I used to stop at Fassla, but the breakfast was not always reliable (seemed to be a shortage of boiled eggs!)The Spezial rauchbier is my favourite beer in the world. It is a subtler flavour than Schlenkerla (although I'm very fond of that). The weiss bier is also eminently drinkable. Every year I return to Spezial and savour that moment when the first 1/2 litre slips down........smooth, subtle and exactly the same flavour as the last time.....it never varies. I'm also fairly near to heaven when I visit the Spezial Keller.Well I could go on but I have to pack my case as I am returning to Spezial in the next day or two.
Comment from Andrew Clarke on 10/22/2006 2:45:39 PM
Anoher Bamberg Classic. Rauchbier is superb,not as overpowering as Schlenkerla but easier to put away as a result. A must on any trip to Bamberg.
Comment from Andrew Clarke on 11/19/2006 2:16:45 PM
Tried the ungespundetes on our November trip. Superb. Excellent food too.
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Greifenklau		Map
Laurenziplatz 20
96049 Bamberg
Since 1719, Since 1914 in the same family	Lager, Weizen, Pils
16 votes received for an average rating of 3.88      How can I vote?
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Comment from Julie Moran on 1/1/2003 5:43:38 PM
The walk up the hill was well worth it. What a great place. The brewer, a young guy, gave me a tour -- he spoke little English and I spoke little German, but we both learned a little. It was a charming beer garden and a neat little brewery. A must stop when in Bamberg.
Comment from Andy Thomas on 1/19/2003 6:32:54 PM
The Greifenklau was run by a fellow named Ziegfried (Ziggy to his friends). We had a fantastic time there one night in the early 90's and returned two years later. He did not remember us, but we recapped the story. He took us on a tour of the brewery while his wait staff tried to get the regulars to make a little room for us. When we came back, there was no moving the regulars so Ziggy gave the four of us a ride to a neighboring establishment in his own car. Since the car wouldnt fit five people, he just made two trips. He called to make sure we had a table. Fantastic place, fantastic person. I would recommend it in a second.
Comment from Jan-Erik Svensson on 4/16/2003 5:03:35 AM
It is easy to like Greifenklau. Both the brewery and the Gaststätte are traditional and very Franconian. Only the beer can be dissapointing sometimes. At it's best, it has a great, soft and malty taste.
Comment from Guy H. on 4/30/2003 3:23:15 PM
Best Biergarten in Bamberg. Just a data point--the beer is not and never has been smoked. This misconception has stuck since Jackson's first "World Guide to Beer" contained the error. The owner acknowledged that he is often asked if he makes a Rauchbier and was bemused that so many people think he does.
Comment from Richard Sanders on 7/23/2003 5:58:53 PM
If you want to walk off last nights beer this is the place to head for. At the top of a hill about a mile from the city centre. You can walk or cycle or even catch a bus. The slightly smoked beer is very good.
Comment from Dr. Heinzel on 3/25/2004 10:45:01 PM
This - sometimes - disappointing brew became really a well balanced, aromatic beer during last summer.....What happened to the brewer ?
Comment from Fraser McDonald on 8/23/2004 5:25:27 AM
Very poor. I don't know if I got the end of the barrel but I didn't want another beer which is not at all like me.
Comment from Alan Price on 10/5/2004 5:08:00 AM
Fraser, we visited Grefenklau 25-09-04, maybe we had the top of the barrel, I love this place!
Comment from Jim & Wendy Stebbins on 10/17/2004 10:00:09 AM
Some of our German friends took us here & a birthday party was in progress,in the bier garten. There was a large German band playing & some patrons were dancing.The bier & food was good,people were friendly,& you have a wonderful view of the "Altenburg" castle. Next door is a pub located inside a keller,that was also worth a visit.
