My Home Town
Despite the hype that has recently been going on about craft beer, it still only makes up a little over 1% of all beer that is consumed in Austria (most likely more than that here in Vienna). Compared to other cities Vienna thus has a rather small craft beer scene, yet it is growing and very vivid. New independent beer bars and shops have been popping up lately, some people are even getting interested in home brewing and the term craft beer is getting more and more common and familiar to us – at least chances are growing that your conversation partner is having a “What the heck is he talking about” look on the face when you mention these two words. A lot of Austrian and Vienese breweries have been founded in the past years and interestingly the amount of gypsy brewers is very high in this city. The semiannual Craftbierfest has been established in order to promote and to celebrate (domestic) independent brewing and also other beer festivals and markets are regularly taking place. I just recently found out that a place I used to go to every now and then has slowly transformed into a craft beer pub. Even the biggest Viennese commercial brewery (Ottakringer) has established its own craft beer brand, which is selling IPAs, Pale Ales or Porters. You certainly would not find as many craft beer bars in Vienna as you would in other European cities such as Barcelona, London, Berlin, Prague or Budapest, but by now we have quite a few really nice brew pubs and bars with a huge selection of micro beers and I am discovering more by the day. I thus hope that you will enjoy the following journey through Vienna’s best places for craft beer.
AMMUTSØN
A bar like AmmutsØn was defintitely missing on Vienna’s craft beer map. You will not find a better place for beer in Vienna. In the course of the 5 months since its opening this pub has somewhat turned into my second home. A more detailed review about AmmutsØn and the opening night, including the solution of the puzzle regarding its extraordinary and uncommon name can be found here.
The concept of AmmutsØn is somewhat unique in Vienna. The beers are coming exclusively from independent breweries. Misho Omar, the owner, goes to every brewery himself and personally purchases the kegs and brings them back to the laboratory of the pub. There are no merchants or intermediaries involved in his supply chain. If Misho does not know the brewer, you will not find one of these beers at any of the 12 taps. Very often, there are rare treasures amongst them, such as the The Veil’s Hornswoggler, a vanilla milk stout on nitro, which was the only keg sold to a European bar. The taps keep rotating at an extremely high frequency, assuring that the beers are always amazingly fresh. The supply is a mix of both domestic and international breweries and ranges from all different kind of IPAs, Lagers, Wheat Beers, Stouts, Porters, Sours to very experimental beers such as spice and vegetable beers. There is almost always at least one Bierol brew on tap. The Tyroleans of Bierol are good friends of Misho, dating back to pre- AmmutsØn days, when he was still at Innsbruck’s beer temple Tribaun (AmmutsØn’s older sister so-to-say) and they are in my opinion by far the best Austrian brewery you can come across. Most of the time, you will also come across Italian craft beers. Italy is the fastest growing beer country in Europe and many breweries make excellent beers, especially when it comes to sours (Birrificio BioNoc', Birrificio Rethia, Ca’del Brado or Birra di Fiemme, just to name a few) Since Misho is a huge sour fan himself, he makes sure that sour lovers’ taste buds are not neglected. Other breweries that are regularly on tap are Edge from Barcelona, Porterhouse from Ireland, Danish Dry & Bitter, FrauGruber, FuerstWiacek and Hoppebräu from Germany, CRAK and Hammer from Italy or 6Beers, Alefried and Brew Age from Austria. 2 of the 12 taps are nitro taps and mostly reserved for mindblowing stouts and porters (together with the already mentioned Hornswoggler, Bierol’s Baltic vanilla and cacao porter Koida Kaffee or Porterhouse’s Chocolate Truffle Stout were probably the best ones ever on nitro), but also sometimes for red ales and even a lager.
AmmutsØn is regularly hosting special events, such as the wonderful Soirée Cantillon or the already legendary Dry & Bitter beer pool party. Dry & Bitter Brewing Co’s founder and brewer Søren came to Vienna for a tap takeover and some DJing and a huge plastic pool was installed in the garden. People were sitting in that pool drinking the most amazing Danish beers. The term craft beer dive has never fit more perfectly than on that day.
Quite often, AmmutsØn is also the first bar in town to release special beers on tap, such as a New England Zwickl by Alefried or the Tschecherant, a collaboration of Wappler Brewing and Tux1280 (the latter one is only being served there).
AmmutsØn is an extremely cozy place where you will feel welcome immediately. The staff is extremely friendly and you there are always great people to chat to.
AmmutsØn stands for quality and this is not regarding just the beers themselves. A great beer can taste weird if the surroundings don’t support it. AmmutsØn makes sure that the beers taste exactly as they are intended to. I have never seen a place being this thoroughly cleaned. Every night, the staff is making sure that every little slot and corner of the taps and the bar is more than just clean. The pipes are flushed and cleaned all the time, especially when a new beer is tapped. The equipment is probably also one of the best to be found in this country. All this contributes to the beers tasting like nowhere else. The prices at AmmutsØn are a bit higher compared to other craft beer pubs, but given the quality that you receive, they are still more than fair. I really love this pub. If you haven’t been there yet, do it now. I am sure you will love it, too.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. The taps are rotating so often, that it is hard to select special beers. Some are regularly appearing though. Bierol - The Padawan, Bierol - El Patron, Hammer - Wave Runner. When on tap, go for Dry & Bitter, FrauGruber, FuerstWiacek, CRAK or any of the Italian sours.
FOOD. Chili Con Carne, small burgers and pretzels. The main focus is not on food.
OPENING HOURS. Mon: 4pm - 1am. Tue-Wed: 4pm - 2am. Thu-Fri: 4pm - 4am. Sat: 2pm - 4am. Sun 2pm - midnight.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U3 Neubaugasse
ADDRESS. Barnabitengasse 10, 1060 Vienna
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CRAFTMÜHLE
Hands down, the best independent beer bar in the city and even though this list should not be seen as a ranking, I had to put this place up on top. Funnily enough, I did not discover this place until the beginning of this year, although I live within 5 minutes walking distance. It is one of the newer craft beer places in Vienna. Opened up in May 2016, Craftmühle quickly has established itself as one of the major players in the growing Viennese craft beer scene. I simply love that place and I could go there over and over again. It is located in the heart of the artist neighborhood in Vienna, the so-called Freihausviertel, which is easy to reach via three different subway lines. I love the cozy atmosphere there and the staff is super friendly and fantastic to talk to. The entrance area is rather small. It is dominated by the bar and some high tables. The room is really high with some awesome decoration such as hop corn shaped lamps and a large clock on the wall. On the right hand side there are stairs that will lead either into a large backroom with lots of tables and again cool interior design or to some kind of inside terrace with more tables and a great bird’s-eye view onto the bar area. During the warm months they have a big beer garden just outside the bar with loads of sitting possibitlies. They normally have 12-15 different beers on tap – the majority is from the Hungarian brewery zip’s brewhouse and the Ukrainian Varvar Brew. There are always one or two guest brews on the menu and sometimes, they also have a beer from Weitra, which is Austria’s oldest still existing brewery. The slogan is “Gebraut von Freunden, für Freunde” which basically means “brewed by friends, for friends” and in my opinion it can be understood as a double meaning, since (I hope that I am not mistaken on this one, but even if I were, would it really matter?) they are not only the official distributor of zip’s in Austria, but also partners who are brewing together. Second, you are always treated as a friend there. I always feel heartily welcomed there and always leave that place with a smile. They regularly change and rotate their tap menu, so you will always be able to taste new beers or to enjoy a brew again that you have not had in quite a long time, but craved for in a while. I highly recommend the 2 in 1 which is a white beer that is infused with coffee. A double brew so to say and it is absolutely mind-blowing. It is up to this day one of the best beers that I have tasted and it definitely deserves a place in my list of beers that I will always remember. What makes it so outstandingly delicious to me is the fact, that compared to many other coffee stouts, you distinctively taste both the coffee and the wheat ale. Another specialty is currently in the making, which I am totally stoked about. A collaboration of Jameson’s Irish Whisky with zip’s brewhouse will be the barrel aged Angel’s Ser, which should be in the pipes by the end of this year. In return, Jameson will use these barrels later on to have their whiskeys age in. Check it out.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. 2 in 1 Coffeewit, Hopiverzum (Black IPA), Werewolf, Instead of Innocence, Alpha Male IPA, Choco Porter, Milky Stout
FOOD: Burgers, Târte flambé, steaks, wings, ribs, salads. There is no way to starve there. The burgers are phenomenal.
OPENING HOURS. Mon-Fri: 5pm as long as it is fun. Sat: 6pm as long as it is fun. Sun: 5pm –midnight
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U1/U2/U4 Karlsplatz, U4 Kettenbrückengasse
ADDRESS. Mühlgasse 20, 1040 Vienna
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BEAVER BREWING COMPANY
BBC is another relatively new place that is selling beer brewed on its own premises. It opened its doors for the first time in November 2015. They are located at a cosy corner in the 9th district and are easy to reach with several tram and bus lines (also some subway stops are fairly close). The inside looks a bit like a mixture of a living room and coffee house. They have nice and comfortable couches and quite a lot tables to sit at. Whenever I was there they played some really good old school indie rock bands such as Beck, Stereophonics, The Strokes or Manic Street Preachers. The bar itself is rather short, but very inviting to take a stool and have a pint there. During the warm months, they have set up a really nice outside area, with a few tables that are separated from the street by some low wooden walls rounded up with flower boxes. They always have 6 of their own beers on tap (sometimes brewed in collaborations with other – mostly domestic – breweries and three guest brews. Up till now, they are the only place I found in Vienna that served a guess brew from Reketye (Douple Drop IIPA) the Hungarian beer that is brewed and served at Jonas Craft Beer House in Budapest (you will read more about this in the international section). A couple months ago, they had an absolutely delicious on tap, the May Pale Ale (it must have been in May J). A golden and tremendously flavorful pale ale and after having tasted myself through their menu, I ended up sticking to this one. Other fantastic creations are the Bad, Bad Leroy, which is a dark brown to black IPA with slight smoky notes, and the Kamuri Cocoa Brown Ale (collaboration with Wappler Brewing from Vienna). That one was really good and by really good, I mean REALLY GOOD. It is brewed with raw organic Peruvian cocoa nibs, very malty and goes down very easily. If you have a beer that you really like and want to take home, they provide you with 1 or 2L growlers to take out or you can even bring your own growler and have it filled up. In summer, they introduced the so-called Beery McBeerface, a tremendously full-bodied and flavorful golden pale ale that was rather light, fruity and went down very smoothly and their Melon Golden Ale, which was fitting perfectly to a warm summer day. I have not been there in a while, but I cannot wait to get back there for another beer tasting. Every Monday, they are hosting a beer pub trivia and one Sunday of each month is dedicated to live music. At the Americana or Irish jam session, everyone can bring their instruments along and take over the mic.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. May Pale Ale, Bad Bad Leroy, Ale Be Back, Hope with No Name IPA, Beery McBeerface Golden Ale, Kamuri Cocoa Brown Ale, Reketye IIPA.
