Priesendorf is a small village in the Steigerwald, a pretty hilly area 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 unless a holiday, then it’s closed Thursday
Monday to Thursday from 3:00
Friday to Sunday and holidays from 10:00
Output: 700 HL
Founded in 1865, this small village brewpub remains in the Schüfer family who brew some of the driest beers in Franconia. It lies directly on the Panoramaweg that takes in some fine scenery as well as a few breweries along the way. It took me two tries to get inside the door, finding it closed the first time out. There 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 since it took me two trips to get inside the door! Both were similar and excellent. I didn’t get a chance to eat as I had to catch a bus back to Bamberg in an hour but I’ll be back.
two find dry hoppy brews at Brauerei Schrüffer
It took me a couple years to get back but I finally did while staying in nearby Weiher at the Kündmüller brewery. I was researching hikes and breweries for my book Beer Hiking Bavaria. The Weiher hike made it into the book but I had awful weather for the hike to Priesendorf so unfortunately no decent photos. At any rate, it did get me back to the brewery and the Dunkles Vollbier, as expected this time, wasn’t on tap. I had a couple of the signature Vollbiers and they really hit the spot, even after a fairly wet walk there. On leaving, I noticed a great little Biergarten off to the side of the brewery so now I have another reason to return.
beers worth the walk: Schrüfer Vollbier & Fastenbock
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.
first time visit to their charming little Biergarten
I finally made it to their Biergarten. A friend who goes often stopped in after he’d taken me to Beck-Bräu not so far away. He goes often and confirmed the Dunkles Vollbier is only available in winter. Their flagship is perfect for the Biergarten and I enjoyed a plate of Dosenfleisch with it.
some tasty Dosenfleisch on a great Keller day
It turned out my friend knew the son-in-law of the brewer from their old army days and he gave me an impromptu tour of the brewery. It was very cool to see.
an impromptu brewery tour
Hopefully, now that I have an easier route to the brewery, it becomes more frequent. It’s a great one. It appears it will be as my friend took me out 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!
Beers: Vollbier
Beer calendar:
Fastenbock during Lent
Dunkles Vollbier from October to April
Kirchweih is the last Sunday in August
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