Brauerei Greifenklau

Slightly rundown-looking, airy and shady courtyard biergarten on the edge of Bamberg's old town, with a nice view down a valley if you can score a seat near the railing (which we did!). The building has been here since 1721. The brewery specialises in lagers rather than Bamberg's more famous smoked brew. I didn't eat here so n/a on the food, but the menu looked to be pretty traditional for any biergarten in Germany.

Cheers!

Recalling my visit to Greifenklau I always picture the beautiful scene that greeted me as I walked towards the back of the biergarten. The sun was setting in the September sky and throwing warm streaks of light and dark shadows across all of the tables, chairs, and revelers. It was surrealistic. The leaves were still green but you could tell that the air was starting to get a little bit crisp, and fall was coming. Stepping up to the railing I had a view over the small valley that could have come right out of a film. My wife and I took a seat and ordered a few beers and something for a snack. We stayed long enough that the sun eventually set, and walked out under electric light. It was somewhat magical, and the food and beer didn't hurt.

There were 4 beers on tap: helles, lager, Marzen, and weizen as well as 2 non-alcoholic options. There were 28 food offerings that I won't go into other than to say that they were typically German with the exception of Chicken Cordon Bleu, and just slightly more pricey than the areas that surround the innenstadt of Bamberg.

I had two beers, the Laurenzi-Märzen and the weizen, and I regret that I didn't have enough time to make a return trip. It's well worth the effort to get there.

In a town like Bamberg Greifenklau manages to stand out from the other (great) breweries by having by far the most beautiful scenery.
It isn't necessarily very easy to reach. Greifenklau is atop one of the tallest hills in the area. From the river, you're essentially walking at a 50 degree angle up Unterer Kaulberg. Klosterbräu is more or less on the way if you're coming from the altstadt, so I'd definitely stop there, too.
When you walk in, it has the typical look and feel of a Bamberg brewery, although the entrance/hallway area is a little more roomy. In spite of that, it doesn't seem like anyone hangs out there. In my 3 visits, I've never seen their beer window operational either. Then again, with a view like this one, I wouldn't want to be inside for 90% of the year.
Unlike the other breweries in Bamberg, the real difference maker is when you set foot in the courtyard. It's actually a large traditional Biergarten (or Bierkeller being in Bamberg) reminiscent of the ones further south. Umbrellas, gravel, wooden benches, chestnut trees, etc. Being on the top of a massive hill, it also has a wonderful view. One of the best in the whole area in fact.
Beer and food is just icing on the cake.
How is the beer anyway? I've been during the summer each time, so they've only carried two beers when I've been. A Franconian-style lagerbier on tap, and a bottled weissbier. Like most other places in town, supposedly the weissbier is produced elsewhere. The lagerbier is unique and well worth the trek, though. It's a deep amber color with a hoppy punch that's well beyond the others in town. In fact, it's probably hoppier than a couple of the Bamberg pilsners, too. I really enjoy it, but apparently not everyone cares for that flavor profile locally.
Food-wise, like most of the other brewpubs in town, you're going to find a mostly traditional menu. Schnitzel, schaeufele, meatballs, blaue zipfel, etc. I've ever had a bad meal anywhere near a Bamberg brewery, and Greifenklau is no different. We ended up ordering a meat platter and schaeufele right at dusk and the food, beer, and scenery made for a great time.
Service is fine. There are no English menus, but the staff is happy to help.

I consider Greifenklau to be a must-visit spot for the scenery alone. The fact that their Lagerbier offers a unique hoppy punch and their food are almost like a bonus. Like a lot of German breweries, the "selection" score takes a bit of a hit thanks to them only offering 2 beers for much of the year. That's no big deal (especially if you took the time to go to Bamberg) so don't sweat the scoring. If you're in town - make every effort to make it to Greifenklau and you won't regret it.

During the summer, the Biergarten out back is filled with trees and has a view of the Altenburg. The restrooms are clean and modern (always helpful). The staff is always friendly and helpful. It is a bit away from the city center, but the walk is helpful in working off the beer... They also recently released a Bock, for the first time in several years. Well worth the visit!

