What is Bock?
Though the style known as Bock originated in the town of Einbeck in the 14th century, the combination of Munich brewery clout and the Bavarian dialect gave it its name, and put it on the world beer map a few centuries later. Bocks are the wild card in German brewing. Though they can be sticky affairs, the best seem to be able to straddle the necessary big malt presence in these high octane brews and ride it out in dry-ish style. Finding them isn’t always easy but you can up your odds by doing it in Franconia, where dry finishes aren’t nearly as rare. They run the spectrum in hue but currently a large proportion of them are Hellerbocks, generally rich golden. Though traditionally around 6.5% in alcoholic content, as with most things in the modern world, bigger is seen as better and more are 7% and up now.
the many hues of Bock
What’s a Bockbieranstich?
The famed Doppelbocks of Munich come out for Lent. Franconia wisely puts their Bocks out with the onset of cooler weather in autumn when the air gets crisp and the leaves turn. Bockbierzeit is literally the time of Bock. It is eagerly anticipated by locals, not only for the beers themselves but also their Anstich or the first tapping. These range from small affairs to large festive gatherings. It’s a time to catch up with friends and meet new ones, all fueled and facilitated by the dangerously drinkable strong beers.
Zehendner & Keesmann Anstiche with friends
The best and most dramatic are those done gravity dispense when the name Anstich is defined in images. These have become progressively rare so seek them out while they’re still around. Schlenkerla’s is the easiest to experience in this category. These events are generally held the same time each year but the exact dates and times of these Franconian Bock tappings are often hard to find.
The inspiration for the Bock calendar:
My good friend Jose, The Don Quixote of Franconia, gathered the information in autumn 2024 for the original calendar. He was gracious enough to give me the okay to share it on Beerwanderers. Both he and good friends Ulrich and Flo have been instrumental in providing updates and additional events. Details for 2026 are still very much in the embryonic stage but many are confirmed.
The meaning of the *
Those with an * are not confirmed but we are checking daily to do so. If not updated, check the brewery website and social media pages for new information. Please note, there are many Franconian breweries that brew a Bock but do not have an Anstich. This list will surely change as we get closer to the season. It’s the earliest release date, so please check back. If you notice any mistakes of if you have any information not represented here, please drop me a line at thebeerwanderers@gmail.com or message Beerwanderers on Instagram or Facebook. Many calendars just post the confirmed dates but I’ve made highly educated guesses on those not confirmed as the dates often only move by a day. So far, it’s over 52% confirmed and I check daily to raise that percentage.
While the list has been compiled carefully and an effort is being made to make changes as they happen, it’s best to call the breweries prior to heading out.
When are the Bock tappings/Bockbieranstich in 2026?
September:
18th (15:00): Göller, Drosendorf Map.
19th (16:00): Köslauer Rennweg Brauer, Köslau Map.
25th (16:00): Hönig, Diller Keller, Dörfleins Map.
25th (17:00): Schlossbrauerei Biergarten, Reckendorf Map.
26th (18:00): Reckendorfer, Leicht’s Keller, Kemmern Map.
October:
1st (16:00): Bärenbräu Poldibock from Greifenklau, Altenburg Map.
2nd (16:00): Eichhorn, Dörfleins Map.
2nd (17:00): Schleicher, Kaltenbrunn Map.
2nd (15:00): Knoblach, Schammelsdorf Map.
3rd (15:00): Griess, Geisfeld Map.
3rd (17:30): Ott, Oberleinleiter Map.
8th (16:00): Heller, Bamberg. Schlenkerla (gravity) Map.
9th (11:00): Sauer, Roßdorf am Forst Map.
9th (16:00): Keesmann, Bamberg Map.
9th (16:00): Zur Sonne, Bischberg, Schumanns Keller Map.
9th (16:00): Schlenkerla, Der Zentbechöfner, Zentbechhofen Map.
9th (16:30): Fischer, Freudeneck Map.
9th (11:00 pub/17:00 Hof): Hummel, Merkendorf Map.
9th, (18:00): Schatzenhof, Kleukheim Map.
9th (18:00): Becher-Bräu, Bayreuth Map.
10th (11:00): Göller, Zeil am Main Map.
10th (15:00): Höhn am Höhnskeller, Memmelsdorf Map.
10th (17:00): Hermanns, Ampferbach Map.
10th (16:00): Bruckertshof, Bamberg Map
10th (16:00): Zur Sonne, Bischberg, Schumanns Keller Map.
10th (17:00): Zum Löwenbräu, Neuhauser Felsenkeller Map.
10th (17:00): Keesmann, Gleis I, Frensdorf Bahnhof Map
10th (18:00-22:30/15€ entrance fee?): Meinel, Hof Map.
14th (18:00): Grosch, Rödental Map.
15th (16:00): Ahörnla, Bamberg Map.
