The 2024 Bockbieranstiche season is just about finished and though I’d been to many of them over the years, with a base in Bamberg this was my first full-fledged shot at going to as many as I could manage to get to. Having put together a Bockbieranstiche calendar helped in the endeavor but anyone who has gone to these often out in the middle of nowhere events knows transportation to and more importantly from is the hard part. I got to quite a few under my own steam but have to thank friends who gave me lifts to the more far flung ones. I’d have never made it to them if it weren’t for them. Though it’s hard to rank them, it’s only human nature to compare so here are some of my impressions of why I look back at some more fondly than others. I’ll admit to a lot of subjectivity and these are solely my opinions, sometimes clouded by my own dislike of crowds but also aided by having great company at others. Still, there is no denying that some events are run better than others and obviously some Bocks are better than others too. Here’s my take on the 24 I went to in 2024:
1. Kloster Kreuzberg
This was a special one as I’d wanted to try this Bock since first going to the Kloster in 2003. It’s not an easy one to reach without a car and and I found out about it last minute. This coupled with it being held on Friday morning meant getting a lift from a working friend wasn’t going to happen. I managed to get a Ruf Bus without my wife’s help so I had her blessing. There’s nothing like an adventure to help the allure and this one had all of that. Two trains, a regular bus and a Ruf Bus later along with a very early start, and I was in position for a free liter. With a monk presiding over a real ceremonial tapping, this Anstich had it all. Factor in excellent food, plenty of indoor seating, an atmospheric outside standing area resplendent with a small Christmas market and it’s hard not to pick this as my top choice. The Bock was superb, aided by a free liter gravity dispensed. All that was missing was some friends but I bonded with the first guy in line, who was on the same Ruf Bus as I was.
2. Zum Löwenbräu Felsenkeller
On the original list, this was my most desired Anstich so I was beyond elated when my good friend Jose, who was the impetus for the Bockbieranstiche calendar in the first place, offered a lift to this hard to reach venue. Set in a dark forest, the Keller itself is one of the best and dotted with open fires, it was the best venue for me in 2024. A true ceremonial tapping, an oompah band and great food rounded out the pretty picture. The Bock was sublime, aided by a free gravity dispense Seidla. Great company with a good buddy who I only wish could have drunk more of this delightful but strong brew.
3. Roppelts (Trossenfurt)
This was another one very high on my want to go list. Jose is well-connected with the brewery and had a date right from the get-go. It was to be held at a Sports Club Center so it didn’t sound amazing but the bottled Bock from the previous season was enough draw. Early that day, an acquaintance who was using our calendar asked if I was going and later reported from the actual brewery that there was in fact a gravity barrel of the Bock there. Needless to say, we headed right there thanks to Jose’s very understanding girlfriend who drove us there and returned later to retrieve us. It was very low key and when some people came in for the Anstich, the barmaid told them it was up at the Keller. We went up there for a last beer after far too many in the pub and it wasn’t the same from the regular keg but the venue is a great one just the same. The Bock was quite possibly the best of the year and we drank a more than we should have. Oddly neither of us felt any ill effects the next day.
4. Zehendner
This is one I’ve made it to many times and it’s always great but this one in 2024 was the topper. In the end, a Bockbieranstich is about the company and we had a great bunch from all over the world this time around. Some friends and followers from Italy had asked me to bring a couple of copies of Beer Hiking Bavaria for them and it was a proud moment to sign them. I met another group who had been using our Bockbieranstich calendar as well. It’s a cozy pub, the food and service are always top notch. The Bock is always one of the very best and dangerously drinkable too.
5. Hölzlein
Hölzlein is consistently one of my favorite Bocks but I’d never managed to get to their Anstich. On the day in question this year I found myself blessed with an absolute autumn stunner of a day so hiked out from Litzendorf. I was right there for the start up and decided to hang out in the courtyard due to the weather. They had their full menu inside but the outside offerings were great and quickly served. Friends slowly arrived but I sadly had to leave on the last bus out to meet my wife who was coming up from Munich. I’m sure it was a blast later on in the evening but I’d already had four of the majestic beauties so not sure how much longer I’d have made it even with a ride home. The Bock was its amazing self, always one of the best.