 

 

I'd seen Beer Krugs with this Brewery's logo so I thought I'd try it out and see it for myself.

Visited on a day trip into Bamberg. Ample parking in front of the Brewery. Located on top of one of the seven hills of Bamberg with great views of the city. A little far away from other sights it seems a bit out of the way and there=for not as busy as most of the other famous brewpubs. Parked in front of the Brewery.

Since we visisted on a cold day in October we missed the Beer Garden and sat inside. The taproom has a typical Franconian feel with antlers, beer steins, and various antiques hanging from the walls. Beautiful wood ceilings and shared tables to seat 8 or more.

Has a neighborhood atmosphere with lots of locals in groups or individuals reading newspapers.

Only had one Lager beer on tap, while my wife had a coke, and came out to 4.40 Euro. Didn't eat but menu was a little sparse (only in German as well), and had typical Franconian dishes and seemed competitively priced.

Service was busy but friendly, and patient with our rudimentary German skills.

Overall a nice place to see and a welcomed break from the busy taprooms of the Altburg.

This brew pub with Beer Garden is on Laurenzistrasse, at Laurenziplatz. You can walk it - uphill all the way 20 minutes - from Schranne, past the Obere Pfarre Church. Nearer the top of the hill the road divides, cars to the left, and take the cobbled street to the right - Laurenstrasse, and the pub is a little further on, with a car park and trees opposite. Alternatively get bus 912 or 918 and get off at Laurenziplatz.

Central corridor with typical 'stube' rooms either side, scrubbed tables and wooden panels etc. Walk right through to the attractive beer garden at rear. Views across the wooded valley to the Altenburg Castle. Around 35 usual style tables seating up to 10 under trees and umbrellas. No sooner had we sat down in the sun than two half litre crock jugs of Greifenklau Keller beer had appeared and a short food menu. The Keller beer was good (especially after the 20 min uphill walk in the warm sun!) and we had another keller beir and a light lunch snack of bread and soup. The garden soon started to fill up and seemed very popular with locals. Another keller beer was called for, which was again enjoyed, and then Hefe Weiss beer in the trad tall glass - which was also very enjoyable.

In all, we really enjoyed this beer garden, very relaxing, good atmosphere, attentive service, pleasant outlook from the beer garden, and good value - usual Bamberg prices €2.30 a half litre of keller bier in June 2011. Much easier walking back into the town of course!!

John W
B'ham UK June 2011

Brauerei Greifenklau was a long, but enjoyable walk uphill from the part of town with Schlenkerla Brauerei Heller-Trum, Das Ambräusianum, and Brauerei-Gaststätte Klosterbräu. But it was worth the walk, even in November. (You can also get there on bus #8, #12, or #18, which zipped by me as I walked along Unterer Kaulberg up to Obere Kaulberg to Laurenziplatz.)

The place is set up in the typical style, wherein you enter the front door and are in a inner court, and the entrance to the pub is to the right. The room is basically a large rectangle, with the service area near the entrance, and windows allow the wall (outside street) to the right. The room is filled with typical scrubbed pine wooden tables and chairs. There is a tile stove near the front of the room on the left as you enter. The floor is also scrubbed wood, and the walls are paneled with wood. There are lamps hanging from the ceiling above the tables. The interior has a nice, homey feel to it.

I sampled three of their beers that were on tap that day: a bock, a helles lager, and a hefeweizen. They were above average, though not the best of Bamberg. I liked the hefeweizen the best of the three. Since the beers were poured out of my sight, I am not sure if the hefeweizen was from tap or bottle, but I assume it was from tap, and the others were almost certainly on tap. Good solid beers, and definitely worth the trip. I hear they have a very nice outdoor beer garden with a great view, but that was not open in November.

I sampled some food while I was there, and the menu looked pretty typical of other Bamberg brewpubs. I tried a sausage that I had not seen before: gelbwurst. It was a yellow skinned sausage, as you might surmise from the name. It was served with onions and dark bread in a typical Bamberg fashion. The service was good, though I did not find anyone very fluent in English (but we managed with the help of my dictionary).

This place is a little more out of the way, but worth a visit.

Last visit July 2007