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 2025 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.

Bremer Braumanufaktur GmbH & Co.KG, Auf d. Muggenburg 42

Open: Mon - Sat 11.30 - 22.00 

Das HOPFENFÄNGER Brauhaus, has a beer garden and a brewpub / restaurant with great beer. Brewery tours are also available. Inside its very modern looking with lots of hanging lights. They have 12 beers on offer covering traditional and modern styles, plus beer flights are available. OK food and friendly staff.

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.

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, chilling out in the evening under chestnuts tree's, what more can a humanbean ask for?

Heldenbar, Ostertorsteinweg 105

Open: Mon - Sat 18.00 - 00.00 or later?

Now the only craft beer bar in Bremen with beer fresh from the tap! The biggest picture window locally, with a fantastic view from the first floor. You'll also find Germany's oldest art house cinema in the same building.

Comturei, Ostertorstraße 30/32

Open: Daily 12.00 - 00.00

A Pub/restaurant located in a 13th century crypt that creates a great Medieval atmosphere. Amazing very friendly staff. The food is excellent, overall a great experience. Plus the draft beer was also very tasty.

Ständige Vertretung, Böttcherstrasse 3-5

Open: Tues - Sat 12.00 - 23.00

A large pub with exposed beams. Located in a typical old brick building. In its small-scale architecture with bay windows, gables and arcades, it combines the English country house style with traditional Hanseatic elements. In addition to Bremen specialties, they offer Rhenish dishes and, of course: Kölsch. Part of a chain of Rhineland-style pubs.

Fehrfeld - Bremen, Fehrfeld 58/59

Open: Daily 18.00 - 02.00

A friendly and spacious pub with a relaxed atmosphere in the heart of the Viertel district. They have a separate room for smokers, two table football games in the cellar and a spacious outdoor area. The menu is a homage to the Franconia region of Germany. Plus a couple of great traditional beers.

Achim's Beck'shaus, Carl-Ronning-Straße 1

Open: Mon - Sat 10.00 - 00.00 Sun 12.00 - 18.00

A traditional looking pub with a mahogany and brass theme. It's handily placed right in the centre of town. It has a nice outside terrace plus they serve homestyle dishes, plus veggie and gluten-free options. They also have the unfiltered Haake-Beck Kräusen in bottles.

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!

Paulaner's an der Schlachte, Schlachte 30

Open: Daily 11.30 - 23.00

A Paulaner tied house on the waterfront in the old town. It´s decorated in typical Bavarian beerhall style, panelled walls, pine-topped tables, etc. There is also a beer garden. A good place to fill yourself up with traditional Bavarian food.

Rock & Wurst, Am Dobben 35

Open: Tues - Sat 18.00 - 00.00

An authentic atmosphere created by great music. They offer unpretentious food and great wurst and a serving team with real character. Inside its quite sparse with modern seating. There's an enormous selection of beers, great drinks, plus their own craft beer and varieties of rum to choose from. 

Litfass, Ostertorsteinweg 22

Open: Daily 11.00 - 02.00

There aren't many people in Bremen who haven't heard of the Litfass bar in the Viertel district. The thin, narrow pub, with its long bar, and extensive outside seating area on the square. Opened in 1993 and is a great place to pass the day away in. The atmosphere is relaxed, the service friendly and there is nice background music.

Eisen - Bremen, Sielwall 9

Open: Daily 17.00 - 02.00

A small energetic corner bar pouring beer & cocktails amid a rock-music playlist in the heart of the Viertel district, it's a sociable space with attitude. Home to the rightly famous "Eisentaufe" a real test of courage! What that's all about, you will learn from the bar staff!

I hope you found my guide to the brewpubs and bars in Bremen useful?
Now you just need to get yourself out there and start the beer adventure for yourself!
Go grab a locally brewed pint (or 2) and support your local pub's and brewers!

R.I.P.

Craft Bier Bar Bremen, Am Wall 175

Located in the city centre on the edge of the old town. It's modern and urban looking new craft beer 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 cosy 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!

TwoBeers, Feldstraße 19

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 interesting stuff in. But is is a restaurant 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

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?