6. Roppelt (Stiebarlimbach)
Roppelt Keller is a perennial favorite and I had already enjoyed their lovely Bock at their pub a few years earlier but going to the Anstich was another priority, and one I knew I could get to not only with my wife but under our own public transportation steam. Once again, we were lucky with a gorgeous sunny day so we did a country stroll before settling into a few gorgeous Bocks and snacks. We met up with friends, including Jose who graciously not only drove us to the next Anstich in Zentbechofen but also home. The Bock was a lovely malty treat. The line for the latter became long and slow by the time Jose had arrived but we’d had a few and I’d smartly switched to a Mass to cut down on the waiting.
7. Schlenkerla Urbock
This is the kick off of the Bamberg Bockbieranstiche and always a favorite. The town events tend to be a bit crazy for me and are generally way too crowded. Schlenkerla is no exception but they are well set up for the masses and you rarely have to wait for beer or food. It’s barrel beer but unfortunately there’s no ceremonial tapping or free beer. I guess it might be a bit too crowded then. As is, if you get there early, you avoid all the madness and can head just as it gets chockablock. The Bock is one of my favorites in the Schelenkerla line-up as well as Bock in town.
8. Pelikan
The Best of Bock at the Pelikan is one of the most anticipated of the Anstiche in town as they have eight of the top Bocks in the region, all gravity dispensed. I’d been two times previously but scored a table inside this year and it was nice to be out of the cold and able to eat some hearty food. That said, their courtyard is one of the most atmospheric places for such an event and it always draws a big crowd. They get the beers served quickly so you don’t seem to have to wait long for one. I had special friends in from the US and met up with some local friends so a fun night. The Bocks? Eight of the best, gravity dispense!
9. Eichhorn (Dörfleins)
This was the kick off of the 2024 Bockbieranstiche season for me and a great one it was. I’d had their Bock many times with mixed reactions, perhaps influenced by how soon after released it was. Set in the courtyard, it was a bustling crowd from the get-go with easy access Bock and snacks. The Schlager music wasn’t to my liking but I was mostly alone in that accessment. We had a great group from around the world to hang out with and that was the icing on a well-run cake. The Bock was excellent and served from the tanks, it was super fresh.
10. Schwarzer Adler (Stettfeld)
Though I’d had this Bock in bottles previously, it had always alluded me on tap. Going to the Anstich was another high priority one for me. I got a really nice day so decided to walk from Ebelsbach and it helped work up a good thirst. The inside restaurant was quite busy but the courtyard was the place to be. It was well run in that you could order food inside and they served it to your table. Likewise, you went in to get your beer. Well, that was until the sun went down and there was a dispensary out back along with a guy grilling Bratwurst. It looked like it would be very much jamming at one point but I wisely took an offered lift back to town. The Bock was a malty delight, perhaps on the sweet side for my liking but obviously not the majority of partakers.
11. Fischer (Freudeneck)
I’d had this Bock at a gravity event in Bamberg a few years prior so was looking forward to getting to their Anstich. The buses are quite limited so I had to get there well before the event in the brewery out back but was happy to run into a good friend and his wife inside. I wound up staying with them and when Jason offered me a lift back to Bamberg, I gave up on going to the actual event out back, where they reportedly had gravity dispense beer. The food inside looked great but I’d been to an Anstich with a large meal earlier in the day. This is one I’d return to to get a different experience next time. The Bock was a richly malty but balanced quaffer.
