Berlin

 BREW BAKER, S-Bahnbogen (railway arch) 415, Flensburger Straße, Tiergarten, (17:00 -23:00 (16:00 Sat/Sun).  (S-Bahn Bellvue S5, S7, S9,) This brew pub is housed in a railway arch, a short walk from S-bahn station Bellevue. Leave the station via the north exit, cross the road, keeping to the left, and it's the 5/6th arch of the railway viaduct.

The brew kit is visible in the front window.  On our visit there were 3 brews available, the regular Bellevue Pils and two specials, Summer Stout and Rauchbock.  This small brew pub produces specials all year round and from the quality and variety we encountered it is obvious they are not afraid to experiment and move beyond the German purity laws with incredible results. Other beers in the portfolio include pumpkin ale, stout potato, ginger honey dream and the classic German styles Alt, Helles and Bock beers.

The place has a great atmosphere, excellent food and the service was spot on. Prices were about 2 Euro for 0.3L and 3 Euro for 0.5L. (This seemed to work out as average during our stay). This was definitely one of our favourite spots and we visited it again during the week. 

Sadly, they closed at the end of December 2010; But have reopened a tap around the corner from the old brewery in the Arminius-Markthalle. They plan to relocate the brewery to an as yet un-named site – we will keep you posted.

BRAUHAUS SUDSTERN, Hasenheide 6910967 Berlin-Kreuzberg.  Opening hours are - Monday-Saturday from 2.00 p.m.  

Take the U7 to Sudstern Station, on leaving the station head down the dual carriage way (Hasenheide) away from the church, the bar is about 100 meters on your right.  

The brickwork ambience of this Kreuzberg brewery offers a unique atmosphere and seating for up to 180 people.  There is room for 60 on the terrace facing the street, and the beer garden in Volkspark Hasenheide has 140 sunny spots far away from any street noise.

The beers on offer were typically German, Dunkel, Pils and Hefeweissen. The brew kit could be viewed through glass panels in the floor as well as in a glass fronted room at the rear end of the pub. 

If, like us, you arrive before opening time, take a walk further along Hasenheide and about another 100 metres on the left is a "Trinkt Markt" (Off Licence/Drink Market).  We ventured in and purchased 4 bottles for 3.09 Euros, including deposit of 0.40 cents.  There's a table, with umbrella, where you can stand and drink your beer and then return the bottles for your deposit.  The beers we sampled were Bergquell Brauerei Lobau Kirsh Porter (4.2%) and Lousitzer Porter (4.4%), Augustusbrau Lagerbier (5.2%) and Berliner Kindl Schultheiss Pils (5%).

BRAUHAUS MITTE Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 13, 10178 Berlin-Mitte. Opening hours - Mon-Fri 1100-2400 Sat-Sun 1000-2300 (S-Bahn Alexanderplatz S3,S5,S6,S7,S9, U-Bahn Alexanderplatz U2, U8)

This is just a Short stroll from the Alkopole, exit Alexanderplatz station from the south-west corner and cross Karl-Liebknect Strasse.  The pub is directly opposite up a flight of stairs.  Recently renamed from Leopolds Brauhaus following a takeover by its near neighbour Lemke, this is a modern brew pub situated on the first floor of the Berlin Carre shopping centre. The semi-circular bar features the brewery.

We settled down at one of the few unreserved tables, during a busy lunch time period. (Always check the reserve signs on tables, they usually have a time on them.  Very often you can sit at them until the reserve time).  The in house beers available were Zwickel, the current seasonal beer and the usual offerings of Dunkel and Helles Pils and Hefeweizen.  

GEORGBRÄU Spreeufer 4 10178 Berlin-Mitte. (S-Bahn Alexanderplatz

S3,S5,S6,S7,S9 U-Bahn Alexanderplatz U2, U8) Opening times daily from 1000 Apr-Dec 1200 Jan-Mar.

Located on the River Spree at the edge of the Nikolaiviertel (Nickolai Quarter), this brewpub is, not surprisingly, very popular with tourist.  It consists of some half dozen rooms, all very eclectic and individual, with seating for up to 400.  There is also seating outside on a large terraced area overlooking the river.  The beers available were Dunkels and Pils. I thought they were found wanting, did not have another one.