Comment from mike004 on 11/2/2005 2:21:16 AM
I can't understand the negative comments above about this beer. On a recent visit I thought Griefenklau was the best beer I drank in Bamberg. And I visited all the other breweries to compare! The standard lagerbier is a lovely, malty brew, goes down easily. Good meals, too. Mike
Comment from Zupfer on 3/6/2006 8:37:20 PM
Local myth has it that if they run low on beer on busy summer weekend days, they have been known to serve yyoung beer that has not aged enough. You cannot taste the difference, but may end up with the runs. Of course if you are not used to beer, this will happen to you anyway. I cannot say for certain that they have done thios, but I have heard this said by different people over the years. With competition so fierce, I cannot believe they would still do this if they ever did. Do not let nonsense stop you from visiting such a wonderful place. It is easy to get spoiled in Bamberg.
Comment from Scott Cooper on 6/1/2006 11:54:32 AM
Regarding the local myth mentioned above, if you are a beer drinker, you would most certainly notice the difference in taste between a "young" beer and a properly "aged" or lagered beer. However, the younger beer would not give you the runs. Unfermented or "green" beer might have that effect on the GI tract due to the high content of unfermented sugars still present but I hardly think that any brewery hoping to stay in business would serve its customers green beer. Our experience was a good one. After learning that my 80 yo father and I had been given incorrect info that the brewery was open and that we had walked up all the way up the hill to sample his beer, the brewer graciously invited us in for a fine beer with him. We took the bus back down the hill.
Comment from Martin T. on 6/17/2006 8:28:42 AM
Up top the Kaulberg hill, on Laurenziplatz, sits this traditional Franconian establishment, which looks and feels like a countryside brewpub, rather than a Bamberg brewery. The old matron could be anyone?s grandmother, caring and friendly, and the biergarten in the back has a bierkeller feel to it that can only be equalled by Spezial Keller and Wilde Rose Keller in Bamberg. The Lagerbier is a fantastic ungespundetes lager, well-hopped with beautifully extracted malts. I will definitely come back everytime I?m in Bamberg. Lagerbier (tap review): -Decent foam laces the steinkrug, shading the colour. -Herbal, grassy, floral hops approach soapiness at times. -The soft carbonation makes the malt?s sustaining job easier; this is the standard Franconian quality extraction. -A firm herbal hop bitterness lingers. -Flavor brings forth what the aroma had announced, but in a more convinced manner. -Very much a countryside Franconian lager, in the comfort of old Bamberg. Pils (bottled review): -A ring of head crowns the clear, pale yellow. -Dry straw and fine herbal hops announce a skillfully-crafted flavor profile. -Bready malts and spicy, herbal hops are aptly juxtaposed in the cleanest of manners. -A wooden, herbal hop bitterness is subtle but effective. -The rather lean mouthfeel helps the crispness. -This is a sanitized, flavorful German Pils, which doesn?t have the intricacies of Greifenklau?s ungespundetes Lagerbier, but that remains a decent companion for long bar sessions.
Comment from Alan Price on 9/22/2006 5:29:53 AM
After a hard dinner times work, to see the waitress quaff a krug of their fine keller beer, reinforced what we already knew: That on a hot summers day we knew we'd been onto a good thing!
Comment from Andrew Clarke on 10/22/2006 2:49:10 PM
Surprised at the negative reviews of the beer. When we visited in August 04 we found the beer excellent. Service was very good and the beer garden truly wonderful. Definitely the best beer garden we visited on our trip. On a hot summer's day, hard to beat. Looking forward to seeing what it is like next month.
Comment from William Moran on 5/3/2008 3:02:39 AM
Beer & food is very good, beer garten is nice and the service is good. Well worth the visit.
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Kaiserdom		Map
Large Brewery (over 100,000 hl/yr)
Breitäckerstrasse 9	Phone: 0951/6045-0  Fax: 0951/604560
96049 Bamberg
Since 1718 in the same family	Pilsener, Dunkel, Rauchbier, Hefe-Weissbier, Weizen, Export, Hell, Leicht, Alkohol Free
7 votes received for an average rating of 1.86      How can I vote?
Comment from Jan-Erik Svensson on 4/16/2003 5:07:18 AM
There is nothing especially Franconian about Kaiserdom and it's beers. But it's not that bad either.
Comment from Jojmaster on 2/27/2005 11:47:12 AM
GAUSTSTADT RULEZ!! The Weizen of Kaiserdom is very good, but the beer tastes like "Leichenwasser".
