Sambach is a cute little village about 20 km southwest of Bamberg but more readily accessed via public transportation from Hirshaid, 15 km to its east. Though simple, it’s a clean and very pleasant base for exploring the area, which includes the nearby Castle Weissenstein. It also makes a great base for hiking to nearby breweries, which are numerous. The Brauereien-Wanderweg starts in Hirschaid (easily accessed by train) so you can walk to all the breweries on this lengthy circuit if you have the time and desire. You won’t be disappointed!
Brauerei Hennemann
Sambach 33
96178 Pommersfelden
Tel: 09502 43 07
brauerei-hennemann.com
Hirschaid Station 13km/irregular bus service
Opening hours:
Thursday to Sunday from 11:30
Output: 1000 HL
Founded in 1870, Hennemann is everything you could want a rural Franconian brewery to be. Set in a cute but very small village, the brewpub is very much the center of local life. Though only open four days a week, it has warm food until 8 in the evening and while the menu is not huge, it’s varied enough to keep you happy. It’s a bustling place and the owner/brewer is still very much hands on and a bit of an entertainer at that.
atmospheric old pub in Sambach
We were in town recently for two nights and happily ate here both evenings. We had a variety of their meals and they were all great, as were all beers sampled. We were there with another couple and the first evening saw both husbands quite enjoying the Rauchfleisch and Bohnen (smoked pork and beans). The meat was succulent and quite smokey and the beans super tasty. We washed it down with their fantastic Lagerbier, a dry fruity amber brew I’ll surely dream about for months until my return.
Lagerbier & Rauchfleisch & Bohnen
Our wives both got the Braumeisterpfanne, a hot skillet with boneless pork chops on the bottom and a bratwurst on top for good measure. Especially good were the bundled green string beans, wrapped in bacon. They raved about it so much, I knew what I was getting the next night. As great as the Lagerbier was, we went for their Sommergold next and though not quite up to the Lagerbier, it would have been a best of at just about any other brewpub.
Braumeisterpfanne & Sommergold
The second evening’s visit saw our wives opting for the meatless option of white asparagus with potatoes. They’d both had hearty lunches and it was, after all, Spargelzeit (literally asparagus time!). My wife said it was some of the best asparagus she’d ever had and it was quite a large portion for the price. True to my promise the night before I went for the Braumeisterpflanne but my visiting friend from the US wanted to try the Sülze with Bratkartoffeln, and was glad he had.
Sülze and Spargel (white asparagus) with Kartoffeln (potatoes)
We stuck to the excellent Lagerbier the second night but did try the Hallertauer Hopfengold, a fiery Schnapps made with hops. It was quite good, too.
Hallertauer Hopfengold
How it took me so long to get there is now beyond me but I am so glad I finally made the effort. I can assure you, it won’t take that long for a return. My wife loves the place and that always helps. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, our winter trip to Sambach got cancelled but I have had three of their beers in bottled form and all were excellent. I hope to have them on tap in 2021!
their Bockbier Dunkel, Zwickelbier and Weißbier were excellent
We finally made it back in November 2021 despite a third wave of COVID spreading over Upper Franconia. We started off with their Lagerbier but switched immediately to the reason we’d made the journey: their Bockbier Dunkel on tap. I also got to try their specialty dish, Salzwasserfleisch, which was excellent. My wife was envious once she tried it but she was in the mood for a salad.
a long awaited return to Hennemann treats
My wife was ecstatic to see Apfelkühle on the chalkboard. These are sliced apples, battered, fried and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. It’s typically served with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream. We also noticed a Bock Plus on the menu. This is a cold-hopped version of their Bock. The owner explained it was his son’s idea and was popular with the younger people. It was also excellent.
a heavenly dessert match up
Beers: Lagerbier, plus one rotating beer (such as Bockbier Dunkel in late November/December) on tap. Often non-tap beers are available in bottles, such as Zwickelbier, Land-Weiße, Bockbier Dunkel (bottle).
Bockbier Dunkel (on tap)
Beer calendar:
Sommergold in warmer months (we had it on tap in May)
Kirchweih is the third Sunday after Whit Sunday
Weihnachtsbock Anstich is the last Friday in November (look or Bock Plus too!)
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