Ranked · Food & Drink
Best German craft breweries in 2026
Ten German breweries worth seeking out, from Berlin IPA pioneers and Bavarian craft houses to centuries-old family brewers of Rauchbier, Altbier and Weissbier.
Bitezine Editorial TeamRankings, reviews & guides 9 min read
AI generatedThe best German craft breweries combine the country's deep brewing tradition with the hop-forward styles that took off in the US, and the result is one of the most interesting beer scenes in Europe. German craft beer only started to grow in the early 2010s, but it now ranges from hazy IPAs brewed in Berlin railway arches to smoked beer poured from oak barrels in Bamberg. This list covers both sides: young independent brewers and old family breweries that have always worked on a small, careful scale.
To pick the ten, we looked at which breweries appear most often in German beer guides and craft beer roundups, checked each brewery's own information on its history, beers and taprooms, and considered award records such as the European Beer Star. We favoured independent or family-owned breweries whose beers you can buy online or in shops across Germany, and that have a taproom, pub or tour you can actually visit.
At a glance
#1 · Best for German IPA fans
CREW Republic
The brewery that started German craft
CREW Republic was founded in 2011 by two friends who left office jobs after tasting craft beer in Australia and Colorado. Brewed in Unterschleißheim just north of Munich, its beers helped introduce German drinkers to American-style IPAs. The West Coast IPA Drunken Sailor remains a benchmark, alongside hazy IPAs and hop-forward lagers sold in cans.
- West Coast and hazy IPAs
- Canned beers and mixed boxes
- Online shop with delivery in Germany
- Brewery near Munich
- Based in
- Unterschleißheim, Bavaria
- Founded
- 2011
- Known for
- IPAs, pale ales
#2 · Best for Wheat beer lovers
Schneider Weisse
Best wheat beer in Germany
Schneider Weisse has specialised in wheat beer since 1872 and is still run by the Schneider family in Kelheim. Its beers are numbered by TAP, with TAP7 as the amber flagship, and its Aventinus wheat doppelbock has won 12 gold medals at the European Beer Star. The brewery bottle-conditions its beers and also runs brewpubs in Munich.
- Bottle-fermented Weissbier
- Aventinus wheat doppelbock
- Numbered TAP range
- Family-owned since 1872
- Based in
- Kelheim, Bavaria
- Founded
- 1872
- Known for
- Weissbier, Weizenbock
#3 · Best for Craft beer in Berlin
BRLO
Berlin's modern craft beer hub
BRLO was founded in Berlin in 2014 and brews a wide range of modern styles, from its Happy Pils and pale ale to German IPA, Baltic Porter and Berliner Weisse. It runs several venues in the city, including the BRLO BRWHOUSE at Gleisdreieck park with a large beer garden. It is a good first stop for anyone exploring craft breweries in Berlin.
- Pils, pale ale, IPA and Berliner Weisse
- Brewhouse restaurant at Gleisdreieck
- Several Berlin venues and a beer garden
- Organic Fassbrause and cider
- Based in
- Berlin
- Founded
- 2014
- Known for
- Modern styles, brewpub
#4 · Best for Smoked beer and beer travel
Schlenkerla
The classic smoked beer
Schlenkerla in Bamberg's old town was first documented in 1405 and is run by the Trum family in its sixth generation. Its Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier is brewed with beechwood-smoked malt and served straight from oak barrels in the historic tavern. It is the defining example of Bamberg Rauchbier and a must for any beer trip to Franconia.
- Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier
- Beer served from wooden barrels
- Historic tavern in Bamberg's old town
- Seasonal beer garden and online shop
- Based in
- Bamberg, Franconia
- First documented
- 1405
- Known for
- Rauchbier
#5 · Best for A brewery day trip
Camba Bavaria
Most visitor-friendly craft brewery
Camba Bavaria brews in Seeon in the Chiemgau region and pours around 20 beer styles at its own bar. The brewery is built to be seen, so visitors can walk through it on their own or join a guided tour, then eat in the restaurant, bakery or beer garden. Its range spans traditional Bavarian beers, international craft styles and limited brewmaster editions.
- About 20 styles on tap
- Open brewery and guided tours
- Restaurant, bakery and beer garden
- Online shop and beer subscription
- Based in
- Seeon, Chiemgau
- Known for
- Wide range of styles
- Visit
- Open brewery, tours
#6 · Best for Pale ale fans in Berlin
Lemke Berlin
Berlin's craft beer pioneer
Oli Lemke started brewing in 1999, long before craft beer was fashionable in Germany, and the brewery now works out of S-Bahn arches in Berlin-Mitte. Its 030 Berlin Pale Ale and Berlin Jungle IPA are sold in bottles and cans, and the company runs several restaurants and pubs in the city. Regular guided tours include a tasting.
- 030 Berlin Pale Ale and IPAs
- Brewery in S-Bahn arches
- Four restaurants and pubs
- Guided tours with tasting
- Based in
- Berlin-Mitte
- Founded
- 1999
- Known for
- Pale ale, IPA
#7 · Best for Traditional German lager
Mahrs Bräu
Franconian lager at its best
Mahrs Bräu has brewed in Bamberg's Wunderburg district since 1670 and has been in the same family since 1895. It is known for unfiltered cellar beer called Ungespundet, a crisp Helles and a strong Weißerbock. The brewery tavern and partly covered beer garden are a favourite with locals and beer travellers alike.
