Fränkisches Brauereimuseum

About the museum

The museum is located in the cellars and vaults of the former brewery of the Benedictine monastery on the Michaelsberg. Brewing rights there are documented as early as 1122; beer was brewed on the hill for about 850 years until the last leaseholders, brothers Georg and Michael Peßler, shut down operations in 1969.

To preserve the brewing tradition of the beer city of Bamberg, 32 beer enthusiasts founded the association “Fränkisches Brauereimuseum in der Bierstadt Bamberg” in 1979. The former brewery rooms were made available to it in 1981, restoration work began in 1984, and the first part of the museum opened on May 3, 1986. To this day it is run on a volunteer basis by the nonprofit friends’ association, which has several hundred members.

On about 1,000 square meters and five levels, more than 1,800 exhibits trace the path from raw materials to finished beer: malting, grist mill and brewhouse with coolship, fermentation, lagering, and ice cellars, filtration, keg and bottle filling, as well as cooperage and delivery. One level is devoted to beer culture, with a collection of beer steins, along with documents, enamel signs, and bottles. Beer seminars and tastings take place in the old brewhouse.

Highlights

• Vaults of the former Michaelsberg monastery brewery (brewing rights since 1122)
• The complete brewing process from malting and brewhouse to bottling
• Historic ice cellar and cooperage
• Beer stein collection on the “Bierkultur” (beer culture) level
• Guided tours with Franconian beer tasting

Permanent exhibitions

• Vom Malz zum Bier – Brautechnik auf fünf Ebenen – Tour through the stages of beer production in the original vaults of the monastery brewery, from malting and brewhouse through fermentation, lagering, and ice cellars to filtration, bottling, and cooperage, complemented by a level on beer culture.

Founded

1986

Operated by

Fränkisches Brauereimuseum in der Bierstadt Bamberg e. V.

Admission & discounts

The website does not say who is eligible for reduced admission.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is located in historic vaulted cellars on five levels; the museum provides no information on accessibility.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available

According to Museen in Bayern, there is a museum shop. No café of its own; tastings are part of guided tours and seminars.

Events & venue rental

The old brewhouse has a training and event room for beer seminars and taster training; general rental is not advertised.

Plan your visit