Brauerei Schrüfer is located in Priesendorf, a small village in the Bamberg county of Upper Franconia. It’s set in the Steigerwald, a pretty hilly forest with numerous hiking trails including the Panoramaweg. This remains a trail high on my list of things to do in Franconia.
Brauerei Schrüfer
Hauptstraße 31
96170 Priesendorf
Tel: 09549 317
Bamberg Station 15 km/limited bus service
Opening hours:
Closed Wednesday & Thursday
Daily from 15:00 to 22:00
Output: 700 HL
Schrüfer family tradition
Founded in 1847, Brauerei Schrüfer has been in the same family for four generations. It’s one of Franconia’s true classics. An old wood pub, it’s filled mostly with locals, who come for some of the driest beers in the region. I had bad luck on my first attempt at visiting the first time out. We’d called but it was a miscommunication. We’d arrived hours before they would open.
two fine dry hoppy beers
Brauerei Schrüfer beers
Our second attempt was more successful if rushed. The were only a few locals enjoying their Vollbier, actually the lighter of their beers, typical of the Steigerwald region. I mistakenly thought the darker beer was the Vollbier, but decided to have both. I wasn’t sure at the time if I’d ever get back to what seemed such a remote brewpub. Both were similarly dry, and excellent. I didn’t get a chance to eat due to having to catch a bus back to Bamberg in an hour.
Beer hiking Bavaria in Priesendorf
It took me a couple years to get back but I finally did while staying in nearby Weiher at the Kündmüller brewery. I used it as a base while researching hikes and breweries for my book Beer Hiking Bavaria in 2019. The Weiher hike made it into the book, but I had awful weather for the hike to Priesendorf. Unfortunately, with no decent photos, it didn’t make the cut. At any rate, it did get me back to the Brauerei Schrüfer. The Dunkles Vollbier, as expected this time, wasn’t on tap. I’d learned that it was a winter seasonal by then. I had a couple of the signature Helles Vollbiers. They really hit the spot, even after a fairly wet walk there.
beers worth the walk: Schrüfer Vollbier & Fastenbock
Fastenbock 2022
Schrüfer brewed a Fastenbock in 2022. I didn’t manage to get there to sample it on tap but a local friend gave me a bottle and it was excellent. Hope to get to the pub again soon, or better yet, their Biergarten.
first time visit to their charming little Biergarten
I finally made it to the Brauerei Schrüfer Biergarten that summer in 2022. A friend who goes often stopped in after he’d taken me to Beck-Bräu not so far away. The Vollbier in Krug is perfect for the Biergarten and I enjoyed a plate of Dosenfleisch with it.
some tasty Dosenfleisch on a great Keller day
Brauerei Schrüfer brewery tour
It turned out my friend knew the son-in-law of the brewer from their old army days. He gave me an impromptu tour of the brewery. It was very cool to see, especially the open fermentation tank.
an impromptu brewery tour
Fastenbock on tap 2023
I’ve discovered the bus from Bamberg goes at a fairly convenient time. You only have about two hours but it’s well worth the trip. It’s a great one. I got out there again to have their Fastenbock on tap in February 2023 and it was even better than the bottle I had the year before. While I was there I picked up a couple of bottles along with a Schrüfer glass.
happy to have their Fastenbock again!
Dunkles Vollbier becomes a staple
It appears due to popular demand, they are serving their Dunkles Vollbier year round. It’s really a lovely one it is. I also got lucky when the matron of the house served up some Brotzeit.
resampling Dunkles Vollbier with some Brotzeit
Brunnenfest 2026
Prisendorf Brunnenfest is a summer ritual. Locals decided they wanted their Schrüfer beer on Wednesday, so they hold a local festival four consecutive Wednesdays from mid-July. It gets quite busy despite its remote location!
Priesendorf Brunnenfest 2026
They serve the Brauerei Schrüfer Helles Vollbier from gravity dispense, which was in terrific form. Different clubs run it each week so the food options vary. I had a great Schnitzel sandwich when I was there.
Schrüfer Vollbier Hell & Schnitzel sandwich
I really enjoyed the Priesendorf Brunnenfest and hope to return again one day.
Beers: Vollbier
Beer calendar:
Fastenbock during Lent
Dunkles Vollbier from October to April
Kirchweih is the last Sunday in August
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