FOOD. They serve typical craft beer pub food, such as quality burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, salads, ribs etc. Next time I will be there, I would love to try the Chimichanga. The French Fry Heaven that is made up of sweet potato fries, pulled pork, cheddar and onions is as heavenly as the name. I am also planning to try their American weekend brunch.
OPENING HOURS. Mon-Thu: 4pm – midnight. Fri-Sat: 12pm – 1am. Sun. 10am – 10pm
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U4 Friedensbrücke, U6 Nußdorferstraße
ADDRESS. Liechtensteinstraße 69, 1090 Vienna
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MEL'S CRAFT BEERS & DINER
Mel’s Diner is one of my favorite bars to go to and it should be a place of beer pilgrimage for everyone who loves craft brews. It is located in the historical first district of Vienna and offers a wide range of tapped craft beer and an infinite amount of bottled ones. Their menu is almost a little book. Although the inside resembles more a cocktail bar than a place for beer, it is a very budget friendly place, since no large tap beer costs more than 5 EUR. Another reason I love to go there is the Carinthian Schleppe No 1, which they have on tap. It is one of the tastiest pale ales that I know. And even if they are out of it, there are plenty of other choices to make. The tap menu is changed regularly and they take care to have beers of all different kinds to be pumped. Beer flights of a selection of six different 1 cl draught beers of can be ordered for a price of 10 EUR. You will be handed some templates on which you write down your choices. In summer, they put tables outside the bar, so you can enjoy your beers on a cobble stoned street surrounded by historic architecture. The crowd is mixed between international and locals most them in their late twenties to early forties and people are always very friendly there and great to talk to. The staff is very friendly and even if the number of waiters is not large, you never wait long for your beer. It is the perfect place to end a day of sightseeing or to stop by for a few brewskies during the day. But I also very much like it in the evening hours there, since it is a great bar to chat with your friends over a couple of fantastic beer, since the music is never too loud to kill any conversation. However, if you plan to be there in the evening (especially on a Friday or Saturday night) I’d recommend making a table reservation – which goes super easy and fast via What’s App. They normally respond within a couple of minutes.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Schleppe No1 (Pale Ale), Wild Beer – Millionaire (Salted Caramel + Chocolate + Milk Stout), De Molen – Bloed Zweet & Tranen (Smoked Stout), Bevog – Rudeen (Black IPA), Kaltenhousen – English Pale Ale, Blanche de Bruxelles.
FOOD. Great burgers and sandwiches, big variety of finger food, tartines and salads.
OPENING HOURS. Mon-Sun: 11am – 2am.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U1 Stephansplatz, U2/U4 Schottenring
ADDRESS. Wipplingerstraße 9, 1010 Vienna
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BEER STREET
Together with Mel’s, Beer Street makes up the so called Bermuda Beer Eck. Both bars are located within one block and belong to bar imperium of Paddy’s Co. It is located next to one of the oldest still existing churches in Vienna in the heart of the 1st district. Beer Street used to be legendary Irish Pub called Paddy O’Brian’s that attracted mostly younger crowds. I still remember countless of nights in my late teens and early twenties. The sticky floors, cheap drinks, the flooded toilets and the decent smell of vomit are still present in my mind. By now, Paddy’s has changed its name and with 50 beers on tap it has become the craft beer place with the largest tap menu in town. Each tap beer has its own board nailed to the the wall behind the bar and the complete current menu is always framed next to the wall. While Mel’s is more a place to relax and have a nice conversation with friends over a tasty pint, Beer Street still is rather the party place. This can also be observed by the younger crowd and louder music compared to Mel’s. It is pretty much a college bar that serves fantastic beers. Same as at Mel’s, the prices are unbeatable. You would not pay more than 5 EUR for a pint there. The selection of beers and countries, where these beers are from is huge. Beer Street is the only place I know in town to serve a tapped Japanese style pale ale. I have never had such a kind of ale brewed with rice and corals. And, Jeez, that Miyamoto Pale Ale by the Tyrolean Craft Country brewers was fantastic. The bar is really long with tap beside tap. I guess you will have an understanding of how long it is by imagining 50 taps next to each other. The main area of the pub is in the basement, although you’ll find a few sitting possibilities upstairs as well, if you want to have it a bit quieter. There you’ll find the bar with plenty of bar stools to sit at and two to three side rooms. Beware, though, on the weekends it can be very packed and also smoking is allowed downstairs. It is great for partying, I would avoid it, if you are searching for a place to have a serious chat at.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Craft Country – Miyamoto Pale Ale, Stone – Arrogant Bastard Strong Ale, Bevog – Ond (Smoked Porter), Schleppe No1 (Pale Ale), Wild Beer – Pogo Hoppy Fruity Pale Ale, Tiny Rebel – Welsh Blond Ale, Brlo – Pale Ale, Thornbridge – Cocoa Wonderland (Chocolate Porter).
OPENING HOURS. Mon-Sat: 6pm – 4am
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U1 Stephansplatz, U2/U4 Schottenring
ADDRESS. Passauer Platz 2, 1010 Vienna
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CHARLIE P'S IRISH PUB
This place is an institution in Vienna. I used to spend almost every weekend there when I was in my mid-twenties, so I have a very strong emotional and nostalgic connection with it. Back then, Charlie P’s did not sell any craft beer, but I vividly remember sweaty nights on the downstairs dancefloor, drinking stale Austrian commercial lager while dancing to the finest Indie rock tunes. Every Saturday night, when Oasis’ Champagne Supernova came on as the absolutely last song of the night, we knew that halfway through the lights would go on, the DJ leave and it was time to go home – or somewhere else to continue. Well, that was back in the days. A lot has changed since then. Yes, the dancefloor still exists, on Tuesdays or on the weekends, it is probably more crowded than ever and you can still get that stale Austrian commercial beer. However, what they did on the upstairs level of the bar is simply amazing. The only Irish pub in Vienna that had a chef who had been rewarded a “Haube” (the Austrian equivalent to a star), they served exquisite versions of pub food, ranging from Scotch eggs, through salmon fillets up to high end fish and chips, beef cheeks or an incredible Irish Hereford burger. Their homemade Guinness bread with salty grass-fed butter was an absolute delight. Why am I writing in the past now? Well, after the summer, they closed the dining room, only to have it replaced by “It’s All About The Meat, Baby”. Meat Baby, has been Brian Patton’s summer pop-up gourmet burger restaurant at the canal. Now it moved into the former dining room for good, with an expanded menu. I haven’t been to its new and constant location, yet, but they still seem to serve some of the old dining room food, such as the steak or the to-die-for fish and chips, plus an huge variety of super delicious burgers (if they taste the same as at the pop-up place) and even gourmet hot dogs. I hope that you still get the Guinness Bread there. I will let you know after my next visit J. Charlie P’s was probably the first (Irish) bar in town to heavily engage into the back then small and very much unknown craft beer scene, too. When I was in California for the first time in 2011, I fell in love with the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Desperately and unsuccessfully I had tried to find it in Vienna upon my return and it took me about two years until I found the Holy Grail at Charlie P’s.
However, that was just the beginning. They slowly started to get in more and more beers, mostly bottled at first, but over time also their tap menu has steadily increased and by now you will find a vast variety of different brews. You can enjoy a couple of great craft beers and an amazing dinner upstairs and later go downstairs to dance it off with college students in a steamy and smoky basement (the tapped craft beers are only served at the upstairs bar). Sounds like a perfect Saturday night.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Me and Uwe – Go Charlie, It’s Your Birthday (Irish Red Ale), Me and Uwe – Hop in the Name of Love, Edge – Hoptimista IPA, Thornbridge – Vienna IPA, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Schleppe No1.
FOOD. Fish and Chips, Burgers, Hot Dogs, Mac N Cheese, Wings, Chili Taco Fries
OPENING HOURS. Mon – Thu: 4pm – 2am. Fri: 4pm – 3am. Sat: 1pm – 3am. Sun: 1pm – 1am.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U2 Schottentor
ADDRESS. Währingerstraße 3, 1090 Vienna
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THE BRICKMAKERS PUB & KITCHEN
Just like Charlie P’s this place here also belongs to Brian Patton’s imperium of pubs. Though it might not be the cheapest place (however, you do get quality for your money), Brickmaker’s is a craft beer temple and a top-notch BBQ kitchen. It is famous for its baby back ribs and pulled pork/beef and I highly recommend getting dinner there as well. Beer wise, they have a great selection of Austrian and international crafties on tap and an uncountable amount of bottles in their fridge that is just waiting to be consumed. They always have two or three beers of Brian Patton’s own nano-brewery called Me and Uwe. It is basically a wander brewery and brews in collaboration with other Austrian independent brewers. One of my favorite of his beers is the Go Charlie, It’s Your Birthday Red Ale that is being created together with the Salzburg based Gusswerk Brauhaus. In my opinion, it tastes more like traditional pale ale and it is extremely rich and flavorful despite being not too strong. I really love it. Apparently they are hoping to start brewing directly on their premises, but I cannot say if or when this is going to happen. Attached to the menu you will find a beer glossary in which all the different kinds and styles of beers and everything else that belongs to beer, such as what the IBU means and the like, are described and explained explicitly. From 7pm on, they serve happy hour where the beer of week is sold at a lower price than usual. On the weekends, it is furthermore a fantastic brunch place. The bacon pancakes are just the shit and they do the pulled beef and pork as sandwich variations and the sausages are served in hot dog buns. Over the past years, Brickmakers has become one of the hotspots in Vienna since it attracts both beer lovers and gourmets (in 2015 they were the first BBQ restaurant worldwide to be awarded a Gault Millau Haube).That being said, I would recommend making a table reservation when going there in the evening at around dinner time, even though the inside area is quite big. It might be easier in summer, since you will find many tables in a little front yard under the roof and even a guest garden. For brunch, I have so far always found a place. I think my favorite time to be at Brickmaker’s is on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon during that short two hours window between 3 and 5 o’clock, when the kitchen is closed. There are never too many people there, the atmosphere is extremely chill witch good Indie pop and you can drink your beer while enjoying the sunny afternoon tunes. I vividly remember this one time when I went there for a late brunch with a couple of friends and one of the boys did not order his sandwhich on time after having had the pancakes….so we kept sitting there until it turned 5 and he could get his pulled pork. It was such a relaxed afternoon, with songs played such as Wolfmother’s Pretty Peggy and good beer being served. This was also the time when we suddenly realized why the place is called the way it is. Brickmakers is located on Zieglergasse in the booming 7th district and Ziegler means Brickmaker. Sometimes it is just that simple :).
