Franconia Bierfest Schedule 2025

Bamberg

A hearty welcome to the eternal beer fest calendar, in which we have compiled the important dates for the Franconian beer lover. Naturally, that includes the oldest "church fair" in Bavaria, the Michaelische Kirchweih (first mentioned 1100 AD). Classics like the Bamberger Sandkerwa, and the newest ones like the Bayreuther Beer Days, or the Schweinfurt City Festival. (You can find the exact dates on the respective websites.)

We wish you a lot of fun!

Courtesy of Bierland-Franken.de, I am cross-posting their schedule of regional beer fests in the northern Bavarian region of Franconia (Franken). If you click the link to the respective fest websites, you can get the exact dates.

If you are in the region this year, these beer fests are not to be missed.

Weltenburger Kloster Hell

 Weltenburger Kloster Abbey Brewery is the oldest monastery brewery in the world (1050), and its beer has been imported to the US for many years. Up to now, however, all I have ever found in the US is the darker variety. Last week, however, I picked up a 4-can pack of helles at Total Wines and More. It is 4.9% alcohol content, and I liked it, but to be honest, I preferred the darker variety. I have never been there, but it is considered well worth a visit if you are in the area.

There is a note at the bottom of the can that it was "brewed according to the original recipe by the Bischofshof in Regensburg". The abbey itself is located near Regensburg on the Danube.

The abbey

Abbey biergarten

Tucher Pils (Nuremberg)

 

Last year, while vacationing in Vermont, I stumbled upon some cans of Nuremberg's Tucher Festbier. Being very familiar with Nuremberg's brews from my army days in Germany, I was never a fan of Tucher as German beers go, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I found in Vermont. 

This week, while shopping at Total Wines and More I found they were selling 4-pack cans of Tucher Pils, so I decided to try it out. Four cans cost me about 9+ dollars. Each can is 1 pint 9 fluid ounces at 5.0% alcohol.

It was good, though I preferred the above-mentioned Tucher Oktoberfest. If pils is your preference, it is worth a try.

The Tucher brewery, which dates back to 1672, has its own restaurant, the Tucher Mautkeller, located in the heart of the old town. The ancient city itself is well worth a visit. In addition, the city has two beer fests, one in spring and one in the fall. Aside from that, Tucher beer is also sold at neraly Erlangen's annual beerfest, the Bergkirchweih, held in May-June for 12 days during the Pentecost period .It is Germany's oldest beer fest.

Ettaler Maerzen

 I am recommending a "new" beer I discovered at Total Wines and More yesterday. I am referring to Ettaler Maerzen from the Ettaler Kloster Brewery in Ettal, Bavaria (Est 1609).  This beer, which is called Mythos Spezial Maerzen, comes in 1 pint cans, 4 to a pack. The cost was about 17 dollars. The alcohol content is 5.5%. It has an amber color and a smooth, creamy taste. While it is pricier than most of the German beers, I wanted to try something new.

Ettal, Bavaria

Ettal Abbey

Wernesgruener Pils Legende

 

Wernesgruener Pils Legende is a German import that you might like to try if you prefer the lighter pils variety. My wife picked up a 4 pack of the tall cans last night at Aldi's for about 5 dollars. It is 4.9% alcohol and has a nice smooth taste. I had never heard of it before.

The brewery dates back to 1436 and has undergone a couple of changes of ownership. It is now under the Carlsberg Group of Hamburg. I don't know if that is part of the Carlsberg Danish brewery or not. The brewery is located in Steinberg, Saxony, close to the Czech border.