12. Sauer (Roßdorf am Först)
I’ve always enjoyed this Bock and since their Anstich was early on a Friday morning, it was an easy one to get to. All I had to do was walk from Geisfeld which turned out to be a great way to run into some Beerwanderers fans. There was a small tent outside but with dismal weather, we opted on sitting inside. It had more of a restaurant feel but the food was excellent and service quick. What made this a great time was the guys I hiked in and got to share a few beers with. The balanced Bock was a bit sweeter than memory and served a little fizzy. On previous visits, it had been in a Krug so perhaps that helped in the latter department.
13. Zur Sonne (Bischberg)
The Sonne Bock is another old favorite but I’d always had it at their excellent pub and had never managed to make the Anstich at their Keller. It’s an atmospheric venue for such an event but I unfortunately was there on my own. My wife was sick and my friends were all at the Griess Anstich in Geisfeld. With a tour early the next morning, this seemed the wiser choice. I was there early but you could feel it would be buzzing in an hour or so. The Bock was every bit as good as I’d remembered and though I’d already eaten, I got a couple of pretzels, which turned out to be some of the best I’ve ever had in Franconia.
14. Friedel (Zentbechhofen)
This was a brewery which took me forever to get to but I’ve always enjoyed their bottled products. I’d managed to get to their Kerwa earlier in the summer via a hiking trail but still hoped to get to their Anstich despite no public transportation in the evening and a late start. Thankfully, Jose met us at the Roppelt Keller Anstich and drove up not only to Friedel but also to the station to get home. Unlike their Kerwa, the Anstich had more of a restaurant feel and while both the food and Bock were great, it didn’t have a lot of atmosphere. Good company with Jose was a definite bonus. The Bock was excellent, actually better than the Roppelt’s which we’d just had.
15. Brauhaus Unfinden
This one had been on my list for a few years but it’s virtually impossible to get to without a car unless you like walking in the dark in winter for two hours. So, I was super happy when none other than Manuele Colonna offered up a space in his car. It was super atmospheric and the great value snacks were excellent but they had a problem with the kegs and it took forever to get a beer. I got a free one on arrival as part of the Italian contingent and then it took a half hour to get a second. The Bock was a rich dark malty one but unfortunately not nearly as complex as the bottled version I had the year prior.
16. Schlenkerla Eiche
Schlenkerla Eiche is always released on the 1st Advent but this was the first year they listed it as an Anstich and that it was. I got there about ten minutes before it opened and there was already a small contingent of guys waiting. Once inside, the barrel was quickly tapped and even without any ceremony, there was a buzz to the room. I ran into Ryan Mowbray and we had a nice chat over two of the very first Eiche from the barrel. The Bock seemed a notch simpler than in the past but sure went down easily. I wasn’t planning on two 8% beers before 10 am but that’s what I got.
17. Keesmann
This is always one of the most popular Bamberg events and I’ve been a few times now. It’s fun and if you know anyone in town, they are bound to be there. There’s easy to get good value snacks and you can generally get a beer quickly enough but finding somewhere to stand can take some doing. Well, it’s not that bad but it does have a bit of a sardine feel. I enjoyed it less this year despite having a good group to hang out with. As I get older, I like standing for long periods less and less. The Bock was sweeter than in the past and I wasn’t the only one who said so.
18. Göller (Zeil am Main)
Göller does a lot of events and it shows. They can handle huge crowds with ease and while I wasn’t so keen on going as we’d already been to two other Anstiche that afternoon/evening, how could I refuse a lift there and to the station? Live music, a bustling crowd and easy access Bocks (both Dunkler and Weizen) and food make for a tough to fault formula. For me, however, it was a bit too much especially considering the full line-up that day. The Bock was well-made if unexciting.
19. Höhnskeller
This is one of my favorite small Kellers and I’ve generally found their beers to be pretty good. I do tours in this are so I’m here a fair amount and really I was looking forward to this Anstich but it fell on the same night as Zum Löwenbräu. Once Jose offered a ride there, I was ready to save this for another year but he was game for coming here afterwards. It’s a great atmospheric venue, easily enough reached by bus but the beer was off that night. I’d had it before and while not amazing, it was decent. This was only one of two Bocks I dumped in the 24 Anstiche I went to.