BEERS I RECOMMEND. When on tap: Me and Uwe, Go Charlie, It’s Your Birthday; Me and Uwe, Hop in the Name of Love. Tiny Rebel (everything these Welsh dudes are doing). Furthermore, ask the staff. They are super friendly and recommend beers to you, when you tell them what kind of beer you prefer. You might even get a sip from the tapped ones to try.
FOOD. Everything is just too delicious. Baby back ribs, pulled pork/beef, brisket, sausages (try the homemade BBQ sauce, it is brilliant). Breakfast/Brunch: Pancakes (WITH bacon), all varieties of benedicts, Avocado Toast, meat variations.
OPENING HOURS. Mon – Fri. 4pm – 2am. Sat: 10am – 2am. Sun: 10am – 1pm
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U3 Zieglergasse
ADDRESS. Zieglergasse 42, 1070 Vienna
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1516 BREWING COMPANY
Another institution amongst beer lovers in Vienna. It was probably doing craft beer before that term even existed. For a very long time it used to be one the few Viennese places to brew and sell its own beer. The name will definitely ring a bell to any beer aficionado – 1516 was the year when the German Beer Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot) was adopted in Bavaria. The pub is located in the heart of Vienna – it can be reached by foot within 5 min from the famous Vienna Opera House – and it used to be my second (or third) living room for a very long time. We spent countless of hours there, should it be for after work pints, weekend outings or on Sunday evenings during NFL season. It is a very typical bar, where the beer is served in pitchers and all different kinds of sport are flickering over the TV screens, drawing its attention also to a wide international audience. The main difference to a typical American sports bar, however, is the beer. As the name already implies, 1516 IS a brewing company, i.e. they produce their own stuff and that they do fantastically. Their lager is still the best that can be found in town and the flagship of the 1516 beers. This hoppy brew is very low in carbon, which makes it go down very smoothly and its cloudy color is just beautiful to look at. I highly recommend starting with this one, before working your way through the menu. Another staple is the Victory Hop Devil IPA, which is brewed after recipe of the Pennsylvanian Victory Hop Devil Brewery. I do not know the IBU of this one, but it must be very high, since it is one of the bitterest beers that I have had which is exactly how an IPA should be like. I have tried the original Hop Devil IPA as well and in all honesty, I do prefer 1516’s version. The Slipper Pale Ale is another one of my favorites. I have not been there for a while, but just recently, I came back from a craft beerience in Budapest, Hungary and I have to say that I still love this place (I have been back multiple times since then J). They had a new brew on the tap menu, which I hadn’t tried yet, the “Eternal City Asian Ginger Wit”. That one is a fantastic beer for a hot day. It is not too strong and its gingery and summery flavor is amazingly refreshing. Their Hungarian brewmaster has recently created another mind-blowing and flavorful pale ale, the so-called SÖR ONE. Beers are served in sizes of 0.1l, 0.25l, 0.4l or 1.5l.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Lager, Victory Hop Devil IPA, Slipper Pale Ale, Eternal City Asian Ginger Wit, SÖR ONE.
FOOD. Wide range of food from Austrian classics to typical pub food.
OPENING HOURS. Mon – Sun: 10am – 2am.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U1/U2/U4 Karlsplatz
ADDRESS. Schwarzenbergstraße 2, 1010 Vienna
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HAWIDERE
There is absolutely no way that this place could not make it on the list. The name already insinuates that this place is very connected to the city of Vienna. Hawidere (“Habe die Ehre”) is probably one of the most typical Viennese slang expression you could stumble upon. Literally translated it means “Have the honor” and it can be used in multiple ways, e.g. as a form of salutation or as a term of astonishment or shock. Every Viennese knows that term, even though it has been used less and less within the past years. Hawidere is none of those typical modern hipster style craft beer bars. It is an institution in the city and has existed for well over 16 years by now. It has the charm of a Vienna Beisl (pub) with old tables and chairs to sit on and it has a very long bar. It is divided into a big non-smoking section and a smaller room for the nicotine lovers. As most Viennese pubs, they have a large outside seating area in the warmer months, as well. Hawidere has 15 different and rotating beers on tap (the pils of the Viennese nomad brewers DomRep is one of their staples) and over 150 different beers and ales in bottles. They have a strong focus on Austrian beers and I what I really like is that they also pour traditional, but excellent and high quality Austrian lagers or unfiltered Zwickl beers. The crowd consists mostly of young people between 25 and 35 that are coming in a group of friends to talk, have a get-together or to celebrate a birthday. The music is never too loud or too dominating, so you never have to scream across the table to make conversation with anyone, although it is very crowded on the weekends. If you do not want to find yourself standing at the bar, I highly recommend making a reservation. It is in my opinion a perfect place for a chilled and relaxed Austrian Gemütlichkeits-style Friday or Saturday evening or some weekday afterwork drinks. If you want to find a perfect mixture of a good Austrian pub that serves phenomenal micro brewed beer, Hawidere is the place to go to. Another speciality of Hawidere is the burger. Their burger menu is probably as long as creative as their beer menu including some non-standard burger meat such as lamb or bison and you can choose from an equally long list of different dips as well. And what is even more important than the selection is that they also taste excellent. Speaking about their burgers, they are also strongly connected to Hawidere’s big social streak and Viennese bond. Hawidere hosts an annual event called “Burger Essen für die Gruft”. The Gruft (German for crypt) is a Caritas organized shelter for homeless people in Vienna that has existed for over 30 years now. It is open 24/7 and offers sleeping possibilities, food, showers and medical care, and it is heavily depending on donations. That said, at this “Burger Essen für die Gruft” evening, every single Euro and cent that is spent on a burger is 1 to 1 donated to the gruft. Furthermore, the revenue of a raffle and a small upcharge for consumed beer (50 cent for a small and 1 EUR for a large beer) is also going directly to the Gruft. This way they were able to collect almost 6,500 EUR in April 2017. I think this is an absolutely fantastic thing to do and it deserves some very deep respect and this already is a reason to support Hawidere and have some drinks there (not only at Gruft night, but year round).
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Domrep Pils, Tôte Tante (also by DomRep), Tiny Rebel Cali APA, Cwtch Red Ale (Tiny Rebel), Jaipur IPA (Thornbridge), Virmalised IPA (Põhjala).
FOOD. Burgers (all varieties you can think of), traditional Austrian food such as Schnitzel or Gulash, Middle Eastern dishes.
OPENING HOURS. Mon – Sun: 4pm – 2am.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U4/U6 Längenfeldgasse
ADDRESS. Ullmannstraße 31, 1150 Vienna
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STATTBEISL IM WUK
Stattbeisl has existed for quite many years, but it was not until approximately 2 years ago, they started to specialize in artisan beer and I just recently found out about that J. It is located in the Viennese iconic building of WUK (Werk- und Kulturstettenzentrum) – a former locomotive fabrication plant and today one of the largest centers of and hotspots for alternative and independent culture and art in many a way in Europe. Inside a huge yard with an ivy hung red brick house in the middle, you can hang out, buy drinks and later in the evening listen to live music inside the concert venue (I have been to countless gigs at WUK). Or you can spend an afternoon/evening at Statt-Beisl. It is located right at the entrance when you enter this complex and is quite a big bar. They have a lot sitting possibilities and in the warmer month they of course bring out tables and benches to that outside bond. They have a constantly rotating craft beer selection on tap, with the O’Haras Stout and an Austrian lager being the only two stable beers that do not change. The other tap beers vary between Austrian and international brews. Last time, I had a really nice Crimson Bird by the Spanish Naparbier and Thornbridge’s Cocoa Wonderland, both very beautiful. When it comes to bottled beers they mostly sell IPAs and other varieties of pale ales, but they also have a couple stouts, Belgians, sour ales and lagers on their menu. Best would be to go there yourself and check it out. My suggestion would be to buy a ticket for a band that interests you and go to Statt-Beisl a good time before the band will be on stage. This way you can combine good music with good craft beer. They may even let you take the beer with you to the show, provided you have it poured into a plastic cup (yea, I know not the best way to enjoy such good beers, but still, better than nothing). And that place is not far away from Charlie P’s, so basically you can even end the night with good beers when the concert is over.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. This depends on what they have on tap, but the Domrep Pils is always something to shoot for.
FOOD. I have never eaten there, but they have a wide variety of food. Curries, salads, burgers and typical Austrian cuisine.
OPENING HOURS. Mon – Fri: 11.30am – 2am, Sat: 5pm – 2am. Sun: 5pm - midnight
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U6 Währingerstraße/Volksoper
ADDRESS. Währingerstraße 59, 1090 Vienna
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DOGSTAR / SHAMROCK
DogStar is a craft beer bar within an Irish pub. Shamrock has been an institution in Vienna and one of the oldest Irish pubs in town. It is located on Vienna’s main street of hipsterism in the 7th district, which I like to call Mini-Berlin. Shamrock is a very typical Irish pub with the usual suspects such as Guinness, Kilkenny or Murphy’s on tap. About three years ago, the upstairs area of the pub was re-built into a craft beer bar. They have roughly 10 different beers on tap, with a concentration on Austrian products, yet some international brews can be found as well. I really loved the Alpha Tier NEIPA by the domestic Brew Age brewery and the Kong wheat IPA by the Catalan brewers of Napar. Just recently, they announced that they introduced two pipes for stouts, which I – being very much into stouts and porters – fully support. Shamrock is a great place to go to, have a good chat with friends or random people and enjoy some fantastic beers. By the end of November, they will have a tap takeover by Napar, which sounds super tempting.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Brew Age – Alpha Tier NEIPA, Brauschneider IPA, Napar – Kong Wheat IPA, Bevog – Zo Session IPA
FOOD. Traditional Irish pub food.