Comment from scott rankin on 3/10/2005 4:26:20 AM
Beer was so-so and the atmosphere was very stale. Not the place I will go back to to knock a few back.
Comment from Terence Hodge on 12/20/2005 8:50:30 PM
I was very happy with Kaiserdom, especially the Pils & the Dunkel, nice flavours which had me wanting more - always a good sign.
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Klosterbräu		Map
Obere Mühlbrücke 3	Phone: 0951/52265  Fax: 0951/500274
96049 Bamberg
Since 1533, in the same family since 1852.	Pils, Braunbier, Vollbier, Schwärzla (Dunkel), Lagerbier, Weißbier (Hefeweizen)
		Closed: Wednesday
16 votes received for an average rating of 3.81      How can I vote?
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Comment from Jan-Erik Svensson on 4/16/2003 5:09:09 AM
Like in a fairy-tale. The beers are great and differ clearly in character and taste (that is not always the case in Franconia). Very narrow and cobbled and half-timbered. The Gaststätte looks very traditional (especially the Braunbierstübla), but it has only existed since around 1990.
Comment from Guy H. on 4/30/2003 3:29:35 PM
Get a Braunbier, sit in the tiny sliver of a courtyard, admire the ancient walls around you and you're transported back centuries.
Comment from Tom Perera on 4/30/2003 5:36:50 PM
I'm always surprised how good this place is. You slip back in time in this small rustic room.
Comment from Richard Sanders on 7/23/2003 5:57:58 PM
Good beer in nice surroundings. The foods not bad either.
Comment from Ron Pattinson on 12/14/2003 12:09:20 AM
I would like to clear up a point about the age of the Klosterbraeu gaststaette. I have a guide book to Bamberg published in 1918 and it contains a photograph of the pub. The exterior is almost exactly the same, except that a small outside seating area has been added.
Comment from scott rankin on 4/14/2004 2:27:19 AM
Awesome beer. Great taste and i second that motion about the Braun Bier. Also very friendly service and some attractive waitresses that you wouldn't expect in a brewery.
Comment from Nick B. on 7/27/2004 9:58:00 AM
Where to begin? Well, let's try the beginning! During my first stay in Bamberg Klosterbräu became my "local" and, accordingly, it has retained a special place in my heart. Klosterbräu offers more variety than perhaps any other brewery in Bamberg, with a changing range of Schwarzbier, Braunbier, Weizen, Pils and Bock to name but a few. Furthermore, all of the beers are of exceptional quality and most can be sampled from tap. How fondly I recall the reaction of a friend from Berlin when he first tasted the renowned "Schwärzla". He couldn't believe how terrific it was. However, his disbelief was pleasantly doubled when, accustomed to the capital's ever increasing prices, he received the bill for six beers! Klosterbräu offers the best service in Bamberg to boot, and the other guests are always a pleasure. On one particularly memorable occasion I ended up singing an improptu rendition of a famous song by Walter Flex with a gentleman from Dresden. The free Schnaps, also distilled at the brewery, flowed freely after that unforgettable episode. Klosterbräu deserves more attention than it currently receives, whether it be in relation to its beer, atmosphere, food (the traditional dishes are lovely) or simply the buildings which house the brewery tap. In my opinion it is at least twice as good as the much-praised Brauerei Mahr and a true gem.
Comment from Dave Brown on 9/18/2004 3:36:13 AM
I think the Klosterbräu is about the atmospheric place in Bamberg, although I have never seen it full. The Braunbier was good, and the Schwärzla excellent.
Comment from Jim & Wendy Stebbins on 10/17/2004 10:07:16 AM
We can not say much about the Klosterbrau, except the bier was good,but sparse surroundings with little atmosphere, & very few people,everytime we visited.We recommend travelling up the hill further to the "Wilde Rose" Keller or "Specialten" Keller.
