Brauerei Herold Closure
Brauerei Herold in Büchenbach shuttered its doors on August 31, 2025 after close to 500 years of brewing. It’s a particularly hard hitting closure due to not only longevity but also adherence to tradition. One gravity dispense beer plus a Dunkler Bock in May and at Christmas was all they cared to brew but that’s how legendary the beer and pub was and perhaps came to be. People lament and speculate on how a beloved piece of Franconian brewing tradition could close, especially with apparent heirs but the complexities of such decisions can only be understood by the family who are the blood of Herold.
Perspective & thanks
My Dad faced a similar decision with his family motel twenty years ago. People were upset and still talk about it but my mother passed away five years later and they got to spend that time together. I’m sure they’ve had a crazy few weeks as devotees clammered to drink the Beck’n Bier necktar once more. My Ruf Bus driver on Wednesday said the village had been impossible to drive through for a week. When the weariness and fatigue subsides, I’m sure the family will miss it but I wish them a great life and hope they can enjoy their time away from brewing as much as we’ve enjoyed their beer.
Anecdotal impressions
Büchenbach is a small unassuming village not far from Pegnitz. It lies in the Fränkische Schweiz or Franconian Switzerland so it should come as no surprise that hiking trails cross through it. Most, however, even the hikers, come here to call in at the little Franconian brewing legend that is the town’s focal point.
Brauerei Herold
Marktstraße 29
91257 Pegnitz-Büchenbach
Tel: 09241-3311
www.beckn-bier.de
Pegnitz Station 6 km/irregular bus service
Opening hours:
Closed Monday & Tuesday
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday 9:00 to 22:00
Thursday & Friday 16:00 to 22:00
Vacation dates 2025: (check website if not updated here)
Closed both the brewery and pub on August 31, 2025. 🙁
Output: 1200 HL
History
Founded in 1568, the Herold brewery is still in the same family’s hands and is the unofficial starting point of the Bierquellenweg with rooms available. It’s a nice old village pub with a particularly atmospheric bar area. The gravity dispense barrel is a welcomed sight.
Last visit August 2025
With the brewpub set to close on August 31st, 2025, I made sure to get there the last week of operation. It was expectedly packed but we secured a spot. I enjoyed the beer perhaps the most I’d ever and both their Häckepeter and Geräuchertes were superb.
the last supper
It was sad seeing the brewer pouring his beer from the gravity barrel for one of the last times. The pub with the barrel sitting on the counter will be one of my fondest and earliest memories of Franconian beer culture.
a sad last sight
First visit
My first time here, I enjoyed their tasty dark lager with their mixed meat plate. My hiking buddy said their Bratwurst was great, too.
Mixed meat plate is ample and their everyday beer is anything but
They have larger hot meals on Saturdays and Wednesdays and my second time there, I had a very nice Tafelspitz (a type of pot roast with horseradish sauce). My last time at the atmospheric pub was short as I embarked on a very long walk to Hintergereuth, some 20 miles away.
Atmospheric bar area and a tasty Tafelspitz
Overnight stays
I finally got to spend a couple nights here and an highly recommend it. Though they only have hot meals a couple nights a week, they do butcher their meats so their cold meals are excellent too. I had another mixed meat plate one night and Haekepeter (raw beef and pork ground meat) another. Both were excellent. I also got to have their Maibock again and it’s a dark Bock to seek out.
Herold Maibock, Hackepeter & mixed meat plate
I finally made it to the brewery for a winter visit in mid-December 2022. It was well-timed to have their elusive Weihnachtsbock. It was a lovely dark brew and I picked up some bottles to bring home. If you can make it there this time of year, it’s well worth it.
Herold Weihnachtsbock
Beers: Beck ‘n Beer.
Beer calendar:
Maibock from the middle of April
Weihnachtsbock from the middle of December
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