OPENING HOURS. Mon: 6pm – midnight. Tue: 6pm – 1am. Wed-Fri: 4pm – 2am. Sat: 1.30pm – 2am. Sun: 5pm – midnight.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U3 Neubaugasse
ADDRESS. Kirchengasse 3, 1070 Vienna
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KLUB GRU
Gru is awesome. It is like one of those alternative places I loved to go to in my earlier years. The difference, however, to my former locals is that it is selling independent beer. Gru can be found in a side street of Alserbachstraße fairly close to Franz-Josephs-Bahnhof in the 9th district. It is only two tram stops away from Beaver Brewing Company and I normally like to combine these two places. From the outside Gru appears very inconspicuously with its rolled-down shutters and the window-less blue door. Just the white neon sign and a blackboard saying “Est. 2012 – Gru” is telling you that something has been going on there for roughly 5 years by now. Entering through that blue door will lead you into a basement, where the pub is. As said before, the place is just cool. They play vinyls from the collection they have in the shelves, there is a foosball table, which is normally occupied, but there is no problem to challenge. A very special thing about the bar is the Super Nintendo booth. I never used it, but it is always fun to watch people sit there and play Mario Kart. Gru mainly consists of two rooms, the one where the bar is and a larger second one, with tables, couches and also a little stage. You can definitely feel the living room atmosphere there, although, the later the night gets, the more likely is that there will be some party happening. The beer selection is very decent. They have three different craft beers on tap and a fridge with shelves full of delicious beers. The focus here is on domestic brews. Most of the great Austrian independent breweries are in stock. Should it be Next Level Brewing, Brew Age, Bevog, 100 Blumen, Alefried, Collabs or Bierschmiede, they are all there. The owner is brewing himself and offering his Bierkanter creations at the club. I especially like the Impfstoff, which is an excellent Imperial Stout and the Saisonisfaction, a Session IPA, for which he is using his own hops that he is growing in Lower Austria. Apart from the Austrian brewskis, Gu offers a carefully selected range of Belgian Ales and other international breweries, such as De Molen, Tiny Rebel, Põhjala, Einstök or Welde from Germany. Their Pepper Pils is amazing and yes, you can get it at here. The crowd at Gru consists mainly of locals in their twenties. It is not a place that you would stumble into. Most of the people that go there have been there already or go with someone that has, which in my opinion contributes to that living room atmosphere. It is a bar you feel comfortable at. On the weekends, Gru does not open until 8pm. In the beginning, there very often not that many people there and you will easily find a table or a place to sit. However, the longer the night gets, the fuller Gru becomes and the more it turns into a party place as well. In the end, Gru is all real. It’s an honest place.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. We have great breweries in Austria. Choose domestic. Bierkanter – Impfstoff, Bierkanter – Wake Up, Amber, Bierkanter – It’s all good man, I can make it legal IPA, Next Level Brewing – Jail Break, Brew Age – Alphatier, Collabs – DomRep Pils.
OPENING HOURS. Wed – Thu: 6pm – 2am. Fri and Sat: 8pm – 4am
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U4 Friedensbrücke
ADDRESS. Rögergasse / Stroheckgasse, 1090 Vienna
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BRAUHUND
I have been there only once so far, since its location in the 15th district is a little further away from where I live, yet it is very easy to reach via subway or tram. The pub is very small, but also very cozy and comfortable. They have metal signs of rock n roll bands on the wall, a few tables and a U-shaped bar in the middle. The menu is of a manageable amount and handwritten on a big blackboard that is placed in the back on a wall. Brauhund offers two different beers on tap and a few different bottled ones. Furthermore, it is always announced which beers will be coming up next. The focus here is definitely on local brews such as the Styrian breweries Alefried (I especially like their products) and Bevog, but you will also find some really nice beers from abroad (Estonia, USA, The Netherlands, Belgium, you name it). When I was there, it was just a bit after opening hours, so the bar was quite empty back then, but I am sure the longer the evening gets the fuller the bar will be. However, I thought it was good that there were not many other guests present, because it gave me the chance to talk a bit to the owner. He is from Vorarlberg, the westernmost province of Austria and I found out that he is also the co-owner of the hip and supposedly excellent food place “Die Völlerei” in the 16th Viennese district (I have never been there, but its focus is on classic Austrian and Swiss dishes that are modernly re-interpreted). Brauhund is that kind of bar that I really like. Small, but friendly and talkative people and even if you go there by yourself, you will not have any problem finding a good chat. It seems like such a place where you can forget about the time and about everything else that is happening in the world outside. Plus, I really like the music that they played there that consisted of a lot of rock, blues and indie pop. I definitely want to go back there in the evening to experience the place when it is more crowded and to see which beers are new in their stock. It is safe to say that it is true that in beer they trust.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Depends on what they have on tap or bottled. If available go for anything by Alefried.
OPENING HOURS. Mo – Sat: 5pm – 2am. Sun: 3pm – 2am.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOP. U3 Schweglerstraße, U6 Burggasse/Stadthalle
ADDRESS. Märzstraße 25, 1150 Vienna
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VELOBIS
This is not a craft beer pub per se. The concept of Velobis, that will celebrate its second opening anniversary later this year, is very interesting. It is both a bicycle (repair) shop and a bistro at the same time that found its home on the premises of the former Gloriette-Kino – one of the oldest and most legendary cinemas in Vienna and which ended operating business in 2013. Food wise Velobis serves Austrian traditionals brought into a modern concept. I love the cozy atmosphere close to Vienna’s world famous Schönbrunn castle. Old bicycles are hanging on the wall, disc brakes have been put on the tap pumps, a few tables are in the front room of the bistro, more tables are situated in the back of the bar and the huge windows provide a perfect opportunity to watch people (something that I love, especially on a rainy day J). They have 3 beers on tap (back then one of them was the phenomenal Schleppe No1 – you can see that I really like this one) and a small, but very nice selection of bottled brews. Also, if you don’t want to drink – as a matter of fact I did not want to have any alcohol the first time I visited – their coffee is indeed excellent. They have a strong focus on beers from the Austrian Brewery Hirter, such as the Pils, the Herbstcult (an autumn beer) or their black lager Morchl. Last time, I was there, I talked to Anthony, one of the managers and a super friendly guy who told me that they will have the excellent Mountain Pale Ale by the Tyrolean craft brewers from Bierol on tap soon. It could very well be that they already have it, but if they do, that is definitely one more reason to go there.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Schleppe No1, Hirter – Herbstcult, Bierol – Mountain Pale Ale. Gusswerk – Nicobar IPA, Brew Age – Alpha Tier NEIPA, Brlo – Pale Ale.
FOOD. I have never eaten there. But it all looked delicious. Every first Sunday of the month they have a Sunday roast.
OPENING HOURS. Tue – Fri: 5pm – midnight. Sat and Sun: 9am – 3pm.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U3 Johnstraße, U4 Schönbrunn
ADDRESS. Johnstraße 1-3, 1140 Vienna
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CRAFT BEER STORES
BEERLOVERS
Vienna’s by far largest store for craft beer and a must visit for everyone who is into beer. It is huge. Inside you will find own sections for porters, stouts, red ales, wits, barely wines and huge selections of IPAs (singles, double IPAs and IIIPAs) and pale ales, lagers and pilsners. The latter three are stored in a separate refrigerated room (you might want to bring a jumper if you plan on doing some long duration craft beer shopping). You will also find some special brews and limited editions there, but be aware that these are not particularly budget friendly. BeerLovers always has four different beers on tap to take home in either 1 or 2l growlers and they guarantee a lasting time of two weeks. They are constantly getting new beers in – just recently they have gone Canadian with including breweries from the big white north such as Flying Monkeys, Collective Arts or Nickel Brook to their stock. All these new incomes can be found in two separate shelves right on the left hand side when entering the store. Over the time they have expanded their product range also to apparel and craft beer glasses and it is also possible to purchase everything that is needed to brew your own beer. The staff is really helpful and knowledgeable and is happy answering any questions you have. They have a strong focus on American, Belgian, Danish, German and Austrian beers, however brews from over 20 different countries can be purchased at Beer Lovers, so the selection is overwhelming and everybody will be able to go home with some new beers to taste. I love to go there and look through their shelves and fill my shopping basket. I compare it a little bit with digging at a great independent record store. It is somewhat the same pleasure. And hey, if you can combine both things, that is even better. Pouring a bottle of a beer that you haven’t tried yet, putting on a new vinyl and taking the first sips while the needle hits the spinning record and you start listening to some great music. Sounds about right :).
OPENING HOURS. Mon – Fri: 11am – 8pm. Sat: 10am – 5pm
NEAREST SUBWAY STOP. U4 Kettenbrückengasse, U3 Neubaugasse
ADDRESS. Gumpendorferstraße 35, 1060 Vienna
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BEER STORE VIENNA
The two guys that opened the shop in 2014 are brewers as well. Next Level Brewing is the name of their 2015 founded brewery. Their beer is brewed on the premises of the Carinthian fellas of Loncium in Southern Austria, and they keep coming up with new innovative creations such as the fruity Tropical Summer, which is unfortunately finished by now, or the outstanding and award winning 5 o’clock Earl Grey IPA. The infused tea makes this brew super refreshing and unlike the seasonal Tropical Summer this one will stay in their portfolio. They recently introduced two new completely own beers and one collaboration with the Hungarian brewers of Reketye. Especially the one with Reketye was fantastic. A New England IPA called 99 Hop Cones – a symbolic name to start a new Austrian-Hungarian since the last one did not end that well back in 1918 (99 years ago). This beer has officially made it onto my “Beers I Never Forget” list. It is a super fruity bomb and unbelievably rich in flavors while keeping its IPA character. Not only can you buy beers there, you can also taste them. All the beers are refrigerated and they always have two beers on tap, which can be bought in 3 or 5cl glasses to drink there or in 2L growlers to take home. You’ll find a long table and two comfortable couches alongside it (to be exact, the both the table and the couches are basically old wooden pallets stapled on top of each other – and the couches have cushions on the pallets…but they are really comfortable and it looks pretty cool) in the middle of the shop, where you can relax on and enjoy the beer or you can taste them standing at the register and talk to the guys. Apart from their own products, they are mostly focused on domestic Viennese and Austrian beers, but they also have a nice international selection. So far, it is the only place I have found in Vienna that is selling Swedish craft beer (unfortunately not Omnipollo, but Gotlands Bryggeri, which is excellent, too). Should you have ever considered to get started with home brewing yourself, Beer Store Vienna is the place to go to. They sell everything you need for your very own beer creation; ingredients, equipment, manuals, etc. On their homepage, they even provide a recipe of the month and they regularly hold home-brew workshops. The two owners are not only beer enthusiasts but also (academic) beer sommeliers and national champions in hobby brewing, so they have an incredible knowledge and a strong expertise. They are super friendly and will always give you great advice at the shop. Just ask them what you like and you will not leave the shop unsatisfied.
OPENING HOURS. 12pm – 8pm. Sat: 10am – 6pm
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U6 Philadelphiabrücke
ADDRESS. Wilhelmstraße 23, 1120 Vienna
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BIERGREISSLER
This is one of the newest jewel out there since opening its doors in April 2017. The two tap beers are changed regularly and you’ll find a great variety of refrigerated bottles to be tasted directly in the shop. On the shelves, Biergreissler offers many domestic and international bottles. The front room of the shop is reserved for Austrian breweries, while in the back room the international section can be found, where German brews dominate. After closing hours (9pm), Biergreissler turns itself into a bar, i.e. you can even stay longer and taste the beers in the store for the same price as when bought for home. About a month ago, they had the fantastic El Presidente NEIPA, the newest creation by Bierol on tap, which is so far really hard to find anywhere else. I talked to the manager and he told me that it is possible to order food that you can consume on the premises. I think I will definitely take this opportunity at some point.