Comment from Zupfer on 3/6/2006 8:45:11 PM
The oldest brewery in Bamberg. The favored hangout of friends of mine until the renovation in the early 1990s. I still go there sometimes and often sit in the courtyard with an old friend who is also a local tour guide. Try the Braunbier and the Schwaerzla. Their beer glasses with the portaits of the former bishops of Bamberg are beautiful and for sale.
Comment from Martin T. on 6/17/2006 8:32:12 AM
Beautiful establishment, the oldest still-running brewery in Bamberg. The beers are very good (especially the Maibock Hell, if you are in season), and the food is your classic regional fare. Staff is indeed very friendly, lively, and very helpful. This place is worth revisiting every time you?re in Bamberg, I?m sure. Maibock Hell (tap and bottled review): -Ample foam protects the clean bronze/golden, and laces admirably. -At first, honey and alcohol is prominent in the nose, not unlike the Czech světlé speciální sub-style. -Straw and wooden hops soon attempt to balance out the sleek aroma. -Flavorwise, a haystack stands guard and keeps the alcohol and sweetness in check. -The frothy carbonation lightens the deal, but the body is pretty lean anyway. -Apple and pear fruitiness brings it even closer to drinkability. -A healthy peppery, herbal hoppiness builds in the back, fitting with the hay. -This just gets better as you get acquainted to it, and delve deeper into your pint. Schwärzla (tap review): -Plenty of foam tops the blackness and its brown and amber highlights. -Roasted maltiness and raisins tingle in the nose. -Roastiness mingles with the caramel sweetness, as figs and raisins communicate healthily. -Carbonation isn?t overdone, letting the malts express themselves. -Aftertaste is quietly roasty, and dark chocolate expresses humble origins. -This is a well-built schwarzbier, simple and straight to the point. Gold-Pils (bottled review): -A veil of head drapes the clear, deep golden hues. -Bready, toasty pilsner maltiness is nicely laid out in the aroma. -Straw slowly dries out the cushiony pils malt flavors. -The full maltiness and doughy body is very enjoyable. -Finishes predictably, but still pleasantly, with decorous herbal hop bitterness.
Comment from Guppis on 7/27/2006 1:42:51 AM
great dark bier. went well with a cheese plate.
Comment from Andrew Clarke on 10/22/2006 2:53:42 PM
lovely old brewery but when we visited in August 04 we felt that the beer was not among the best we had had in Bamberg. However, we didn't sample the full range ad perhaps we just hit it on an off-day. Will report back after next month's tour to see if it is better then. Most of the other reviews give me great cause for optimism.
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Mahrs - Bräu		Map
Wunderburg 10	Phone: 0951/9151719
96050 Bamberg
Since 1670	Vollbier, Pilsener, Lagerbier (unfiltered), Hefeweizen
15 votes received for an average rating of 4.27      How can I vote?
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Comment from Wayne Rodrigue on 1/20/2003 5:23:56 AM
The best bock bier on the planet! The atmosphere is truly a beer drinking experience with the fireplace, low ceilings and all the history in this brau stubel. Plan on spending a few hours. Down the street is Keesmann Braurrei. Stop in for a crisp delightful pils.
Comment from Jos Brouwer on 2/3/2003 2:21:10 PM
Truely a classical experience. There is a lot of history connected with Mahr's, and the brewery tap is a must visit. Good range of beers, my personal favourite being the "U" - ungespundetes, available on draught after 4pm. Also highly recommended is the Weizenbock (Wheat Bock), available from Aschermittwoch (which is usually around mid Februari). Good food too - try the "Riesen Salad Teller" - don't expect salads to be vegetarian in Franconia.
Comment from Jan-Erik Svensson on 3/28/2003 6:47:40 AM
While Spezial has the best beer in Bamberg, this place has most atmosphere. And the beer is o k too.
Comment from Tom Perera on 4/30/2003 5:37:37 PM
Here you FEEL beer tradition. Through the courtyard, in the hall and then the taproom. Look at the old worn oak. How many ages of man have sojourned here on their Earthly voyage.
Comment from Richard Sanders on 7/23/2003 8:56:26 AM
I cannot rate this brewery and its products too highly it is my favourite in Bamberg and in the whole of Germany come to that. The pub is brilliant and so to is small outside beer garden. The atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming. The first place to head for when going Bamberg.