AUGUSTINER AM GENDARMENMARKT Charlottenstrasse. 55 10117 Berlin.  (U-Bahn  U2 U6 Stadt mitte or U2  Hausvogteiplatz ) Opening times – Daily 10.00 till 1.00am.

We arrived early evening and the place was extremely full.  We managed to locate a table outside at the front of the building and were well looked after by our Waiter.  The beers here are brewed in Munich and we partook of the Dunkel, Edelstoff, Hell and Schnitt.  Excellent menu, comprising of traditional German fair and very tasty it was too. 

If you fancy a little trip out of town get the tram to Köpenick a nice little town with a lake and lovely town hall and one of the smallest brew pubs you will most likely ever go into? see below;

LINDENBRAU, Sony Center Bellvue Strasse 3-5, 10785, Berlin-Tiergarten, which is just off the Potsdamer Platz. Opening Hours -  11:00-01:00 (02:30 Fri/Sat) (U-Bahn Potsdamer Platz 200 m U2  or S-Bahn Potsdamer Platz 200mS1, S2, S25.)  

At the heart of the impressive Sony Centre, Lindenbrau is spread over three floors, with its main feature being the only sterling silver brew kettle in the world, though what characteristic this adds to the beer is anybody's guess.  There is ample seating area both inside and outside under the impressive roof of the Sony Centre.  It was relatively quiet during our visit, though it is easy to imagine it being a little tight for space and noisy during busy periods, as the tables are quite close together. 

The beers on offer were the house brewed beer, Lindenbrau Hofbrau Weisse, plus three beers from the pubs parent company Hofbrauhaus Traunstein: Furstein Pils, 1612 Zwicklbeir and Altbairisch Dunkel.  We shared a "metre of beer" between two, which worked out at 2 sampler glasses of each beer in each metre. A great way for everyone to try what's on offer. 

BRAUHAUS IN RIXDORF, Glasower Strasse 27 12051 Berlin-Neukolln.  Opening times - 12:00-01:00 Tue-Sat; 10:00-23:00 Sun. (S-Bahn 45, Ring, U8 Hermannstrasse).

This is a long-established brewpub, actually located between Delbruck Strasse and Glasower Strasse and accessible from both.  This long established brew pub is housed a mansion house which belong to a former factory owner.  There are several rooms and the brewery is tucked away at the back.  It has a very rustic feel and there is a pleasant beer garden with its own bar.  The beers on offer were Rixdofer Hell 5% abv and Dunkel 5.2% abv and Weihenstephan Weiss.  Season beers are also available.

Next we set off on what turned out to be a wild “brew” chase in search of BRAUWERKSTATT Weichselstrasse 35, 12045 berlin Neukolln. (U Bahn U7 Rathaus Neukolln 1.08 KS-Bahn Berlin Treptower 1.4K  Bus Route 171, 194) Most annoying as we walked 2 miles and ended up in the café next door to 35 and partook in a bottle of Rathaus Pils at 5.1% and a piece of cheesecake.  

The following day, we attempted a little sightseeing in the rain, but eventually gave up and found a great beer bar just of the S-Bahn

ALKOPOLE, 1 Alexanderplatz , Mitte, 10178.  A small cosy bar, built into an arch at the East End of the Station, right by the U-bahn escalator, handy if you have 15/20 minutes to spare or need to use the loo, which are free if you are partaking of a beer.  They have 5 draught beers available and a good selection of bottles. 

From the tap we sampled the Kulmbacher Brauerei Schwartzbier.  The other beers available were Radeberger Pilsner, Kapuziner Weissbier and Dunkel Weiss and Berliner Kindl Pilsner.  From the bottle we tried the Kulmbacher Mőnchshof Kellerbier, Kapuziner Kristall Weiss and Dunkel Weiss. There’s a cosy little seating alcove at either side of the central bar which acts as your table and provides a prime position for watching the world go by. 

LEMKES  SPEZIALITATEN BRAUEREI, S-Bahnbogen 143 Dircksenstrasse 10178 Berlin Mitte. (S-Bahn Hackescher Markt) Opening times daily from 12.00.

 Just around the corner from Brauhaus Mitte in one of the railway arches between the Hackescher Markt and Alexanderplatz.   As a small craft brewery, Lemke focus on the quality and freshness of their beer.  Since opening in 1999 they have brewed over 40 different beers, including many styles that are unusual for Germany.  On offer were Lemke Original, Pilsner, Weizen and Zwickel. We opted for the tasting tray so we could sample all 4 beers.