OPENING HOURS. Mon – Fri: 1pm – 9pm. Sat: 9am - 5pm
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U2 Rathaus
ADDRESS. Lederergasse 4, 1080 Vienna
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MALEFITZ
Malefitz definitely is something different. It is located in the depths of Meidlinger Markt in the 12th district and is somewhat of a hybrid of a bar, a market stand and a craft beer shop. It feels like the orange roof of this small market shack and the yellow, a quarter rolled-down shutters are screaming at you and dragging you towards it. A blackboard is announcing the current draught beers and a few high tables invite the customer to enjoy the beers outside. The big windows completely brighten up the place from all angles. There are a few tables and chairs inside and empty beer kegs are stapled onto each other in the corners. A little tap system is placed on table next to the counter, always ready to pump two different beers. A huge shelf is displaying sample bottles of the brews that are available. You can then grab the cooled beers from the four fridges to either drink them there or take them home. Malefitz’ selection is almost completely domestic. Roughly 90% of the beers are Austrian including some of the best products this country has to offer: Next Level Brewing, Der Belgier, Brauschneider, Woif, 6 Beers Brewing, Forstner, Brew Age, Bevog, you name it. They are all there and many, many more, as well. I once had the pleasure to have the tapped Global Warming IPA by the Viennese gypsy brewery Treibhaus. I had not known that brewery before and of course neither have I had that beer, which was phenomenal. I know a lot of the national beers, but that is not even close to what Austria is providing. I thus love Malefitz, because you will always find something new there. The owner of the place is legendary. He is a typical Wiener Original, as people from the city would say and he likes to refer to himself as the punk in the scene. He carefully selects the beers which he is drawing directly from the breweries. He is constantly trying to get new and also lesser known stuff in. The share of gypsy brewed beers is quite high and some of them are even brewed by friends of him and probably cannot be found anywhere else in Vienna. It can happen that you purchase a beer that is in so freshly that it is not even registered, yet. That happened to me when I bought the Mangalitza Milk Stout by Brauküche 35. If you feel like having a tour and tasting through the Austrian beer country, you cannot miss out on Malefitz. Another thing that I very much appreciate is that despite all the specialities, the prices are very reasonable. Speaking of which, don’t forget to bring your euros along. Plastic is not accepted here. It is cash only.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. 6 Beers Brewing – Gold Rush (California Common), Brauküche 35 – Mangalitza Milk Stout, Treibhaus – Global Warming IPA, Alefried – Farmhouse 07 IPA, Brew Age – Dunkle Materie, Rodauner Biermanufaktur – Gselchter (Smoked Ale).
OPENING HOURS. Tue – Thu: 2pm – 9pm, Fri: 12pm – 9pm. Sat: 10am – 5pm
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U6 Niederhofstraße, U4 Meidling.
ADDRESS. Meidlinger Markt, 1120 Vienna
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AMMUTSØN
A bar like AmmutsØn was defintitely missing on Vienna’s craft beer map. You will not find a better place for beer in Vienna. In the course of the 5 months since its opening this pub has somewhat turned into my second home. A more detailed review about AmmutsØn and the opening night, including the solution of the puzzle regarding its extraordinary and uncommon name can be found here.
The concept of AmmutsØn is somewhat unique in Vienna. The beers are coming exclusively from independent breweries. Misho Omar, the owner, goes to every brewery himself and personally purchases the kegs and brings them back to the laboratory of the pub. There are no merchants or intermediaries involved in his supply chain. If Misho does not know the brewer, you will not find one of these beers at any of the 12 taps. Very often, there are rare treasures amongst them, such as the The Veil’s Hornswoggler, a vanilla milk stout on nitro, which was the only keg sold to a European bar. The taps keep rotating at an extremely high frequency, assuring that the beers are always amazingly fresh. The supply is a mix of both domestic and international breweries and ranges from all different kind of IPAs, Lagers, Wheat Beers, Stouts, Porters, Sours to very experimental beers such as spice and vegetable beers. There is almost always at least one Bierol brew on tap. The Tyroleans of Bierol are good friends of Misho, dating back to pre- AmmutsØn days, when he was still at Innsbruck’s beer temple Tribaun (AmmutsØn’s older sister so-to-say) and they are in my opinion by far the best Austrian brewery you can come across. Most of the time, you will also come across Italian craft beers. Italy is the fastest growing beer country in Europe and many breweries make excellent beers, especially when it comes to sours (Birrificio BioNoc', Birrificio Rethia, Ca’del Brado or Birra di Fiemme, just to name a few) Since Misho is a huge sour fan himself, he makes sure that sour lovers’ taste buds are not neglected. Other breweries that are regularly on tap are Edge from Barcelona, Porterhouse from Ireland, Danish Dry & Bitter, FrauGruber, FuerstWiacek and Hoppebräu from Germany, CRAK and Hammer from Italy or 6Beers, Alefried and Brew Age from Austria. 2 of the 12 taps are nitro taps and mostly reserved for mindblowing stouts and porters (together with the already mentioned Hornswoggler, Bierol’s Baltic vanilla and cacao porter Koida Kaffee or Porterhouse’s Chocolate Truffle Stout were probably the best ones ever on nitro), but also sometimes for red ales and even a lager.
AmmutsØn is regularly hosting special events, such as the wonderful Soirée Cantillon or the already legendary Dry & Bitter beer pool party. Dry & Bitter Brewing Co’s founder and brewer Søren came to Vienna for a tap takeover and some DJing and a huge plastic pool was installed in the garden. People were sitting in that pool drinking the most amazing Danish beers. The term craft beer dive has never fit more perfectly than on that day.
Quite often, AmmutsØn is also the first bar in town to release special beers on tap, such as a New England Zwickl by Alefried or the Tschecherant, a collaboration of Wappler Brewing and Tux1280 (the latter one is only being served there).
AmmutsØn is an extremely cozy place where you will feel welcome immediately. The staff is extremely friendly and you there are always great people to chat to.
AmmutsØn stands for quality and this is not regarding just the beers themselves. A great beer can taste weird if the surroundings don’t support it. AmmutsØn makes sure that the beers taste exactly as they are intended to. I have never seen a place being this thoroughly cleaned. Every night, the staff is making sure that every little slot and corner of the taps and the bar is more than just clean. The pipes are flushed and cleaned all the time, especially when a new beer is tapped. The equipment is probably also one of the best to be found in this country. All this contributes to the beers tasting like nowhere else. The prices at AmmutsØn are a bit higher compared to other craft beer pubs, but given the quality that you receive, they are still more than fair. I really love this pub. If you haven’t been there yet, do it now. I am sure you will love it, too.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. The taps are rotating so often, that it is hard to select special beers. Some are regularly appearing though. Bierol - The Padawan, Bierol - El Patron, Hammer - Wave Runner. When on tap, go for Dry & Bitter, FrauGruber, FuerstWiacek, CRAK or any of the Italian sours.
FOOD. Chili Con Carne, small burgers and pretzels. The main focus is not on food.
OPENING HOURS. Mon: 4pm - 1am. Tue-Wed: 4pm - 2am. Thu-Fri: 4pm - 4am. Sat: 2pm - 4am. Sun 2pm - midnight.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U3 Neubaugasse
ADDRESS. Barnabitengasse 10, 1060 Vienna
CRAFTMÜHLE
Hands down, the best independent beer bar in the city and even though this list should not be seen as a ranking, I had to put this place up on top. Funnily enough, I did not discover this place until the beginning of this year, although I live within 5 minutes walking distance. It is one of the newer craft beer places in Vienna. Opened up in May 2016, Craftmühle quickly has established itself as one of the major players in the growing Viennese craft beer scene. I simply love that place and I could go there over and over again. It is located in the heart of the artist neighborhood in Vienna, the so-called Freihausviertel, which is easy to reach via three different subway lines. I love the cozy atmosphere there and the staff is super friendly and fantastic to talk to. The entrance area is rather small. It is dominated by the bar and some high tables. The room is really high with some awesome decoration such as hop corn shaped lamps and a large clock on the wall. On the right hand side there are stairs that will lead either into a large backroom with lots of tables and again cool interior design or to some kind of inside terrace with more tables and a great bird’s-eye view onto the bar area. During the warm months they have a big beer garden just outside the bar with loads of sitting possibitlies. They normally have 12-15 different beers on tap – the majority is from the Hungarian brewery zip’s brewhouse and the Ukrainian Varvar Brew. There are always one or two guest brews on the menu and sometimes, they also have a beer from Weitra, which is Austria’s oldest still existing brewery. The slogan is “Gebraut von Freunden, für Freunde” which basically means “brewed by friends, for friends” and in my opinion it can be understood as a double meaning, since (I hope that I am not mistaken on this one, but even if I were, would it really matter?) they are not only the official distributor of zip’s in Austria, but also partners who are brewing together. Second, you are always treated as a friend there. I always feel heartily welcomed there and always leave that place with a smile. They regularly change and rotate their tap menu, so you will always be able to taste new beers or to enjoy a brew again that you have not had in quite a long time, but craved for in a while. I highly recommend the 2 in 1 which is a white beer that is infused with coffee. A double brew so to say and it is absolutely mind-blowing. It is up to this day one of the best beers that I have tasted and it definitely deserves a place in my list of beers that I will always remember. What makes it so outstandingly delicious to me is the fact, that compared to many other coffee stouts, you distinctively taste both the coffee and the wheat ale. Another specialty is currently in the making, which I am totally stoked about. A collaboration of Jameson’s Irish Whisky with zip’s brewhouse will be the barrel aged Angel’s Ser, which should be in the pipes by the end of this year. In return, Jameson will use these barrels later on to have their whiskeys age in. Check it out.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. 2 in 1 Coffeewit, Hopiverzum (Black IPA), Werewolf, Instead of Innocence, Alpha Male IPA, Choco Porter, Milky Stout
FOOD: Burgers, Târte flambé, steaks, wings, ribs, salads. There is no way to starve there. The burgers are phenomenal.
