Vienna is known for classical music, the opera and plenty of other “cultural” things. But who knew it was also a heaven for beer lovers and microbreweries?
There are many beer bars in this city, but don’t just go into the first one you see. It helps to know what you’re looking for first!!
Our favorites were:
Where: Not right in the main city centre but it is near one of the main shopping streets, Mariahilfer Strasse. A great location but you do have to know what you’re looking for, as you could easily walk by the sign if you’re not paying attention. See map.
Why you should visit: They brew a number of different styles, not just a light and dark. There’s a Marzen, a Bamberger Rauchbier (which is smoky and uses a beechwood-smoked malt), a blond unfiltered ale, a dark lager, a more traditional style lager, and a chili beer (which unfortunately they were out of when we visited).
Overall Comments: We had a wonderful time here. The place was crowded when we visited on a Friday evening in November. We found a seat at the bar. I heard from other reviews I’ve read that the food was very good but we unfortunately did not have any. There are at least 15 or 20 bar stools that all look directly at the brew equipment as the centerpiece of the room. Visited in November 2012
Where: South of the city centre so it’s not right in the middle of the main tourist area, but still worth traveling to, especially if you enjoy walking around neighborhoods outside of the main tourist areas like my husband and I do! See map.
Why you should visit: From their website (link above), “A brewmaster from Bavaria ensures that here at the brewery house in the “Waaggasse auf der Wieden” light, malty and natural beers are served. Since different types of malts (depending on beer type) are used and mashed for brewing in the mash tun according to the German Reinheitsgebot, the beer here at the Wieden Bräu is clearly malty, but also lighter than conventional Austrian lager beers. As the beers are only served in the adjoining tavern it is not necessary to filter them after fermentation and storage.”
Where: Right in the middle of the city centre and across the street from Haus Der Musik. See map.
Why you should visit: If you’ve been traveling throughout Europe for awhile and you want to feel like you’re back in the U.S., this is the place to go for “American style” craft beer. Everything’s automatically in English, including on the website. In fact, the owner of Victory Brewing Company specially brews his “hop devil” beer at 1516 Brewing Company. There’s currently a wheat beer, an oatmeal stout, two different kinds of IPA’s, and a pale ale on tap.
Overall Comments: Jim and I visited 1516 on Thanksgiving night. We arrived at 10pm at night and the place was completely crowded. They had a turkey dinner at the restaurant and when we called just a few days earlier it was already fully booked. But, after living in London for 10 months, it was nice to walk into a bar where you felt like you were back in the U.S, especially on our first Thanksgiving day outside of the U.S. The beer was of great quality and we stopped in twice throughout the 3 nights we spent in Vienna. Visited in November 2012
Where: Seems a little more off the beaten path than Wieden Brau, southeast of the city centre, but still a fine location and worth the walk or whatever form of public transportation you choose to take there. See map.
Why you should visit: They’re serious about their beer. From their website (see link above), “The Salm Braeu PILS is brewed according the original receipie from Pilsen in the Czech Republic. Made from the finest original raw materials (malt from Stadlauer Maltfactory and Hops from Saaz and Hallertau) and the superbe water from the mountains near Vienna.” You know with an explanation like that that they mean business.
Overall Comments: We managed to get here only about 40 minutes before they closed at midnight, but still had time to try out their Weisen beer and Pilsner. Enjoyed the beer. Very refreshing, crips beers and the inside of the place was cosy and comfortable as well. They don’t have as many types and styles of beer as some of the other breweries, but it was nice to explore a slightly different part of the city and to go to a place where you felt like you were among a lot of other locals. Visited in November 2012
December 5, 2012
Austria, Beer and Breweries, Beer By Country