Bamberg - The Beer Capital

Bamberg, the enchanted city on the banks of the River Regnitz, has been described as a symphony in B – baroque, brez’n (pretzels), bread, bridges and of course its famous beer. Indeed beer – the cultural, natural and global peace drink – has a special significance and history in Bamberg. It is said that Bamberg has three rivers flowing through it: the left branch of the River Regnitz, the right branch of the River Regnitz and the refreshing stream of local beer, straight from the source. The sources of beer are plentiful in Bamberg with nine private breweries specialising in high-quality beer. The almost ninety breweries in the surrounding region makes it the highest concentration of breweries in the world.

Centuries-old tradition
The history of this imperial, spiritual, academic and traditional beer-drinking city has always gone hand in hand with beer. In 1973 the town celebrated its millenium – which is about as long as beer has been brewed in Bamberg. The first beer was mentioned in 1093. The oldest evidence of a brewery in Bamberg is provided by a document dating from 1122: Bishop Otto I. gave the Benedictine monks at Michelsberg the right to brew beer. Based on their role model, St Benedict, every individual was to receive a daily dose of beer which was described as being as much as one was used to. Because the citizens of Bamberg like to keep the faith and place their trust in the words of a saint, everyone was keen to drink their daily ration of beer. As a result, in 1439 the 4000 citizens of Bamberg drank about 880 mugs (440l) of beer each.

In 1489, 27 years before the famous “Duke’s Bavarian Purity Law” was passed in 1516, Bamberg’s prince bishop Heinrich III. made the quality of his subjects’ favourite drink one of his many concerns: In the making of good beer, he ordered that “nothing other than hops, malt and water” be used.

In 1818, 65 breweries brewed 40,000 hectolitres of beer within Bamberg’s borders which then had a population of just 17000! Today nine breweries are still operating within the city perimeters, leading many to see Bamberg as the true capital of beer. Beer enthusiasts from all over the world can savour the diversity and quality of more than 50 beer specialities which can be enjoyed in one of the beautiful historical breweries or the typically Franconian beer cellars.

Bamberg’s beer cellars are in fact beer gardens perched on top of the city’s hills. The hills here are riddled with a network of tunnels which were formed by excavating sand from the Middle Ages onwards. It was not long before the breweries discovered that these tunnels were ideal fermentation and storage cellars for their beer.

The leafy linden and chestnut trees and the light gravel on the ground, which helped keep the subterranean temperatures as low as possible, created such a pleasant setting that it seemed only too logical to enjoy the stored beer at source. This led to the birth of the beer gardens. And because the beer gardens are situated on top of the beer cellars, the locals say they are going “on” the cellar to drink a good beer in good company – a social event for the whole family.

Bamburg's Beer Festivals

April
Beer Day with special promotions by Bamberg’s 10 breweries. Visitors can compare and enjoy the many different kinds of beer. Every taste is a pleasure – after all, century-old homemade recipes are used in the brewing process. As a result, these beers cannot be compared with the mass produced beverages made by Germany’s big breweries.

May
Bamberg Beer Days. The breweries present their beers at their own beer huts accompanied by a colourful programme of entertainment on Maxplatz.

Early July
Nostalgic Brewery Festival staged by the Franconian Brewery Museum “Fränkisches Brauereimuseum in der Bierstadt Bamberg e.V.” with a theme-based sideline programme.

September to November
Bockbeer season at nine of Bamberg’s ten breweries.