OPENING HOURS. Mon-Fri: 5pm as long as it is fun. Sat: 6pm as long as it is fun. Sun: 5pm –midnight
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U1/U2/U4 Karlsplatz, U4 Kettenbrückengasse
ADDRESS. Mühlgasse 20, 1040 Vienna
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BEAVER BREWING COMPANY
BBC is another relatively new place that is selling beer brewed on its own premises. It opened its doors for the first time in November 2015. They are located at a cosy corner in the 9th district and are easy to reach with several tram and bus lines (also some subway stops are fairly close). The inside looks a bit like a mixture of a living room and coffee house. They have nice and comfortable couches and quite a lot tables to sit at. Whenever I was there they played some really good old school indie rock bands such as Beck, Stereophonics, The Strokes or Manic Street Preachers. The bar itself is rather short, but very inviting to take a stool and have a pint there. During the warm months, they have set up a really nice outside area, with a few tables that are separated from the street by some low wooden walls rounded up with flower boxes. They always have 6 of their own beers on tap (sometimes brewed in collaborations with other – mostly domestic – breweries and three guest brews. Up till now, they are the only place I found in Vienna that served a guess brew from Reketye (Douple Drop IIPA) the Hungarian beer that is brewed and served at Jonas Craft Beer House in Budapest (you will read more about this in the international section). A couple months ago, they had an absolutely delicious on tap, the May Pale Ale (it must have been in May J). A golden and tremendously flavorful pale ale and after having tasted myself through their menu, I ended up sticking to this one. Other fantastic creations are the Bad, Bad Leroy, which is a dark brown to black IPA with slight smoky notes, and the Kamuri Cocoa Brown Ale (collaboration with Wappler Brewing from Vienna). That one was really good and by really good, I mean REALLY GOOD. It is brewed with raw organic Peruvian cocoa nibs, very malty and goes down very easily. If you have a beer that you really like and want to take home, they provide you with 1 or 2L growlers to take out or you can even bring your own growler and have it filled up. In summer, they introduced the so-called Beery McBeerface, a tremendously full-bodied and flavorful golden pale ale that was rather light, fruity and went down very smoothly and their Melon Golden Ale, which was fitting perfectly to a warm summer day. I have not been there in a while, but I cannot wait to get back there for another beer tasting. Every Monday, they are hosting a beer pub trivia and one Sunday of each month is dedicated to live music. At the Americana or Irish jam session, everyone can bring their instruments along and take over the mic.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. May Pale Ale, Bad Bad Leroy, Ale Be Back, Hope with No Name IPA, Beery McBeerface Golden Ale, Kamuri Cocoa Brown Ale, Reketye IIPA.
FOOD. They serve typical craft beer pub food, such as quality burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, salads, ribs etc. Next time I will be there, I would love to try the Chimichanga. The French Fry Heaven that is made up of sweet potato fries, pulled pork, cheddar and onions is as heavenly as the name. I am also planning to try their American weekend brunch.
OPENING HOURS. Mon-Thu: 4pm – midnight. Fri-Sat: 12pm – 1am. Sun. 10am – 10pm
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U4 Friedensbrücke, U6 Nußdorferstraße
ADDRESS. Liechtensteinstraße 69, 1090 Vienna
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MEL'S CRAFT BEERS & DINER
Mel’s Diner is one of my favorite bars to go to and it should be a place of beer pilgrimage for everyone who loves craft brews. It is located in the historical first district of Vienna and offers a wide range of tapped craft beer and an infinite amount of bottled ones. Their menu is almost a little book. Although the inside resembles more a cocktail bar than a place for beer, it is a very budget friendly place, since no large tap beer costs more than 5 EUR. Another reason I love to go there is the Carinthian Schleppe No 1, which they have on tap. It is one of the tastiest pale ales that I know. And even if they are out of it, there are plenty of other choices to make. The tap menu is changed regularly and they take care to have beers of all different kinds to be pumped. Beer flights of a selection of six different 1 cl draught beers of can be ordered for a price of 10 EUR. You will be handed some templates on which you write down your choices. In summer, they put tables outside the bar, so you can enjoy your beers on a cobble stoned street surrounded by historic architecture. The crowd is mixed between international and locals most them in their late twenties to early forties and people are always very friendly there and great to talk to. The staff is very friendly and even if the number of waiters is not large, you never wait long for your beer. It is the perfect place to end a day of sightseeing or to stop by for a few brewskies during the day. But I also very much like it in the evening hours there, since it is a great bar to chat with your friends over a couple of fantastic beer, since the music is never too loud to kill any conversation. However, if you plan to be there in the evening (especially on a Friday or Saturday night) I’d recommend making a table reservation – which goes super easy and fast via What’s App. They normally respond within a couple of minutes.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Schleppe No1 (Pale Ale), Wild Beer – Millionaire (Salted Caramel + Chocolate + Milk Stout), De Molen – Bloed Zweet & Tranen (Smoked Stout), Bevog – Rudeen (Black IPA), Kaltenhousen – English Pale Ale, Blanche de Bruxelles.
FOOD. Great burgers and sandwiches, big variety of finger food, tartines and salads.
OPENING HOURS. Mon-Sun: 11am – 2am.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U1 Stephansplatz, U2/U4 Schottenring
ADDRESS. Wipplingerstraße 9, 1010 Vienna
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BEER STREET
Together with Mel’s, Beer Street makes up the so called Bermuda Beer Eck. Both bars are located within one block and belong to bar imperium of Paddy’s Co. It is located next to one of the oldest still existing churches in Vienna in the heart of the 1st district. Beer Street used to be legendary Irish Pub called Paddy O’Brian’s that attracted mostly younger crowds. I still remember countless of nights in my late teens and early twenties. The sticky floors, cheap drinks, the flooded toilets and the decent smell of vomit are still present in my mind. By now, Paddy’s has changed its name and with 50 beers on tap it has become the craft beer place with the largest tap menu in town. Each tap beer has its own board nailed to the the wall behind the bar and the complete current menu is always framed next to the wall. While Mel’s is more a place to relax and have a nice conversation with friends over a tasty pint, Beer Street still is rather the party place. This can also be observed by the younger crowd and louder music compared to Mel’s. It is pretty much a college bar that serves fantastic beers. Same as at Mel’s, the prices are unbeatable. You would not pay more than 5 EUR for a pint there. The selection of beers and countries, where these beers are from is huge. Beer Street is the only place I know in town to serve a tapped Japanese style pale ale. I have never had such a kind of ale brewed with rice and corals. And, Jeez, that Miyamoto Pale Ale by the Tyrolean Craft Country brewers was fantastic. The bar is really long with tap beside tap. I guess you will have an understanding of how long it is by imagining 50 taps next to each other. The main area of the pub is in the basement, although you’ll find a few sitting possibilities upstairs as well, if you want to have it a bit quieter. There you’ll find the bar with plenty of bar stools to sit at and two to three side rooms. Beware, though, on the weekends it can be very packed and also smoking is allowed downstairs. It is great for partying, I would avoid it, if you are searching for a place to have a serious chat at.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Craft Country – Miyamoto Pale Ale, Stone – Arrogant Bastard Strong Ale, Bevog – Ond (Smoked Porter), Schleppe No1 (Pale Ale), Wild Beer – Pogo Hoppy Fruity Pale Ale, Tiny Rebel – Welsh Blond Ale, Brlo – Pale Ale, Thornbridge – Cocoa Wonderland (Chocolate Porter).
OPENING HOURS. Mon-Sat: 6pm – 4am
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U1 Stephansplatz, U2/U4 Schottenring
ADDRESS. Passauer Platz 2, 1010 Vienna
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CHARLIE P'S IRISH PUB
This place is an institution in Vienna. I used to spend almost every weekend there when I was in my mid-twenties, so I have a very strong emotional and nostalgic connection with it. Back then, Charlie P’s did not sell any craft beer, but I vividly remember sweaty nights on the downstairs dancefloor, drinking stale Austrian commercial lager while dancing to the finest Indie rock tunes. Every Saturday night, when Oasis’ Champagne Supernova came on as the absolutely last song of the night, we knew that halfway through the lights would go on, the DJ leave and it was time to go home – or somewhere else to continue. Well, that was back in the days. A lot has changed since then. Yes, the dancefloor still exists, on Tuesdays or on the weekends, it is probably more crowded than ever and you can still get that stale Austrian commercial beer. However, what they did on the upstairs level of the bar is simply amazing. The only Irish pub in Vienna that had a chef who had been rewarded a “Haube” (the Austrian equivalent to a star), they served exquisite versions of pub food, ranging from Scotch eggs, through salmon fillets up to high end fish and chips, beef cheeks or an incredible Irish Hereford burger. Their homemade Guinness bread with salty grass-fed butter was an absolute delight. Why am I writing in the past now? Well, after the summer, they closed the dining room, only to have it replaced by “It’s All About The Meat, Baby”. Meat Baby, has been Brian Patton’s summer pop-up gourmet burger restaurant at the canal. Now it moved into the former dining room for good, with an expanded menu. I haven’t been to its new and constant location, yet, but they still seem to serve some of the old dining room food, such as the steak or the to-die-for fish and chips, plus an huge variety of super delicious burgers (if they taste the same as at the pop-up place) and even gourmet hot dogs. I hope that you still get the Guinness Bread there. I will let you know after my next visit J. Charlie P’s was probably the first (Irish) bar in town to heavily engage into the back then small and very much unknown craft beer scene, too. When I was in California for the first time in 2011, I fell in love with the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Desperately and unsuccessfully I had tried to find it in Vienna upon my return and it took me about two years until I found the Holy Grail at Charlie P’s.
However, that was just the beginning. They slowly started to get in more and more beers, mostly bottled at first, but over time also their tap menu has steadily increased and by now you will find a vast variety of different brews. You can enjoy a couple of great craft beers and an amazing dinner upstairs and later go downstairs to dance it off with college students in a steamy and smoky basement (the tapped craft beers are only served at the upstairs bar). Sounds like a perfect Saturday night.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Me and Uwe – Go Charlie, It’s Your Birthday (Irish Red Ale), Me and Uwe – Hop in the Name of Love, Edge – Hoptimista IPA, Thornbridge – Vienna IPA, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Schleppe No1.