Comment from Sebastian Burgis on 8/27/2003 1:06:54 PM
The best beer in the world and my favorite !!!!!!!!! I`ve been grown up with this shit !
Comment from JW Dirkse on 10/8/2003 2:43:37 PM
Sunday afternoon walks always seem to end in the Mahrs Brau bier garten with a kellerbier or Pils. Make a point of trying the Gig and Bock or other seasonal beers if they are on tap. The food and atmosphere inside are excellent and the people are great. Someday I'll tell you about the night we accidently walked in on the woodworkers guild private party.
Comment from Kari Ylänne on 9/2/2004 10:15:59 AM
To put it mildly "U" is a fantastic beer and the brewery tap is magic! Lovely atmosphere. Even food is better than average pub grub in Germany.
Comment from Jim & Wendy Stebbins on 10/17/2004 10:15:08 AM
Walking in the Mahrs is like stepping back in time. The first room is very small,dark,traditional German atmosphere, with a tile "kacheloffen stove.There is a larger dining room in the back.Lots of older locals standing @ the Schwerm,with their baskets of lunch they brought from home.I find this very charming.Everyone was friendly & the bier was great,with a full-bodied taste.However,if I were a health inspector I would give it a "C" on cleanliness.Also,a very nice bier garten,surrounded by white picket fence & full of trees.Next door is a braueri gift shop.
Comment from Freddie Valenzuela on 4/14/2005 8:22:58 AM
In addition to having some of the best beer around. This is among the oldest if not the oldest. Brewies in Bamberg.
Comment from guppis on 6/13/2006 2:10:18 AM
My favorite of the downtown breweries.
Comment from Martin T. on 6/17/2006 8:36:04 AM
Right in front of Keesmann, this is yet another classic beer establishment in Bamberg, with wooden warmth and 2 gravity cask beers at a time, namely the Ungespundetes and the Pils. Both were okay, but finished with a mineral touch which suggested hard water. We sat in the biergarten, and it took forever to get service. The waitress, while being very nice, was apparently the only one serving the Gaststätte and biergarten at once. The biergarten is very comfy though, and makes for a pleasant experience. Ungespundetes (bottled and tap review): Funky, dusty earth gets quickly acquainted with the prevalent, quite dry yeast and grassy hops...Oranges swim through the tired body as dust reappears in the back...Not expressive enough for my tastes, a bit chaotic too... The gravity cask version at the brewery was slightly better with its earthy and grassy hop flavors mingling with caramel sweetness, but the dry, mineral water finish and aqueous feel were detracting from the pleasure to be had. There are much better examples around Franconia. Pilsner (tap review): -The thick foam recedes to a ring around the clear golden. -The smooth, full body, emulates thickened water after getting acquainted to it. -Finishes with a mineral touch and shy hoppiness. -Some hay converses with the fruitiness of pears and plantanes. -Both beers on gravity cask here were extremely low in carbonation and ended in a watery, mineral note which suggested either a too hard brewing water, or simply the fact that they don?t handle natural carbonation as well as most Franconian breweries. Weisse Bock (bottled review): From a clear fruity bubblegum perspective, introspective bready yeast appears...Floating grapes and prunes encounter gloating cloves...Lighter spiciness than Aventinus but as pleasantly fruity, without reaching the master?s level...
Comment from Andrew Clarke on 10/22/2006 3:00:09 PM
I rate this as my favorite all round brewery. Whilst the Schlenkerla is undoubtably a world classic, I just found the ungespundetes and the Bock ansolutlely fantastic,classic beers in their own right. Both are eminently quaffable with the low carbonation of the former easy on the system. Both beers are extremely complex and taste just great. In summer the beer garden is great craic. Will be interested to see what is like in November;didn't drink inside last time we were there.
Comment from Andrew Clarke on 11/19/2006 2:21:21 PM
Stefan Michel gave 10 of us a tour of brewery on 9th November. Really impressive guy and a beer purist. All ingredients are organic. Ungespundetes was as good as ever. Brilliant value at ?2 a 50cl mug.Just superb. Also tried the weissbier which was just amazing. Can't rate this place highly enough. Great rumpsteak too!