- Ungespundet unfiltered cellar beer
- Nine speciality beers
- Traditional tavern and beer garden
- Independent family brewery
- Based in
- Bamberg, Franconia
- Founded
- 1670
- Known for
- Kellerbier, Helles
#8 · Best for Beer courses and tastings
Brauhaus Riegele
Tradition meets beer specialities
Riegele is a family brewery in Augsburg founded in 1884, run by Sebastian Priller. Beyond its traditional beers it brews a range of speciality and vintage beers, and it has won medals at the European Beer Star. The brewery offers tours, brewing courses and beer sommelier seminars, and it is also the home of the original Spezi soft drink.
- Traditional and speciality beers
- Vintage (Jahrgang) beers
- Brewery tours and brewing courses
- Pub and beer garden
- Based in
- Augsburg, Bavaria
- Founded
- 1884
- Known for
- Speciality beers
#9 · Best for Altbier and old-town pubs
Uerige
Düsseldorf's defining Altbier
Uerige is a brewery pub in Düsseldorf's Altstadt that took its name in 1862. Its hoppy, bitter Altbier is brewed on site and served fresh from the barrel. Twice a year it brews a stronger Sticke, and the Doppelsticke goes further still, making it a key stop for anyone curious about Germany's top-fermented beer styles.
- Classic Düsseldorf Altbier
- Seasonal Sticke and Doppelsticke
- Historic brewery pub in the old town
- Online shop
- Based in
- Düsseldorf
- Named in
- 1862
- Known for
- Altbier, Sticke
#10 · Best for Alcohol-free craft beer
Kehrwieder Kreativbrauerei
Best alcohol-free craft beer
Kehrwieder is a Hamburg craft brewery that has made alcohol-free beer a central part of its range. Its line-up includes an alcohol-free IPA, a hazy pale ale and a pilsner, alongside Prototyp, its long-running flagship. It is the pick for anyone who wants hop-forward flavour without the alcohol.
- Alcohol-free IPA, pale ale and pils
- Prototyp flagship beer
- Online shop with loyalty points
- Business orders
- Based in
- Hamburg
- Known for
- Alcohol-free craft beer
- Buy
- Online shop
How to choose
Start with the style you enjoy. If you like pale ales and IPAs, look at the modern craft brewers such as CREW Republic, BRLO and Lemke. If you prefer German classics made with care, the best craft beer in Germany often comes from traditional houses: Schneider Weisse for wheat beer, Schlenkerla for Bamberg Rauchbier, Mahrs Bräu for Franconian lager and Uerige for Düsseldorf Altbier. Many of these older breweries brew in small batches and with long maturation times, which is exactly what craft means in practice.
If you are planning a trip, check which breweries have a taproom or pub, since German beer is at its best fresh from the tap. Camba Bavaria, Riegele and Lemke all offer brewery tours, and Schlenkerla and Uerige are institutions in their old towns. For drinking at home, most breweries on this list run online shops that ship within Germany. Not drinking alcohol? Kehrwieder in Hamburg has made alcohol-free craft beer a main focus, and several others now brew good non-alcoholic versions too.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best craft brewery in Germany?
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There is no single winner, but CREW Republic near Munich and BRLO in Berlin are among the best-known modern German craft breweries. Among traditional breweries, Schneider Weisse, Schlenkerla and Mahrs Bräu are highly respected for small-batch, carefully brewed beer.
Does Germany have a craft beer scene?
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Yes. Craft brewing in the American sense took off in Germany in the early 2010s, with breweries such as CREW Republic (founded 2011) and BRLO (2014) leading the way. The scene is smaller than in the US or UK, partly because Germany already had hundreds of small regional breweries.
Can German craft breweries brew IPAs under the Reinheitsgebot?
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Yes. The German purity tradition allows only water, malt, hops and yeast, and IPAs, pale ales and stouts can all be brewed with those four ingredients. Beers with fruit, spices or other additions can still be sold in Germany but may not be marketed as brewed under the purity law.
What is the best city in Germany for craft beer?
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Berlin has the largest modern craft scene, with breweries such as BRLO and Lemke. Munich and its surroundings are home to CREW Republic and Camba Bavaria, while Bamberg is famous for traditional smoked beer and has one of the highest densities of breweries in the world.
What is Rauchbier and where can I try it?
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Rauchbier is a smoked beer made with malt dried over a beechwood fire, which gives it a bacon-like, smoky flavour. It is a speciality of Bamberg in Franconia, and Schlenkerla, first documented in 1405, is the best-known place to drink it, served from oak barrels in its old-town tavern.
Which German breweries offer brewery tours?
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Camba Bavaria in Chiemgau has an open brewery you can walk through and guided tours. Riegele in Augsburg, Lemke in Berlin, Ratsherrn in Hamburg and Schlenkerla in Bamberg also run tours, usually with a tasting. Booking ahead is recommended for groups.
Is there good alcohol-free craft beer in Germany?
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Yes. Germany has a strong alcohol-free beer market, and craft brewers have joined in. Kehrwieder in Hamburg focuses heavily on alcohol-free IPAs, pale ales and pilsners, and many traditional breweries also sell alcohol-free wheat beers and lagers.
For hop-forward German craft beer, start with CREW Republic, BRLO and Lemke. For proof that tradition is its own kind of craft, drink an Aventinus from Schneider Weisse, a smoked Märzen at Schlenkerla or an Ungespundet at Mahrs Bräu. Better still, plan a brewery tour around a few of them: Berlin, Munich, Bamberg and Düsseldorf each make a good weekend for anyone who loves German beer.
How we research: We compare each product on the same criteria, using makers’ documentation, independent reviews and owner feedback, and re-check the list when products change.
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