Last updated on 09/23/2026
Ellen Mehrhoff-Roddewig
For me, freshly brewed beer has a charm all its own that no bottled beer can reach. For this list I tried my way through lagers, dark beers and seasonal specialty brews and paid attention to what makes a good brewhouse: a cleanly brewed beer with character, a hearty kitchen that suits the beer, a lovely beer garden for warm evenings and hosts who can tell you about their craft.
Since 1994, Brauhaus Spandau has been brewing its unfiltered Havelbräu in the historic brick building on Kolk, complemented by a rotating special beer each month. The copper brewing kettles are openly displayed in the guest area, and outdoors, 400 seats are spread across four beer gardens with access to the Havel river. Among Berlin's breweries, this is the location with the largest open-air space.
Hardly any brewpub in Berlin is as central: Hopfingerbräu is located in the Palais am Pariser Platz, less than a hundred meters from the Brandenburg Gate. On tap is the Hopfinger Organic Naturtrüb, top-fermented, unfiltered, and brewed according to their own organic recipe. Inside, 230 seats on two floors, plus a terrace with a view of the Gate and the Reichstag.
Brauhaus Südstern is history; since May 2026, SUUUD Brewery has been located on Hasenheide. Brewing continues on-site: six house-brewed varieties, from Pilsner with Saaz hops to Session IPA, half-liter starting from 5.50 Euros. The beer garden overlooks Volkspark Hasenheide, with live music and comedy on stage. No other brewery in Berlin is this young.
Since 1992, the family-run Georgbraeu brewery on the Spree riverbank in the Nikolaiviertel has been brewing its unfiltered light and dark beers according to the German Purity Law, plus seasonal beers from Maibock to Pale Ale. Both standard varieties are only available here at the brewery. Among Berlin's breweries, it boasts the most beautiful terrace by the water, along with Eisbein and Haxe from the kitchen.
Berlin's oldest brewpub, located opposite Charlottenburg Palace, will once again be called Luisenbräu starting in spring 2026, after operating as Lemke am Schloss for nearly twenty years. The operator remains Brauerei Lemke. The Luisenbräu Kellerbier, with 4.9 percent alcohol, is traditionally served in a 0.2-liter stein, and a 'Beer Meter' with ten glasses is available for 19.90 Euros.
The historic brewery Brauhaus Rixdorf in Berlin-Neukölln is mandatory for admires of the Berlin-ish art of brewing beer.
Beer was served at Pfefferberg on Schönhauser Allee as early as 1844. Today, Thorsten Schoppe brews seven of his own varieties there, from the tart Bergpils to the alcohol-free Bergstrasse. Half a liter costs a uniform 5.50 Euros, and a brewery tour with tasting costs 29 Euros. Among Berlin's brewpubs, it is the only one operated as an inclusion business.
Since 2001, Martin Eschenbrenner has been brewing his beer alone in the former laundry room of a student dormitory in Wedding, producing around 70 hectoliters after two brewing days. The cold-hopped Panke Gold and the Pilsner are only available here, with a half-liter costing 4.70 Euros. The beer garden under the old oak tree seats 200 guests, and brought picnic baskets are explicitly allowed.
After closing its location on Bänschstraße, Maximilian Lissek moved his tiny brewing system to House 9 on the RAW site in 2018. They brew a Pilsner, a Dark beer, and a Wheat beer, plus a special beer that alternates between a Cold-hopped, a Pale, and a Black beer. Among Berlin's breweries, this is one of the smallest and most unpretentious.
The Schlossplatzbrauerei on Köpenick's Schlossplatz calls itself Germany's smallest brewery, and with about 35 square meters in a completely glassed-in house, that's probably true. Up to six home-brewed varieties are available simultaneously, including Babylonian Beer and Köpenicker Moll. No food is served here, but drinks are enjoyed all the more extensively.