Comment from Terry Clark on 4/29/2008 9:10:46 AM
I love this place , beer is great and typical old german atmosphere.
Comment from William Moran on 5/3/2008 2:55:02 AM
Brewing beer since 1657, for a good reason. Love the Mahrs keller and hell beer, if not the best beer on the planet then pretty darn close. The Brewer and beer garten have not changed much in a hundred years. I warm summer day in the beer garten. Life can not get much better. Food is good, service canbe better.
Comment from Andrew Clarke on 7/26/2010 4:00:49 AM
11 of us here on 23rd July. Was very busy and they found us room at the back of the brewery but "U" was not good from the tap in that room. It was average and we thought it was just not as fresh as beer from main bar tap at front of the brewery. Make sure you only get the beer from there. That was like a different beer though our overall impression was that the "U", although excellent, was just not quite as good as in the last few years.
Add your own review of Mahrs - Bräu

Some other beer spots to check out while in Bamberg

Bamberger Weissbierhaus		Map
Obere Königstrasse 38
Bamberg
A tap room for the Maisel Brewery. Full range of beer available and much closer that the Maisel brewery.
Hotel rooms are available		Closed: Tuesday
Comment from Martin T. on 6/17/2006 8:38:44 AM
Nice enough establishment, smallish and cozy compared to Spezial, Schlenkerla, etc., but the Maisel beer really can?t compare to the 2 aforementioned classics, imho. Everything is well-done, but there is no personality in what I have tasted. I didn?t get anything particularly Franconian here, yet I didn?t leave dissatisfied. Maisel Kellerbier (tap review): -A translucent(?!) amber is covered by big-bubbled, lofty foam. -Hay is prominent in the nose, as minty hop phantoms rise slowly. -Definitely less hoppy than the Wilde Rose Kellerbier, and maltier as well, with svelte caramel roundness and blades of straw. -The mild, wooden, herbal hop bitterness is pleasant, as earthiness is but present. -The important, spritzy effervescence takes away from the experience. -At best, this is a filtered, sterilized version of the Wilde Rose (which they purportedly brew); not challenging, but a decent quaff nonetheless.
Comment from Jan-Erik Svensson on 1/28/2007 4:17:06 AM
Due to its location close to Spezial and Fässla perhaps the most convenient spot to try the Maisel beers. Good value simple accomodation.
Add your own review of Bamberger Weissbierhaus
Cafe Abseits		Map
Pödeldorfer Str. 39.
Bamberg
Cafe Abseits is around behind the train station. They usually have Andechs Dunkel on draft, along with beers from some of the smaller breweries in the countryside (on a rotating "Beer of the Month" basis). A bit out of the way if you are in the Altstadt, but well worth the walk
Comment from Alan Price on 10/5/2004 5:12:29 AM
Many thanks to Gerhard Schoolmann and friends for their extended hospitality, check out their website for guest beers from the surrounding areas.
Comment from Jim & Wendy Stebbins on 10/17/2004 10:30:35 AM
While riding our bicycles home one evening,we decided to pop in here.We sat in the bier garten out back & drank a couple of hefe weizen biers.Nice atmosphere,but cleanliness has a lot to be desired.
Comment from scott rankin on 5/2/2005 3:26:50 AM
Great little beer garden. I had the pleasure of enjoying two different brews, one from Huppendorf and the other was a Maibock from Mönchsambacher, I think. Maibocks tend to cloud judgement.
Comment from Martin T. on 6/17/2006 8:41:31 AM
It just doesn?t get any better than this selection-wise in Franconia. First off, they have a few taps from regional breweries, such as Mönchsambacher Lager, and Huppendorfer Völlbier, as well as seasonals once in a while. The bottle list though is what?s the most impressive, over 50 regional beers, from the hoppy kellerbiers Rossdorfer Urbräu and Griess Kellerbier (for example), to the malt mammoths, such as Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock and Kulmbacher Eisbock. Food is very good, and moreover not your typical German fare, so it?s a nice change of pace. A 10-minute walk behind the train station, this can be quite far if you?re in the altstadt, but you have to make the effort. You won?t regret it!