20. Klosterbräu
This is one of the most popular events in Bamberg and you’d think a big operation like this would have it down pat but that’s not what I experienced. I was looking forward to it and had friends scattered about. There were lines for beer and they seemed to take a lot longer than you’d expect. It didn’t help that it was raining and I was stuck outside with a late arrival, hence no photos from that night. The Bock (pictured from an earlier time) was really good, balanced and hoppy. I’ll go again sometime but earlier. If in town, it’s a must.
21. Braumanufaktur Lippert
I had just gone to the Eiche Anstich at Schlenkerla but couldn’t resist hitting Lichtenfels on the way back to Munich. For those who know, it’s not remotely on the way but I went anyway, for a quick one. Though I arrived an hour after the start, it was a regular keg beer and felt like a normal opening day aside that it was quite busy for a Sunday morning. Snacks and beer were easy to get so it was certainly pleasant. The Bock was good if a bit on the bitter side for me.
22. Mahrs
I wasn’t really planning on going to this one as it was a 5€ entrance fee the last few years but when a good friend gave me a lift back from the Anstich in Freudeneck, he dropped me at his place and Jason lives right across from Mahrs. I found they’d eliminated the entrance fee this year and it wasn’t so crazy so I stopped in for one. It certainly looked pleasant enough and it was easy to get a beer. I didn’t eat but again, I imagine it would have been easy enough. The Bock was pretty good and better than neighbor Keesmann in 2024 for sure.
23. Fäßla
I’d been to an impromptu gravity barrel of their Bambergator previously but this was once again a situation where I was going right by it after another event so I went in for one. It was an absolute zoo but it was easy to get a beer. Unfortunately, it was much more bitter than in previous years and this was my second dump of the Bockanstiche season.
24. Ambräusianum
This was yet another I was walking by situation, but one were I really should have kept walking. I’d only been to the then new kid on the block brewery once and wasn’t impressed. So, I wanted to resample the Bock and figured why not go to another Anstich. It was busy outside for a winter evening and it was certainly busy enough inside. I sat down and four or five servers made slight eye contact but not one ever came over to take my order so I left. The Bock I had a few years ago was run of the mill. It was well made but in a town like Bamberg, that’s not enough.
I’m not sure I’ll do that many Bockbieranstiche in 2025 but there are a few I’d have liked to get to that I missed and a few favorites that I couldn’t get back to. I do know that doing more than one in a day is pushing it but they are bunched together quite often. Thanks to Jose for starting the Bockbieranstiche calendar and keeping up with many additions he found and rechecking things that I came up with. Thanks also for a bunch of lifts to some out in the boonies places. Thanks to Jason for a couple of lifts which made getting back home to my wife on time a lot easier. Thanks to Manuele for that long awaited trip to the Anstich at Unfinden. Thanks to all the people I shared beers with, that’s what makes these events special. It’s more about the bonding than the actual beer. A special thanks to my wife for being so understanding in this crazy quest. I’d like to promise I’ll never do it again but she knows me better than anyone and a promise not made is better than a broken one.
Bamberg is the perfect base during Bockbierzeit. Don’t leave home without The Pocket Guide to Bamberg’s Best Beer.
Hiking to Bocks is a great way to experience the amazing countryside and get to these strong beers without driving.
Congratulations on a great year, Rich. This was a superb post and having a better idea than many of your readers, I commend you for the time you spend on these. Most people have no idea of the amount of time for background work, transportation to the establishment, research and then writing and editing that goes into each post.
You do an outstanding job and I also know how important it is to have a supportive (and understanding) spouse. Merry Christmas to you and Doreen.
Thanks, Don. I have certainly kept busy! Look for my Top 5 Post coming up on NYE for further show my many exploits.