Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)

Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)
Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)
Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

Dominikanerstraße 6
Bamberg, 96049
Germany

+49 951 56060 | map
schlenkerla.de

In the middle of the old part of Bamberg, directly beneath the mighty cathedral, one can find the historic smoked beer brewery Schlenkerla. First mentioned as "House of the blue lion" in 1405, the Schlenkerla is today run by the Trum family in the 6th generation and is the fountain of Original Schlenkerla Smokebeer (in German language it's called "Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier"). The smoked beer is here at the brewery tavern (Gaststätte) still being tapped directly from the wooden barrel according to old tradition.
BEER STATS
Average:
4.06
Beers:
13
Ratings:
7,777
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.23
Reviews:
36
Ratings:
69
pDev:
11.58%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of John_M
Reviewed by John_M from Washington

4.07/5  rDev -3.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.5
Visiting Schlenkerla has been a bucket list want of mine for some time. Today the stars aligned and the wife and I stopped in.

This time of year (December), the beer garden is closed, so there's just the small taproom to visit. The taproom just exudes historical charm, with lots of wood and wooden tables. As for selection, Schlenkerla typically has just a couple of beers on tap, both of which are poured directly from a wooden keg. So essentially these are gravity feed beers you're drinking. They also have a full lineup of bottled beers, with a separate store out back where you can grab bottles to go. You can also enjoy/drink them on premise if you prefer. The day we visited, there was the marzen and (be still my beating heart) the dopplebock. The excellent dopplebock was served in a large tulip snifter, with a two euro deposit fee for the glass when you get your beer. It's refunded when you return your glass

Service at the taproom is fine for what it is. There's an indoor window where you can place your order... the proprietor is friendly and helpful, but don't waste his time (as the taproom is understandably popular). He spoke good English which was helpful.

If you like smoked beer, coming here is pretty much the holy grail. The dopplebock I ordered was amazing, and the marzen was very nice as well. This is a place I would stop by and visit any time I happened to be in Bamberg. This is a fantastic place.
Dec 08, 2023
Photo of Gatch
Reviewed by Gatch from Massachusetts

4.69/5  rDev +10.9%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.75
An arm's reach from the hotel in the Altstadt, this was my planned last stop so I could stumble back late at night. The visit was a bit hazy as this was the fifth brewery of the day, but it was quite busy all night, with people outside all along the street with glasses of beer. Inside gets pretty dark when the sun goes down.

Classic beerhall vibes with a Bamberg flavor and cozily integrated into the old cityscape. There's a nice garden/patio out back, but only open in the warmer months. Only two beers vom fass at the time I visited, one of which was their Marzen from the holzfass which is always a great choice. If you aren't at a table, you can grab a beer from the small window in the main hallway and hang outside with your beer. Snagged some bottles and a glass the next day before leaving Bamberg. A bit touristy and pricey, as bottles of their beer were twice as much as they sell for at stores in Bamberg, but they had a special unfiltered Helles!

Update: second visit in early March so I was able to try Erle and their Fastenbier vom fass! Simply exceptional beers. They also had their Rotbier and Rauchweizen on draft. And I had lunch this time, which is always special. Traditional and seasonal options and oh so delicious. An institution!
Jun 13, 2023
 
Rated: 4.13 by MaximumYuks from Oregon

Jan 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.41 by Silke_Neryn from Sweden

Feb 12, 2022
 
Rated: 4.33 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Sep 17, 2020
Photo of tigg924
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +18.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
One of my favorite places to eat and drink that I have ever beer to. I love the brewery so I was super excited to eat here. It lived up to my high expectations and then some. We made reservations for 5:15 on a Friday night. The place was busy but we were seated promptly. The building is ornate and has a great historical feel to it. I loved just sitting with my rauchbier and soaking up the atmosphere. I had the haxe for dinner. Super tasty meat on the bone with delightful sauerkraut. They had just three Schlenkerla beers on tap and I had the marzen and the krausen. Both were among the best beers I have ever had. If you remotely like rauchbier and have the opportunity to visit here, do it. Bamberg is a cute town and this place is amazing.
Sep 28, 2018
Photo of RobertFL
Reviewed by RobertFL from Germany

4.34/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4
My “go to” place in Bamberg for original smoke beer. They have mini kegs for sale to take home. Restaurant has a great smoked meat which complements beer (Or other way around). Can’t go wrong at 3 Euro a pint. Gets busy on weekend and unfortunately closes at 11 pm all nights due to local laws. They have a beer window to order and drink outside the place as long as you don’t stand in the middle of the street. Well worth a visit and their draft is too good to have one. I usually have Marzwn, their regular and also a hefe. All on tap. Having a bottle of Dobblebock now smoked in oak. Can’t wait until it’s on draft in the winter. Cheers!
Sep 16, 2018
 
Rated: 4.23 by igl from Russian Federation

Sep 05, 2018
Photo of PapaGoose03
Reviewed by PapaGoose03 from Michigan

3.99/5  rDev -5.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
This was our fifth stop of the day, but we had to pay a visit here to see what the fuss was all about with ,smoky, beers. We needed a meal too, so why not? Once inside, the charm of the place was overwhelming. How can you not give a high rating for this? Not a perfect rating, but a great one.