Comment from Alan Price on 9/22/2006 5:22:19 AM
Again many thanks to Gerhard Schoolmann and friends for extended hospitality. If you have any beer questions on franconia, Cafe Abseits is a great place to go, as well as sampling the guest beers.
Add your own review of Cafe Abseits
Mahr's-Bräu-Keller		Map
Keller open year round
Oberer Stephansberg 36	Phone: 0951 / 53486
96049 Bamberg
Closed Mondays
Add your own review of Mahr's-Bräu-Keller
Pelikan		Map
Untere Sandstraße 45	Phone: 0951 / 60341
96049 Bamberg
Opens at 5pm
Comment from Gerd Roppelt on 10/14/2008 3:19:19 AM
They have four beers on draft and some more in bottles. I always get the tasty Huppendorfer (of course on tap), an excellent brown Vollbier which is my favorite by now. The kitchen offers affordable tasty meals of four different origins: Vintage Franconian (e.g. northern brook trout, or lamb and special potatoes), bistro style (salads and other little snacks) as well as Chinese and Thai, and is now open until midnight. Very good service, nice guests of all ages.
Add your own review of Pelikan
Pizzini		Map
Obere Sandstrasse 17
Bamberg
Resturant and pub. They usually have a number of interesting beers on draft (Andechs Dunkel and Guinness the last time I was there). The selection changes so its worth a stop to check it out.
Comment from Zupfer on 3/6/2006 7:55:30 PM
I left a glove once when I was there Christmas time. I did not go back again until the next Christmas. Wally brought me the glove (which I did not realize was last)about two minutes after my arrival. The other glove was in my suitcase! Last summer Pizzini celebrated its 100th anniversary. Except for Wally getting a bit older, Pizzini is the same as when I first went there in December 1976. Spezial Rauchbier, Faessla Pils, and other beers and wines are on the menu. Academics, artists,anarchists, and Altstaedtler (old towners) hang out there from 8 P.M. to 2 A.M. Monday through Saturday. Music is eclectic- from the piano to jazz, rock and roll, and Johnny Cash.
Add your own review of Pizzini
Spezial Keller		Map
Keller open year round
Oberer Stephansberg 47	Phone: 0951/54887
96049 Bamberg
Connected by family with the brewery in town, they serve the Spezial Lagerbier (rauchbier) from wooden kegs. Open year round (opens at 3pm) but an absolute must during the warmer months when you can sit outside and get a wonderful view of Bamberg. A bit of a hike up the hill, but that just makes the beer taste better when you get there.
		Closed: Monday
Comment from Fred Waltman on 5/1/2004 7:36:40 AM
To sit under the trees with all Bamberg spread out before you and a krug of Spezial Laberbier in hand is probably as close to heaven as I'll ever come.
Comment from Jim & Wendy Stebbins on 10/17/2004 10:34:45 AM
This is absoulutely one of our "favorite" bier gartens. There is a wonderful view of the altstadt(old town)lots of trees,lively,friendly atmosphere, great food & even greater keller bier.Fast service or you can order yourself from the window.They have fresh pretzels too.This place is always full in summer,but you can usually find a table to share,since this garten holds about 300+.Small, tiny white lights hanging from the trees, cool breezes,the view...it doesn't get much better than this.Ride your bicycle if possible,cause parking for cars is sparse.
Comment from Zupfer on 3/6/2006 8:53:17 PM
Undoubtedly the most beautiful view from any beer garden in the world. The smoked beer is not as heavy as Schlenkerla and is drunk by even those who are not big Rauchbier fans. This beer garden has inside seating and is even open insde in Winter so you do not have to miss the view. By the way the beer gardens are on the hill because that is where the caves were where the beer in Bamberg was stored. This is why Franconians go "on" the Keller (cellar) and not "in" the Keller (auf Keller).
