Bremen

Bremen is a city straddling the Weser River in northwest Germany. It’s known for its role in maritime trade, represented by Hanseatic buildings on the Market Square. The ornate and Gothic town hall has a Renaissance facade and large model ships in its upper hall. Nearby is the Roland statue, a giant stone figure symbolizing freedom of trade. St. Peter’s Cathedral features medieval crypts and twin spires. Bremen was one of the Hanseatic trading ports of the middle ages, and the people used their wealth wisely, creating a stunning old quarter featuring fine buildings like the 15th-century Rathaus and the Markt. Schnoor is one of Bremen's most atmospheric areas, with its labyrinthine streets and passages. It's the place to go to find clothing boutiques, hidden cafes, and bars to down a few of the city's excellent beers.

How to Get to Bremen

Plane - Many low-cost airlines fly into Bremen. After touching down at Bremen Airport (BRE), catch the number 6 tram straight into town.

Train - Bremen has excellent rail connections to other German cities as well as France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Intercity services terminate at the Hauptbahnhof, near the city centre.

Car - Those driving from Hamburg should take the A1 Autobahn, while you can take the A24, then the A1 from Berlin.

Bus - Intercity buses run into Bremen from all over Germany, and Eurolines is the major operator.

So Bremen has three breweries as of Feb 2022 and a few interesting bars;

Union Brauerei, Theodorstraße 13

Open:Shop Fri 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sat 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Brewery tours & office: phone: 0421/89 82 16 12

If you're a craft beer fan then this establishment is a must visit in Bremen. A re-established brewery that is located in the traditional brewery building of the former Bremer Union Brauerei (1907-1968). The interior is a nice mixture of modern and rustique elements, dominated by rough wooden furniture, doors etc... Not far from Bus and Tram stops. The site is huge with a number of bars/beer halls and it gets buzzing I recommend you ask for a three or five beer taster tray so you can find what you prefer. The waiters are friendly and service minded they even supply an English menu so no probs if your knowledge of German is limited! The brewery (brew kettles, fermentation/lagering barrels) are visible from some of the guest rooms. Bottles with the brewery’s beers are sold in different sizes, as well as bottles from other German craft breweries from the gift shop at the back of the main building in the courtyard. Also a local distiller sells all kinds of spirits and liqueurs so there really is something for everyone's taste. Simple and good dishes that fit well to beer are prepared at the local kitchen. Overall, a nice place worth to visit.

Schüttinger Gasthausbrauerei, Hinter dem Schuetting 12-13

Open: Daily 12.00 - 00.00

A dark and old fashioned brewpub in a narrow little street along from the center of Bremen town hall, it apparently has two entries, one in a small alley which then leads you through something that looks like a couple of dungeons, the other entry is from a small touristic street / alley where apparently a lot of city tours with guides come through. Interior is typically German brewpub: rough thick wooden tables, simple chairs. Two are beers available, unsurprisingly nothing less than 0.4 liters. Normally dunkel und helles food is simple beer style stuff staff are good, well worth spending a couple of hours here.

Brauerei Becks GmbH&Co.KG, Am Deich 18/19

Open: Tours Monday to Saturday pre-book via website:

A large multi National industrial brewery close to the city center. It’s an interesting brewery with lots of history, especially if one hasn’t visited a "big" brewery before. Pre-booking is recommended. There is a complementary beer tasting of Beck’s and Haake-Beck beer at the end of the tour. Note the tour lasts for 3 hours.

Craft Bier Bar Bremen, Am Wall 175

Open: Tues - Sat 17.00 to Late! Closed Sun - Mon

Located in the city centre on the edge of the old town. It's modern and urban looking new craftbeer bar. There are 40 taps with a nice selection of German, European and North American beers. There is also a fridge with a small lambic selection. It offers a variety of places to stand, sit or even lay down and enjoy your beer; from cozy chairs to stadium-like steps with cushions. Flights are available, you can play shuffle board and on Wednesday they have IPA for €1. Service is super friendly and are happy to offer sample's. Nice rock music too. Best Bar in Bremen, for sure. Next one please!

Leierkasten, Pagentorner Heimweg 33

Open: Mon - Sat 17.00 - 02.00 Sun 15.00 02.00

The Leierkasten (German for "Organ grinder") is a beer garden and pub located on an allotment site. It cannot directly be reached by car; you would have to walk or bicycle to it. There is, however, a bus stop nearby. The beer garden itself looks like you would expect a traditional beer garden, big chestnut trees create a dense canopy of leaves protecting you and your beer from the summer sun and heat. Longish wooden benches and tables are used for the furniture. On warmer days when the beer garden is crowded, beverages can be bought in a shed outside; otherwise you will have to order inside the pub that has four taps serving good German Beers. The is a simple but very tasty kitchen. Nice friendly service, clean toilets, cilling out in the evening under chestnuts tree's, what more can a humanbean ask for?

TwoBeers, Feldstraße 19

Open: Tue - Sat 18.00-01.00. Closed: Sun - Mon

A great place to enjoy fine craft beer, most of it from local craft breweries from six ever changing taps plus a fridge with some intresting stuff in. But is is a resturant more than a bar with great food. The place is cosy and charming, with lots of candles burning away. Plus the service is excellent. It is located in a quiet area, but quite close to Viertel, the most lively area in town. A gem of a bar especially in Germany!

Borgfelder Landhaus, Warfer Landstrasse 73

Open: Mon-Sat: 12.00 - 00.00 Sun: 12.00 - 22.00

Located on the outskirts of the city, exactly on the Bundesland border between Bremen and Lower Saxony, it's atedious journey by public transport, to the end of a tram line then quite a walk! This cozy venue and is a good place to relax far from the madding crowd. It used to be a brewpub but stopped brewing in 2012 they now have Störtebeker beers instead with three on tap and another five in bottles. The brewing equipment is still located inside the restaurant like so many other places in Germany it's just for ornamentation! Decent food and polite and friendly staff certainly make up for that. Not expensive and quite enjoyable, but do not go there on beer hunting?

HOL' AB, Nordtsr. 13

Open:Mon - Fri 09.00 - 17.00 Closed: Sat - Sun

A franchise of a German beverage market. It looks like an old and small beverage market, but has a large selection of German and Bavarian beers and a good selection of craft beers from Germany and abroad. Prices are ok, sometimes you get a real good bargain. Very friendly staff, well worth a visit for a few hard to find ticks!