FOOD. Fish and Chips, Burgers, Hot Dogs, Mac N Cheese, Wings, Chili Taco Fries
OPENING HOURS. Mon – Thu: 4pm – 2am. Fri: 4pm – 3am. Sat: 1pm – 3am. Sun: 1pm – 1am.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U2 Schottentor
ADDRESS. Währingerstraße 3, 1090 Vienna
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THE BRICKMAKERS PUB & KITCHEN
Just like Charlie P’s this place here also belongs to Brian Patton’s imperium of pubs. Though it might not be the cheapest place (however, you do get quality for your money), Brickmaker’s is a craft beer temple and a top-notch BBQ kitchen. It is famous for its baby back ribs and pulled pork/beef and I highly recommend getting dinner there as well. Beer wise, they have a great selection of Austrian and international crafties on tap and an uncountable amount of bottles in their fridge that is just waiting to be consumed. They always have two or three beers of Brian Patton’s own nano-brewery called Me and Uwe. It is basically a wander brewery and brews in collaboration with other Austrian independent brewers. One of my favorite of his beers is the Go Charlie, It’s Your Birthday Red Ale that is being created together with the Salzburg based Gusswerk Brauhaus. In my opinion, it tastes more like traditional pale ale and it is extremely rich and flavorful despite being not too strong. I really love it. Apparently they are hoping to start brewing directly on their premises, but I cannot say if or when this is going to happen. Attached to the menu you will find a beer glossary in which all the different kinds and styles of beers and everything else that belongs to beer, such as what the IBU means and the like, are described and explained explicitly. From 7pm on, they serve happy hour where the beer of week is sold at a lower price than usual. On the weekends, it is furthermore a fantastic brunch place. The bacon pancakes are just the shit and they do the pulled beef and pork as sandwich variations and the sausages are served in hot dog buns. Over the past years, Brickmakers has become one of the hotspots in Vienna since it attracts both beer lovers and gourmets (in 2015 they were the first BBQ restaurant worldwide to be awarded a Gault Millau Haube).That being said, I would recommend making a table reservation when going there in the evening at around dinner time, even though the inside area is quite big. It might be easier in summer, since you will find many tables in a little front yard under the roof and even a guest garden. For brunch, I have so far always found a place. I think my favorite time to be at Brickmaker’s is on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon during that short two hours window between 3 and 5 o’clock, when the kitchen is closed. There are never too many people there, the atmosphere is extremely chill witch good Indie pop and you can drink your beer while enjoying the sunny afternoon tunes. I vividly remember this one time when I went there for a late brunch with a couple of friends and one of the boys did not order his sandwhich on time after having had the pancakes….so we kept sitting there until it turned 5 and he could get his pulled pork. It was such a relaxed afternoon, with songs played such as Wolfmother’s Pretty Peggy and good beer being served. This was also the time when we suddenly realized why the place is called the way it is. Brickmakers is located on Zieglergasse in the booming 7th district and Ziegler means Brickmaker. Sometimes it is just that simple :).
BEERS I RECOMMEND. When on tap: Me and Uwe, Go Charlie, It’s Your Birthday; Me and Uwe, Hop in the Name of Love. Tiny Rebel (everything these Welsh dudes are doing). Furthermore, ask the staff. They are super friendly and recommend beers to you, when you tell them what kind of beer you prefer. You might even get a sip from the tapped ones to try.
FOOD. Everything is just too delicious. Baby back ribs, pulled pork/beef, brisket, sausages (try the homemade BBQ sauce, it is brilliant). Breakfast/Brunch: Pancakes (WITH bacon), all varieties of benedicts, Avocado Toast, meat variations.
OPENING HOURS. Mon – Fri. 4pm – 2am. Sat: 10am – 2am. Sun: 10am – 1pm
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U3 Zieglergasse
ADDRESS. Zieglergasse 42, 1070 Vienna
Webpage
1516 BREWING COMPANY
Another institution amongst beer lovers in Vienna. It was probably doing craft beer before that term even existed. For a very long time it used to be one the few Viennese places to brew and sell its own beer. The name will definitely ring a bell to any beer aficionado – 1516 was the year when the German Beer Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot) was adopted in Bavaria. The pub is located in the heart of Vienna – it can be reached by foot within 5 min from the famous Vienna Opera House – and it used to be my second (or third) living room for a very long time. We spent countless of hours there, should it be for after work pints, weekend outings or on Sunday evenings during NFL season. It is a very typical bar, where the beer is served in pitchers and all different kinds of sport are flickering over the TV screens, drawing its attention also to a wide international audience. The main difference to a typical American sports bar, however, is the beer. As the name already implies, 1516 IS a brewing company, i.e. they produce their own stuff and that they do fantastically. Their lager is still the best that can be found in town and the flagship of the 1516 beers. This hoppy brew is very low in carbon, which makes it go down very smoothly and its cloudy color is just beautiful to look at. I highly recommend starting with this one, before working your way through the menu. Another staple is the Victory Hop Devil IPA, which is brewed after recipe of the Pennsylvanian Victory Hop Devil Brewery. I do not know the IBU of this one, but it must be very high, since it is one of the bitterest beers that I have had which is exactly how an IPA should be like. I have tried the original Hop Devil IPA as well and in all honesty, I do prefer 1516’s version. The Slipper Pale Ale is another one of my favorites. I have not been there for a while, but just recently, I came back from a craft beerience in Budapest, Hungary and I have to say that I still love this place (I have been back multiple times since then J). They had a new brew on the tap menu, which I hadn’t tried yet, the “Eternal City Asian Ginger Wit”. That one is a fantastic beer for a hot day. It is not too strong and its gingery and summery flavor is amazingly refreshing. Their Hungarian brewmaster has recently created another mind-blowing and flavorful pale ale, the so-called SÖR ONE. Beers are served in sizes of 0.1l, 0.25l, 0.4l or 1.5l.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Lager, Victory Hop Devil IPA, Slipper Pale Ale, Eternal City Asian Ginger Wit, SÖR ONE.
FOOD. Wide range of food from Austrian classics to typical pub food.
OPENING HOURS. Mon – Sun: 10am – 2am.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U1/U2/U4 Karlsplatz
ADDRESS. Schwarzenbergstraße 2, 1010 Vienna
Webpage
HAWIDERE
There is absolutely no way that this place could not make it on the list. The name already insinuates that this place is very connected to the city of Vienna. Hawidere (“Habe die Ehre”) is probably one of the most typical Viennese slang expression you could stumble upon. Literally translated it means “Have the honor” and it can be used in multiple ways, e.g. as a form of salutation or as a term of astonishment or shock. Every Viennese knows that term, even though it has been used less and less within the past years. Hawidere is none of those typical modern hipster style craft beer bars. It is an institution in the city and has existed for well over 16 years by now. It has the charm of a Vienna Beisl (pub) with old tables and chairs to sit on and it has a very long bar. It is divided into a big non-smoking section and a smaller room for the nicotine lovers. As most Viennese pubs, they have a large outside seating area in the warmer months, as well. Hawidere has 15 different and rotating beers on tap (the pils of the Viennese nomad brewers DomRep is one of their staples) and over 150 different beers and ales in bottles. They have a strong focus on Austrian beers and I what I really like is that they also pour traditional, but excellent and high quality Austrian lagers or unfiltered Zwickl beers. The crowd consists mostly of young people between 25 and 35 that are coming in a group of friends to talk, have a get-together or to celebrate a birthday. The music is never too loud or too dominating, so you never have to scream across the table to make conversation with anyone, although it is very crowded on the weekends. If you do not want to find yourself standing at the bar, I highly recommend making a reservation. It is in my opinion a perfect place for a chilled and relaxed Austrian Gemütlichkeits-style Friday or Saturday evening or some weekday afterwork drinks. If you want to find a perfect mixture of a good Austrian pub that serves phenomenal micro brewed beer, Hawidere is the place to go to. Another speciality of Hawidere is the burger. Their burger menu is probably as long as creative as their beer menu including some non-standard burger meat such as lamb or bison and you can choose from an equally long list of different dips as well. And what is even more important than the selection is that they also taste excellent. Speaking about their burgers, they are also strongly connected to Hawidere’s big social streak and Viennese bond. Hawidere hosts an annual event called “Burger Essen für die Gruft”. The Gruft (German for crypt) is a Caritas organized shelter for homeless people in Vienna that has existed for over 30 years now. It is open 24/7 and offers sleeping possibilities, food, showers and medical care, and it is heavily depending on donations. That said, at this “Burger Essen für die Gruft” evening, every single Euro and cent that is spent on a burger is 1 to 1 donated to the gruft. Furthermore, the revenue of a raffle and a small upcharge for consumed beer (50 cent for a small and 1 EUR for a large beer) is also going directly to the Gruft. This way they were able to collect almost 6,500 EUR in April 2017. I think this is an absolutely fantastic thing to do and it deserves some very deep respect and this already is a reason to support Hawidere and have some drinks there (not only at Gruft night, but year round).
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Domrep Pils, Tôte Tante (also by DomRep), Tiny Rebel Cali APA, Cwtch Red Ale (Tiny Rebel), Jaipur IPA (Thornbridge), Virmalised IPA (Põhjala).
FOOD. Burgers (all varieties you can think of), traditional Austrian food such as Schnitzel or Gulash, Middle Eastern dishes.
OPENING HOURS. Mon – Sun: 4pm – 2am.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U4/U6 Längenfeldgasse
ADDRESS. Ullmannstraße 31, 1150 Vienna
Webpage
STATTBEISL IM WUK
Stattbeisl has existed for quite many years, but it was not until approximately 2 years ago, they started to specialize in artisan beer and I just recently found out about that J. It is located in the Viennese iconic building of WUK (Werk- und Kulturstettenzentrum) – a former locomotive fabrication plant and today one of the largest centers of and hotspots for alternative and independent culture and art in many a way in Europe. Inside a huge yard with an ivy hung red brick house in the middle, you can hang out, buy drinks and later in the evening listen to live music inside the concert venue (I have been to countless gigs at WUK). Or you can spend an afternoon/evening at Statt-Beisl. It is located right at the entrance when you enter this complex and is quite a big bar. They have a lot sitting possibilities and in the warmer month they of course bring out tables and benches to that outside bond. They have a constantly rotating craft beer selection on tap, with the O’Haras Stout and an Austrian lager being the only two stable beers that do not change. The other tap beers vary between Austrian and international brews. Last time, I had a really nice Crimson Bird by the Spanish Naparbier and Thornbridge’s Cocoa Wonderland, both very beautiful. When it comes to bottled beers they mostly sell IPAs and other varieties of pale ales, but they also have a couple stouts, Belgians, sour ales and lagers on their menu. Best would be to go there yourself and check it out. My suggestion would be to buy a ticket for a band that interests you and go to Statt-Beisl a good time before the band will be on stage. This way you can combine good music with good craft beer. They may even let you take the beer with you to the show, provided you have it poured into a plastic cup (yea, I know not the best way to enjoy such good beers, but still, better than nothing). And that place is not far away from Charlie P’s, so basically you can even end the night with good beers when the concert is over.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. This depends on what they have on tap, but the Domrep Pils is always something to shoot for.
FOOD. I have never eaten there, but they have a wide variety of food. Curries, salads, burgers and typical Austrian cuisine.