Comment from Martin T. on 6/17/2006 8:42:38 AM
The first keller you encounter when you walk up Stephansberg, and easily the one with the best view. They had the Spezial Rauchbier Lager on tap, and served the Spezial Weissbier in bottles. Lots of people come here for the view, and the beer, and they are right to come here. It?s a wonderful place to relax and drink some good brew.
Comment from Terry Clark on 2/10/2007 8:52:15 AM
Beautiful view of a beautiful city , atmosphere is great , the beer is okay but not in the same class as Schenkerla beer.
Comment from Gerd Roppelt on 10/15/2008 4:03:54 PM
Quite often crowded to overflowing. Best Rauchbier in town.
Add your own review of Spezial Keller
Stöhrenkeller		Map
Oberer Stephansberg 11	Phone: 0951 / 30 20
96049 Bamberg
A cozy little pub on the way up the hill to the Spezial Keller. They serve the Kellerbier from Brauerei Eichhorn of Dörfleins and Keesmann Pils. They often will have a small keg from other area breweries. Open from 6pm, Light food menu.
		Closed: Sunday
Comment from scott rankin on 4/29/2005 5:34:54 AM
Great pub. Lively atmosphere and great people who made room for our group. They have Keesmann and Sonne beer from Bischberg. Will definitely go back, can take a nice sobering walk from Klosterbrau when the monk closes.
Comment from Zupfer on 3/6/2006 8:14:44 PM
Zum Zinser is how many locals refer to this place. Before Mathias Zinser was booted by the professor who purchased and renovated it, this place was run by this local legend. He was renowned for his eccentricities and his poetry. You can stop in on the way up Stephensberg to Spezial Keller, Wilde Rose Keller, and Mahrs Keller.
Comment from Martin T. on 6/17/2006 8:43:36 AM
A tiny pub on the way up Stephansberg, which served Brauerei zur Sonne?s Lagerbier when I was there, as well as Keesman?s ubiquitous Herren Pils. They purportedly serve Brauerei Eichhorn?s (Dörfleins) Kellerbier sometimes as well. Mönchsambacher Weizenbier was there in bottles for weizen lovers. Atmosphere is very cozy since the place is relatively small, but gets loud and boisterous on weekend evenings because it gets packed rather quickly. Apart from the one country beer served at a time, this place is a convenient visit because you will encounter it when you go up to Spezial Keller, Mahr?s Keller, and Wilde Rose Keller. It also closes later than most bars in town, so you can finish your evening here after the aforementioned kellers have closed (usually at 11pm).
Add your own review of Stöhrenkeller
Tapas Bar		Map
Unterer Kaulberg 36
Bamberg
Site of the former Brauerei Röckelein. They have Mönchsambacher Lager on tap (and beers from Brauhaus Schweinfurt) and the terrance in the back has a wonderful view of the Bamberger Dom. Opens at 5pm. Well worth the beer and the view
Comment from Jim & Wendy Stebbins on 10/17/2004 10:50:25 AM
This place has a Spanish/Mediterranen atmosphere & quisine. Very pretty with a great view of Bamberg from the garten in back.Friendly service,great food & bier.Very clean & most of the staff speaks English.
Add your own review of Tapas Bar
Photo by  Thomas Grube
Torschuster		Map
Obere Karolinenstr. 10	Phone: 0951/ 509925
96049 Bamberg
Thomas also has a very nice Ferienwohnung ("holiday apartment") in the Wunderburg near Keesmann and Mahrs.
Comment from Mark Andersen on 1/23/2008 7:13:03 AM
A small and friendly pub on the way up the hill to the Michaelsburg brewing museum. Good variety of Bamberg beers to choose from. Owner and bartender Thomas speaks fluent English and is quite welcoming to visitors. The place is open later than most pubs in Bamberg. A must visit.
Add your own review of Torschuster
Wilde Rose Bräu-Keller		Map
Open only in in Keller Season
Oberer Stephansberg 49	Phone: 0951 / 57691
96049 Bamberg
Opens at 4pm (3pm on Sundays). Closed for bad weather.
Add your own review of Wilde Rose Bräu-Keller

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