MARCUS BRÄU, Münzstrasse 1-3 10178 Berlin-Mitte. (S-Bahn Alexanderplatz S3,S5,S6,S7,S9 250 m ) Opening times daily 1700 -2400

This is a short walk from Lemke and Mitte and the Alexandraplatz S-Bahn station.  A very small brewpub, which is also, known as Brauhaus Alexanderplatz and Microbrauerei Barkowsky.  The very small brew plant is actually built into the bar.  It claims to be the smallest brew pub in Germany, but then there are about half a dozen others laying claim to this title.  Unusually the Pils is available both filtered and unfiltered.  We sampled the Pils and the Dunkels.  No seasonal available.

SCHALANDER Banschstrasse 91, 10247 Berlin-Friedrichshain U-Bahn   

Samariterstrasse U5 S-Bahn  Berlin Storkower Strasse Ring S47 S41

Situated right on the corner of Banschstrasse, this is a plain and simply furnished bar, which has a very “European” feel. There is ample seating area outside for those lazy summer afternoons.  The beers on offer where dunkel and pils, which were unfiltered, sweet and quite cold, the pils had a distinctive bitter finish. The brewery is a 150 litre kit in stainless steel and is on view as you enter the bar.

BRAUHAUS SPANDAU Neuendorfer Strasse 1, 13585 Berlin-Spandau (U7 Altstadt Spandau S-Bahn Berlin-Spandau S5, S7) Opening Times Mon 1600 to 2400 Tue-Thurs 1100 to 2400 Fri-Sat 1100 till 0100 Sun 1000-2400. 

This is a large red brick building, with a tower at the entrance, spacious inside with plenty of seating areas surrounding the brew kit and conditioning tanks.  A typical, quite traditional German brew pub, with lots of breweriana adorning the walls, comfortable and atmospheric.

The brewery produces a monthly special and also has regular festival.  The offerings during our visit where Dunkel (the monthly special) and the house brew Havelbrau, this is a bright, bottom-fermented beer with an original gravity of 12.8%. 

BRAUEREI ESCHENBRAU Triftstrasse 67, 13353 Berlin Wedding (U-Bahn Leopoldplatz U6, U9) Opening times daily from 1700 (June to August from 1500).

Tucked away in the middle of a number of blocks of flats, beware it’s quite easy to miss the entrance.  Walk between the blocks into a “beer garden”, the centre of which is dominated by a large oak tree, then head down the steps into a cellar bar.

Beers on offer were a pils and a weizen, but the brewery has regular monthly seasonal beers, the current one (Feb 2011) being a Smoked beer.

An unusual set up, the place includes a distillery, specialising in Schnapps. The ceilings are aertexed, mish-mash of seating, but cosy and bright, with beer paraphernalia in abundance.

BRAUHAUS LEMKE AM SCHLOSS Luisenplatz 1,10585 Berlin (U-Bahn U7 Richard-Wagner-Platz Bus M4 from Zoobahn)  Opening times daily from 1100.

Another of the Lemke houses, with the same choice of beer, dunkel, pils and a seasonal (Zwcikel).  Quite touristy as very near to the Schloss, caters for coach parties so if you happen to hit on a busy period be patient, the food and the beer were very good and thought he waiting staff were extremely busy they were polite and helpful.  The brew kit is quite visible and located at the very rear of the seating area.

HOFBRAUEREI KRONGUT BORNSTEDT (Brewery in Schloss) Brau-und Brennhaus Ribbeckstrasse 6-7 14469 Potsdam-Bornstedt

The Bornstedt in Potsdam is a unique venue and one of the most popular destinations in the region Berlin-Brandenburg. The listed area is part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites and fits into the ensemble of the famous castles and gardens of Potsdam.

The brew house is part of a former model farm and there has been a “brew house” on the site since 1689, it was also home to Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm and his wife Victoria, daughter of Queen Victoria.

The main restaurant area is a large banqueting hall with heavy pine furniture, panelled walls, vaulted ceilings and mediaeval chandeliers.

The beers on offer were “Bornstedter Buffalo Light and Dark. Both of below average quality.