16th (15:00): Bernd-das-Bier Mias Bock, Bootshaus, Bamberg Map.
16th (11:00): Kundmüller, Weiher Map.
16th (15:00): Hönig, Wittmanns Keller, Seußling Map.
16th (15:00): Hönig, Tiefenellern. Map.
16th (15:00): Adler-Bräu, Stettfeld Map.
16th (16:00): Mahrs, Bamberg Map.
15th (16:00): Hummel, Öxla’s, Breitengüßbach Map.
16th (17:00): Först, Maria Lucia Bock, Drügendorf Map.
16th (17:00): Klosterbräu, Bamberg Map.
16th (18:00): Alte Mühle, Mühlendorf Map.
17th (11:00 with music from 18:00): Kundmüller, Weiher Map.
17th (14:00): Lumunitor, Orca Bräu Map.
17th (15:00): Wagner, Wagner Keller, Kemmern Map.
17th (15:00): Fässla, Laubert Garten, Ebelsbach Map.
17th (16:00): Krug, Geisfeld Map.
17th (?:00): Dorn-Bräu, Ammerndorf Map.
17th (17:00): Hartmann, Wurgau Map.
17th (18:00): St. Georgen, St. Georgn Keller, Buttenheim Map.
17th (18:00): Müller, Debring Map.
22nd (16:00): Fässla, Bamberg Map.
22nd (16:00): Hönig, Kiosk Kunni, Bamberg Map
23th (15:00): Hönig, Senftenberger Felsenkeller, Buttenheim Map.
23rd (15:30): Hoh, Köttensdorf Map.
23rd (16:00): Dremel, Wattendorf Map.
23rd (16:30): Endres, Hofen Map.
23rd (17:00): Kronprinz, Gaustadt Map.
23rd (18:00): Herzog von Franken, Im Schafhof, Thüngen Map.
24th (13:00): Lahma Bräu Heller & Roter Bock, Langenzenn Map.
24th (14:00): Roppelt, Stiebelimbach Map.
24th (15:00?): Wagner, Kemmern Map.
24th (16:00): Neder, Forcheim Map.
24th (17: 00): Schmitt, Scheßlitz Map.
24th (18:00): Martinbräu, Marktheidenfeld, Brauerei Biergarten Map.
30th (17:00): Sonnen, Mürsbach Map.
30th (15:00): Hölzlein, Lohndorf Map.
30th (16:30): Habertumpf, Trebgast Map.
30th (17:00): Trunk Silber Bock, Trunk Vierzehnheiligen Map.
30th (18:00): Döbler, Bad Windsheim Map.
30th (17:00): Krug Geisfeld, Gleis I, Frensdorf Bahnhof Map
30th (17:30): Schwind-Bräu, Schwindheim Map.
31st (14:00): Brauereigaststätte Rittmayer, Hallendorf Map.
31st (16:00): Hopfengarten, Bamberg Map.
31st (15:30): Drei Kronen, Memmelsdorf Map.
31st (17:30): Stillbruch, Bamberg (Hübner, Steinfeld) Map.
31st (18:00): Friedel, Zentbechofen Map.
31st (19:00): Franken-Bräu, Riedbach 12€ entrance fee Map
November:
5th (15:30): Spezial, Bamberg Map.
6th (15:00): Spezial Keller, Bamberg Map.
6th (16:00): Reblitz, Nedersdorf Map.
6th (17:00): Sauer, SG Brüder am Forst Rossdorf Map.
*6th (17:00): Roppelt, Trossenfurt/Tretzendorf SC Sportsverein & Roppelt Keller Map.
6th (17:00): Kraus, Hirschaid Map.
6th (18:30): Pröls, Schranne, Weissenburg in Bayern Map.
6th (19:00): Sauer, Sportheim DJK, Mistendorf Map.
7th (11:00): Will, Schederndorf Map.
7th (15:00): Wagner, Oberhaid Map.
*7th (16:00): Schwan, Burgebrach Map.
7th (16:00): Fäßla, Fäßla Keller Map.
7th (16:00): Friedelator, Der Zentbechöfner, Zentbechhofen Map.
7th (17:00): Greif, Forchheim Map.
7th (17:00): Bräustübla Reckendorf, Reckendorf Map.
7th (17:00): 4 Bocks (Hummel, Will, Endres, Krug/Geisfeld), Siedlergemeinschaft Hirschknock e. V., Bamberg Map.
7th (17:00): Brauhaus Rattelsdorf, Rattelsdorf (gravity) Map.
7th (18:00): Reh, Lohndorf Map.
7th (18:00): Rhönbrauerei Dittmar, Schalander, Kaltennordheim Map.
13th (16:00): Cafe Schnepperschütz, Nürnberg Map.
13th (17:00): Kaiser, Grassmansdorf Map.
13th (17:00): Zum Löwen Neeb, Unterschleichach, Wagner Oberhaid Bock Map.
