Ellertalstraße 13
96123 Litzendorf-Lohndorf
Tel: 09505-357
Bamberg Station 11 km/irregular bus service
Opening hours:
Monday, Thursday & Friday 16:00 to 22:00
Saturday & Sunday 15:00 to 22:00
Closed Tuesday & Wednesday
Output: 1700 HL
The history
Although brewing in Lohndorf likely dates back to 1500, the Hölzlein family traces its founding to 1781 with a descendant still at the brewing kettle. Today, it’s a fine country Inn with a lovely if small Biergarten in its courtyard. I say small because it’s very popular and for good reason: great food and beer.
I’d had my share of disappointments with visiting this elusive brewery due to limited opening hours and most being entirely closed for vacation. So, you can imagine I was very happy to see a load of cars parked out front when I hiked in from Tiefenellern to this beer oasis in Lohndorf.
The Biergarten is a shady oasis
Though the Biergarten was already bustling, we were happy to find a shady table. As it turned out, we were just in time as a few groups arrived at our heels. The interior was predictably quiet but looked to be a place to thoroughly enjoy on a cold winter day.
copper dispensary, cozy interior and scenic Biergarten of Hölzlein
The Beer
I only found out about the interior due to the only slight odd in these parts concept of food orders being taken by servers, who in turn bring the food out. You get your own drinks inside. It actually comes in handy if you just want a beer or are impatient waiting for a second one. The bonus was I got to see the quite cool copper fronted dispensary of a gravity dispense tap for their great Vollbier. The second tap looked to be a regular one for their rotating seasonal. In summer, it appears to be a Pils but they do brew a bock in autumn.
the crew enjoying the Hölzlein Vollbier
The food
We hadn’t walked all this way to just drink so though we had seen the half-chicken on the menu and were all ready to order it, we than saw another diner being served an enormous Schnitzel so decided to split one of each. They were both flawless and served with a nice homemade potato salad. Prices are quite reasonable.
half-chicken and Schnitzel with potato salad were both winners
I was back again recently on a hot summer day and enjoyed the leafy Biergarten as well as a great plate of Dosenfleisch, served with fresh local bread. It’s definitely a place to enjoy a meal.
the leafy Biergarten and a great plate of Dosenfleisch
Thanks to a good friend who loves the place enough to drive there for a meal, I’ve managed to get back a few more times. Once for their mind-blowing Bockbier and also enjoyed their innovative Brotzeit Schnitzel, where the usual breaded fried pork is covered in both Zwetchgenbames and Zwiebeleskäs.
their hearty Bock & Brotzeit Schnitzel
I had their Rauchbier from a bottle in 2023 and loved it. So, I was very happy to find it not only on tap in 2024 but also from gravity dispense. One of the top finds of the year.
Hölzlein Rauch from bottle & gravity dispense
After a couple of years missing their Pils, a friend got me a bottle and I liked it so much, I made a point to get to the pub while it was still on tap. I also finally tried their renowned Pfefferhänchen, a peppery roasted chicken. It was another great visit to the friendly Lohndorf institution. The next time in, I tried their Franconian take on Cordon Bleu, with rustic cheese, smoked ham and mushrooms.
another great meal at Hölzlein
Beers: Vollbier
Beer calendar:
Heller Bock for Lent
Festbier at the Kirchweih on the 2nd Sunday in August
Rauchbier in late summer
Bockbier from the last Friday in October (Bockbieranstich that day)
Pils
Back to Lohndorf or search by brewery name.