Being late in the day may have created a problem because the only beer that they had left was, fortunately, the Rauchbier. I have never been a fan of this style, so I ended up feeling neutral about the rating that I gave it.

My goal was to try native dishes too, so this was my opportunity to have the Saxe which came with a potato dumpling and sauerkraut. What an experience!

While looking at the menu I noticed that this place opens early enough for us to come back for breakfast, so we did. They had a rauchweissen on then, so that was my breakfast beverage. It was not quite as smoky as the rauchbier and we liked it better. I would have liked coffee to go with breakfast too but nope, no coffee. The breakfast consisted of sausages, sauerkraut and bread, and that was an experience just as much as the saxe was the previous evening.

Additional notes: As with most of the places that we visited we saw no bar. Credit cards are not accepted.
Jun 13, 2017
 
Rated: 4.35 by Twal from Colorado

May 26, 2017
Photo of DoubleSimcoe
Reviewed by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4
This was the Holy Grail of any and all beer places I visited in Germany. They serve the mighty Schlenkerla Rauchbier and that is reason enough to love this place.

The building is incredibly old, ornate and beautiful both inside and out. Very quiet on a Monday at 10:30pm (they close at 11pm). The Gothic vaulted arches and the candelabra are a sight to behold.

No menu given, just a waitress coming by and asking: “Smoked beer”? “JA!!”. The wife wanted a weisse and the server said, “smoked wheat”. Sure! They are served on the traditional pump that dispenses them at the perfect temperature and mouthfeel (if slightly oxidated around the edges).

Didn’t try any food. I was there for the RAUCH!
Jan 22, 2017
 
Rated: 3.98 by Seacoastbrewer from New Hampshire

May 10, 2016
Photo of OompaMentor
Reviewed by OompaMentor from Georgia

3.73/5  rDev -11.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3
This is one of the oldest brauerei in Bamberg; home of the Franconian biers. Selection is dependent on season however I went here to experience the Rauchbier (smoked beer). My German colleague explained they tap one cask of this bier each day and I watched as the gravity fed pour drained into the stein. Since this was my first experience, the smokey smell of oak wood was evident and the taste resting on my palate was delicious! Food selection was modest and the pork went well with my bier. Aecht Schlenkerla is the real deal! Sadly the Franconian biers are falling to the wayside and I encourage you to do a web-search of these brews. Those who hold on still apply the old ways of doing it right!
Dec 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4.18 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Nov 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4.63 by MetalCath from Canada (QC)

Sep 28, 2015
Photo of azorie
Reviewed by azorie from Florida

3.96/5  rDev -6.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Simple to anyone that want to visit a unique place and sample the beer and food, Its a must visit.
Its really depends on your mood and what you expect. Its old and wood every where, every review tell you that.

I go for the company and the history. Not really the beer as smoked beer is not my thing. and lucky you are not forced to drink it if you do no want to. also there lots of better places for the "onion"
Aug 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.75 by herrburgess from South Carolina

Jun 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by SCW from New York

Jun 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.52 by mozartandmadnes from Spain

Apr 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by SmashPants from Australia

Dec 16, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by LiquidMetalSlime from Massachusetts

Dec 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.8 by jtosch from Oregon

Nov 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by david18 from New York

Nov 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4.68 by cichief from Virginia

Nov 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Russkiy from California

Nov 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Flashy from Vermont

Oct 23, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Butchnasty from Louisiana

Aug 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by jonb5 from England

Aug 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by blairb366 from Wisconsin

Aug 11, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Vreten from Sweden

Jul 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by skywizzard from Georgia

Jul 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Wobbly from Missouri

Jun 19, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by Miriam78

Jun 16, 2014
Photo of BeerAndGasMasks
Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia

4.08/5  rDev -3.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
Love the beer... Honestly, I love the hallway here, but it is quite cramped. I have spent many an hour enjoying my beer and watching tourists come zooming in and then running out - totally different atmosphere here than the Faessla (which gets fewer tourists). The beer garden is pleasant when it is open. Enjoyed the restaurant, generally good service, but once we came on a shift change and waited a long time for service (almost left). I ordered the (famous) Bamberger Zwiebel (onion) as I had never had one before, while my wife ordered something meaty encased in a dough wrapping (with gravy)(the name of which escapes me). The onion was good, but hers was great (just about the best meal of our trip)! Great bathrooms, as well, freshly refurbished and well kept. Highly recommended! If you visit, come in a small group or alone, order in German, keep quiet and watch the tourists.
Jun 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by MattSweatshirt from Texas

May 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Bobhoya from Arizona

Mar 21, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by NorbertB1974 from Germany

Feb 10, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Sgtgibbs from Ohio

Jan 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by ebogenrief2 from Illinois

Nov 14, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Oct 28, 2013
Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum) in Bamberg, Germany
Brewery rating: 4.06 out of 5 with 7777 ratings