13th (18:00): Wagner, Merkendorf Map.
13th (19:00): Ebendsfelder Brauhaus, Sportheim TSV Ebensfeld Map.
14th (14:00): Ulrich Martin, Schonungen (mix of gravity/keg) Map.
14th (15:00): Brandholz, held at Gasthwirtschaft Hoh, Meedendorf Map.
14th (16:00): Wilde Rose, Bamberg (Trunk Silber Bock) Map.
14th (16:00): Hölzlein, Zapfhahn, Bamberg Map.
14th (17:00): Kaiser, Grassmansdorf Map.
14th (17:00): Spezial, Gleis I, Frensdorf Bahnhof Map
14th (18:00): Hebendanz, Forchheim Map
14th (18:00): Beck, Trabelsdorf Map.
18th (17:00): Grasser, Huppendorf Map.
19th (16:00): Greifenklau with advance tickets on sale October 3rd, Bamberg Map.
19th (17:00): Ambräusianum, Bamberg Map.
*20th (16:00?): Reblitz Whisky Bock, Nedersdorf Map.
20th (17:00): Drei Kronen, Scheßlitz Map.
20th (17:00): Sternla, Bamberg Map.
20th (18:00): Schutzenverein St. Hubertus 1957, Strullendorf Map.
20th(18:00): Schwanenbräu, Ebermannstadt Map.
24th (19:00): Mahrs, Keesmann, Sonne/Haas Säle, Bamberg Map.
27th (11:00): Klosterbrauerei Kreuzberg, Kloster Kreuzberg Map.
27th (17:00): Pelikan Best of Bock, Bamberg Map.
28th (16:30): Kommunbräu Rehau, RehauMap.
28th (17:00): Pelikan Best of Bock, Bamberg Map.
28th (18:00): Unfinden Brauhaus, Unfinden Map.
28th & 29th: Hümmel Bock, Hümmel Hüttla, Breitengüßbach Christmas market.
29th (9:30): Schlenkerla, Bamberg (Eiche, gravity) Website | Instagram | Map.
29th (10:00): Braumanufaktur Lippert, Lichtenfels Map.
December:
3rd (19:00): Kulmbacher Kommunbrau, Kulmbach Map.
*5th (19:00): Hopfengarten, Hopfenhaus, Bamberg Map.
*6th (15:00): Hönig Eichenbock, Tiefenellern Map.
10th (11:00 with music from 18:00) Kundmüller, Weiher (Rauchbock) Website | Instagram | Map.
11th (12:00): Zehendner, Mönschsambach (mix of gravity/keg) Map.
*16th (15:00): Gradl, Leups (generally from gravity dispense) Map.
27th (16:00): Winterbockbierfest, (Göller, Hummel, Wagner, Drei Kronen), Göller Map.
January 2027
5th (18:00): Stöckel, Hintergereuth Map.
5th (18:00): Klosterbrauerei, Weißenohe Map.
6th (10:00): Brauhaus, Rügheim Map.
February 2027
*6th (16:00): Reblitz, Weizenbockanstich, Nedensdorf Map.
*21st (16:00?): Scharpf, Heilgersdorf Map.
*21st (17:00): Schrüfer, Priesendorf Map.
March 2027
*6th (18:00): Landwehr, Landwehr am Turm Map.
*7th (11:00): Rook-Bräu, Wildenholz Lagerhaus Map.
*13th (17:00): Kaiser, Grasmannsdorf Map.
*21st (14:00): Ulrich Martin, Schonungen Map.
April 2027
*24th (11:00): Gradl, Maibock, Leups (mix of gravity dispense/keg) Map.
*25th (11:00): Pax Bräu, Maibock, Oberelsbach Map.
*25th (16:00): Brauverein Schwabach, Maibock, Schwabach Map.
May 2027
*1st (11:00): Kulmbacher Kommunbräu, Deflorator, Kulmbach Map.
*1st (17:00): Krug Geisfeld Maibock, Gleis I, Frensdorf Bahnhof Map
How to get to the Bock tappings/Bockbieranstich?
It is often difficult to get to these events by public transportation so plan accordingly. If going by car, a designated driver is beyond essential. Cycling is an option but take care as you can even be pulled over if obviously riding recklessly. Hiking is another option but with the sun setting earlier this time of year, you may want to bring head-lamps. However you decide to do it, be safe and enjoy!
Hiking for your Bocks is a fun and safe way to experience this special time of year.
Prefer to have someone lead you to the Bocks, why not call on Rudolph:
Bamberg is the perfect base during Bockbierzeit. Don’t leave home without The Pocket Guide to Bamberg’s Best Beer.
A typical day having Bockbier in Bamberg.
Great and thorough research, Rich and a good education for your followers.
Thanks, Don. It’s always quite the chore to update this annual calendar but people find it handy.