10 Best Spots For Craft Brews In Berlin

This neighborhood pub in Friedrichshain’s Boxi Kiez is known for their homemade brews, many whipped up in enormous copper kettles at the front of the bar. Hops & Barley is a cozy spot that is usually brimming with locals on just about every day of the week, so expect to share a table with other patrons at the bar. They have a changing selection of their own brews, plus a menu that features varieties of beers and spirits sourced from both Germany and abroad. Another major draw for many patrons at Hops & Barley is that they screen football matches in the large room at the back.

This hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant in what is frankly one of Schöneberg’s sketchier hoods, is seriously worth the trek out of your comfort zone into this far-reaching part of town. Not only do they offer phenomenal Northern Chinese fare, but they have one of the best selections of German craft brews in the city. Pair your pint with a sampling of Da Jia Le’s specialties, which include tofu skins, marinated cucumber salad, and cold braised beef. Who needs boring bar mix or greasy pizza when these tasty snacks are available to accompany your beer? German brews and Chinese eats: an odd combo, we know, but it just works.

One country that has a pretty solid beer game but doesn’t tend to have as much notoriety in this regard compared to its other European counterparts is Italy. Lucky for us, Birra in Prenzlauer Berg offers people the chance to explore this sub-genre of craft beers for themselves. Open only since Spring 2016, Birra is certainly making waves. It has a hospitable atmosphere without any of the pretense that tends to come along with hip beer culture. From the moment you walk in, it’ll become apparent that this place is concerned, first and foremost, with the beers. A set of gleaming copper taps, each distinguished by labels of some of Italy’s finest craft brews is enough to make any beer lover’s heart (and palette) happy. http://instagram.com/p/BIQXPeWBwnh/?taken-at=1035147499

Located in Kreuzkölln, amidst many other culinary gems like Brammibal’s Donuts and Cocolo Ramen is Lager Lager. Here customers will find a mix of specialty beers from the international arena coupled with plenty of pale ales on tap. Their selection is really quite impressive. The space itself is warm and inviting, comprised of radiant timber tones, exposed brick, and industrial finishes. Of course, one of the main aesthetic attractions here are the shelves that showcase the repertoire of brews available for purchase. If things get a bit too crowded indoors, it’s never a bad idea to take advantage of the city’s lack of open container laws by heading to the banks of the nearby Landwehr Canal.

Situated at the busy Rosa-Luxemburg Platz in Mitte, Kaschk is the resident hip joint for a cold one, which is saying a lot considering all the wonderful places that also exist in the area. Kashk has a carefully curated array of international beers. Here, you will find a list of options, with particular emphasis on Scandinavian and Northern European varieties including brews like Copenhagen’s Mikkeller and Britain’s Bewdog. During the day Kaschk also functions as a café, making it the ideal spot to transition a buzzing workday into a more mellow evening. http://instagram.com/p/220kJQnPrg/?taken-by=kaschk

Hopfenreich in Kreuzberg’s hip Wrangelkiez is a chill hangout with a friendly and knowledgeable staff. Host to plenty of regulars, this place has specialty selections from all over the world, including a solid representation of beers from across the pond. They have things both by the bottle and on tap. Speaking of the latter, Hopfenreich also hosts tap takeovers with an equally international crowd of breweries. This place fills up during peak hours, but it makes an excellent spot for an after work beer before heading to the nearby Markthalle Neun on Street Food Thursdays. http://instagram.com/p/BCLacCYp-Ro/?taken-at=303224849

Another one of Prenzlauer Berg’s noteworthy spots for a craft brew is Monterey Bar. Dowsed in bold purple and illuminated in colorful lights, Monterey Bar has a more psychedelic appeal than the trim interiors of the other spots on our list. Really, it’s a cross between a heavy metal bar and a craft beer joint, serving as a culmination of the owner’s two great loves. In addition to great craft beers, Monterey also specializes in spirits, with particular emphasis on whisky. Along with an awesome beer list, the staff is super friendly and happy to help even the biggest newbies navigate the menu.

Vagabund Brauerei in Wedding is worth the trek to the city’s northwestern-most district. Three home brewers from the States started this gem back in 2013, and it has since become quite renowned for its homemade Vagabund brews and other craft selections. Their menu has six core varieties, which are crafted to true perfection, along with a couple of more experimental and adventurous options. With its rustic interior décor and dim lighting, this place feels like the living room of a friend… who just happens to devote his livelihood to perfecting brews to share with you. http://instagram.com/p/BGw78LLn7AA/?taken-at=116711268

Piquing the interests even of members of Berlin’s own French community, FRENC Heartcrafted Goods near the bustling Simon-Dach Strasse in Friedrichshain promises a lovely mix of French treats — like sweet and savory crepes as well as galettes and excellent craft beers. While it might seem that FRENC is simply ‘FRENCH’ with the ‘H’ omitted, the name is actually meant to stand for ‘Finest Craft Beers and Crepes’, and we concur. Beers are typically on the darker side with specialties like pale ales and stouts. This is the perfect place to get a little slice of French culture and cuisine amidst a rather gastronomically unremarkable conglomerate of eateries in this part of Friedrichshain. http://instagram.com/p/BHH_ySUAQpS/?taken-at=665065222

Heide Peter, the founder of the brewery, was an artist before moving into the craft beer sector; but his training is evident in his techniques and the quality beverages his brewery produce. Yet, Peter’s beginnings as a brewer were humble. He started out making the beers in a basement and in the operation’s early days, it failed at gaining ground as a commodity sold in various venues around the city. Yet all of this changed when they set up shop vending at Markthalle 9’s Street Food Thursdays. There is no denying Heidenpeters’ popularity there, based on the large crowds that congregate at the stand. Now, Heidenpeters supplies many establishments in Berlin with its creations, including Hopfenreich and Kaschk. They have even expanded operation throughout Germany in cities like Hamburg and Leipzig.