OPENING HOURS. Mon – Fri: 11.30am – 2am, Sat: 5pm – 2am. Sun: 5pm - midnight
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U6 Währingerstraße/Volksoper
ADDRESS. Währingerstraße 59, 1090 Vienna
Webpage
DOGSTAR / SHAMROCK
DogStar is a craft beer bar within an Irish pub. Shamrock has been an institution in Vienna and one of the oldest Irish pubs in town. It is located on Vienna’s main street of hipsterism in the 7th district, which I like to call Mini-Berlin. Shamrock is a very typical Irish pub with the usual suspects such as Guinness, Kilkenny or Murphy’s on tap. About three years ago, the upstairs area of the pub was re-built into a craft beer bar. They have roughly 10 different beers on tap, with a concentration on Austrian products, yet some international brews can be found as well. I really loved the Alpha Tier NEIPA by the domestic Brew Age brewery and the Kong wheat IPA by the Catalan brewers of Napar. Just recently, they announced that they introduced two pipes for stouts, which I – being very much into stouts and porters – fully support. Shamrock is a great place to go to, have a good chat with friends or random people and enjoy some fantastic beers. By the end of November, they will have a tap takeover by Napar, which sounds super tempting.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Brew Age – Alpha Tier NEIPA, Brauschneider IPA, Napar – Kong Wheat IPA, Bevog – Zo Session IPA
FOOD. Traditional Irish pub food.
OPENING HOURS. Mon: 6pm – midnight. Tue: 6pm – 1am. Wed-Fri: 4pm – 2am. Sat: 1.30pm – 2am. Sun: 5pm – midnight.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U3 Neubaugasse
ADDRESS. Kirchengasse 3, 1070 Vienna
Webpage
KLUB GRU
Gru is awesome. It is like one of those alternative places I loved to go to in my earlier years. The difference, however, to my former locals is that it is selling independent beer. Gru can be found in a side street of Alserbachstraße fairly close to Franz-Josephs-Bahnhof in the 9th district. It is only two tram stops away from Beaver Brewing Company and I normally like to combine these two places. From the outside Gru appears very inconspicuously with its rolled-down shutters and the window-less blue door. Just the white neon sign and a blackboard saying “Est. 2012 – Gru” is telling you that something has been going on there for roughly 5 years by now. Entering through that blue door will lead you into a basement, where the pub is. As said before, the place is just cool. They play vinyls from the collection they have in the shelves, there is a foosball table, which is normally occupied, but there is no problem to challenge. A very special thing about the bar is the Super Nintendo booth. I never used it, but it is always fun to watch people sit there and play Mario Kart. Gru mainly consists of two rooms, the one where the bar is and a larger second one, with tables, couches and also a little stage. You can definitely feel the living room atmosphere there, although, the later the night gets, the more likely is that there will be some party happening. The beer selection is very decent. They have three different craft beers on tap and a fridge with shelves full of delicious beers. The focus here is on domestic brews. Most of the great Austrian independent breweries are in stock. Should it be Next Level Brewing, Brew Age, Bevog, 100 Blumen, Alefried, Collabs or Bierschmiede, they are all there. The owner is brewing himself and offering his Bierkanter creations at the club. I especially like the Impfstoff, which is an excellent Imperial Stout and the Saisonisfaction, a Session IPA, for which he is using his own hops that he is growing in Lower Austria. Apart from the Austrian brewskis, Gu offers a carefully selected range of Belgian Ales and other international breweries, such as De Molen, Tiny Rebel, Põhjala, Einstök or Welde from Germany. Their Pepper Pils is amazing and yes, you can get it at here. The crowd at Gru consists mainly of locals in their twenties. It is not a place that you would stumble into. Most of the people that go there have been there already or go with someone that has, which in my opinion contributes to that living room atmosphere. It is a bar you feel comfortable at. On the weekends, Gru does not open until 8pm. In the beginning, there very often not that many people there and you will easily find a table or a place to sit. However, the longer the night gets, the fuller Gru becomes and the more it turns into a party place as well. In the end, Gru is all real. It’s an honest place.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. We have great breweries in Austria. Choose domestic. Bierkanter – Impfstoff, Bierkanter – Wake Up, Amber, Bierkanter – It’s all good man, I can make it legal IPA, Next Level Brewing – Jail Break, Brew Age – Alphatier, Collabs – DomRep Pils.
OPENING HOURS. Wed – Thu: 6pm – 2am. Fri and Sat: 8pm – 4am
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U4 Friedensbrücke
ADDRESS. Rögergasse / Stroheckgasse, 1090 Vienna
Webpage
BRAUHUND
I have been there only once so far, since its location in the 15th district is a little further away from where I live, yet it is very easy to reach via subway or tram. The pub is very small, but also very cozy and comfortable. They have metal signs of rock n roll bands on the wall, a few tables and a U-shaped bar in the middle. The menu is of a manageable amount and handwritten on a big blackboard that is placed in the back on a wall. Brauhund offers two different beers on tap and a few different bottled ones. Furthermore, it is always announced which beers will be coming up next. The focus here is definitely on local brews such as the Styrian breweries Alefried (I especially like their products) and Bevog, but you will also find some really nice beers from abroad (Estonia, USA, The Netherlands, Belgium, you name it). When I was there, it was just a bit after opening hours, so the bar was quite empty back then, but I am sure the longer the evening gets the fuller the bar will be. However, I thought it was good that there were not many other guests present, because it gave me the chance to talk a bit to the owner. He is from Vorarlberg, the westernmost province of Austria and I found out that he is also the co-owner of the hip and supposedly excellent food place “Die Völlerei” in the 16th Viennese district (I have never been there, but its focus is on classic Austrian and Swiss dishes that are modernly re-interpreted). Brauhund is that kind of bar that I really like. Small, but friendly and talkative people and even if you go there by yourself, you will not have any problem finding a good chat. It seems like such a place where you can forget about the time and about everything else that is happening in the world outside. Plus, I really like the music that they played there that consisted of a lot of rock, blues and indie pop. I definitely want to go back there in the evening to experience the place when it is more crowded and to see which beers are new in their stock. It is safe to say that it is true that in beer they trust.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Depends on what they have on tap or bottled. If available go for anything by Alefried.
OPENING HOURS. Mo – Sat: 5pm – 2am. Sun: 3pm – 2am.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOP. U3 Schweglerstraße, U6 Burggasse/Stadthalle
ADDRESS. Märzstraße 25, 1150 Vienna
Webpage
VELOBIS
This is not a craft beer pub per se. The concept of Velobis, that will celebrate its second opening anniversary later this year, is very interesting. It is both a bicycle (repair) shop and a bistro at the same time that found its home on the premises of the former Gloriette-Kino – one of the oldest and most legendary cinemas in Vienna and which ended operating business in 2013. Food wise Velobis serves Austrian traditionals brought into a modern concept. I love the cozy atmosphere close to Vienna’s world famous Schönbrunn castle. Old bicycles are hanging on the wall, disc brakes have been put on the tap pumps, a few tables are in the front room of the bistro, more tables are situated in the back of the bar and the huge windows provide a perfect opportunity to watch people (something that I love, especially on a rainy day J). They have 3 beers on tap (back then one of them was the phenomenal Schleppe No1 – you can see that I really like this one) and a small, but very nice selection of bottled brews. Also, if you don’t want to drink – as a matter of fact I did not want to have any alcohol the first time I visited – their coffee is indeed excellent. They have a strong focus on beers from the Austrian Brewery Hirter, such as the Pils, the Herbstcult (an autumn beer) or their black lager Morchl. Last time, I was there, I talked to Anthony, one of the managers and a super friendly guy who told me that they will have the excellent Mountain Pale Ale by the Tyrolean craft brewers from Bierol on tap soon. It could very well be that they already have it, but if they do, that is definitely one more reason to go there.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. Schleppe No1, Hirter – Herbstcult, Bierol – Mountain Pale Ale. Gusswerk – Nicobar IPA, Brew Age – Alpha Tier NEIPA, Brlo – Pale Ale.
FOOD. I have never eaten there. But it all looked delicious. Every first Sunday of the month they have a Sunday roast.
OPENING HOURS. Tue – Fri: 5pm – midnight. Sat and Sun: 9am – 3pm.
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U3 Johnstraße, U4 Schönbrunn
ADDRESS. Johnstraße 1-3, 1140 Vienna
Webpage
CRAFT BEER STORES
BEERLOVERS
Vienna’s by far largest store for craft beer and a must visit for everyone who is into beer. It is huge. Inside you will find own sections for porters, stouts, red ales, wits, barely wines and huge selections of IPAs (singles, double IPAs and IIIPAs) and pale ales, lagers and pilsners. The latter three are stored in a separate refrigerated room (you might want to bring a jumper if you plan on doing some long duration craft beer shopping). You will also find some special brews and limited editions there, but be aware that these are not particularly budget friendly. BeerLovers always has four different beers on tap to take home in either 1 or 2l growlers and they guarantee a lasting time of two weeks. They are constantly getting new beers in – just recently they have gone Canadian with including breweries from the big white north such as Flying Monkeys, Collective Arts or Nickel Brook to their stock. All these new incomes can be found in two separate shelves right on the left hand side when entering the store. Over the time they have expanded their product range also to apparel and craft beer glasses and it is also possible to purchase everything that is needed to brew your own beer. The staff is really helpful and knowledgeable and is happy answering any questions you have. They have a strong focus on American, Belgian, Danish, German and Austrian beers, however brews from over 20 different countries can be purchased at Beer Lovers, so the selection is overwhelming and everybody will be able to go home with some new beers to taste. I love to go there and look through their shelves and fill my shopping basket. I compare it a little bit with digging at a great independent record store. It is somewhat the same pleasure. And hey, if you can combine both things, that is even better. Pouring a bottle of a beer that you haven’t tried yet, putting on a new vinyl and taking the first sips while the needle hits the spinning record and you start listening to some great music. Sounds about right :).
OPENING HOURS. Mon – Fri: 11am – 8pm. Sat: 10am – 5pm
NEAREST SUBWAY STOP. U4 Kettenbrückengasse, U3 Neubaugasse
ADDRESS. Gumpendorferstraße 35, 1060 Vienna
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BEER STORE VIENNA
The two guys that opened the shop in 2014 are brewers as well. Next Level Brewing is the name of their 2015 founded brewery. Their beer is brewed on the premises of the Carinthian fellas of Loncium in Southern Austria, and they keep coming up with new innovative creations such as the fruity Tropical Summer, which is unfortunately finished by now, or the outstanding and award winning 5 o’clock Earl Grey IPA. The infused tea makes this brew super refreshing and unlike the seasonal Tropical Summer this one will stay in their portfolio. They recently introduced two new completely own beers and one collaboration with the Hungarian brewers of Reketye. Especially the one with Reketye was fantastic. A New England IPA called 99 Hop Cones – a symbolic name to start a new Austrian-Hungarian since the last one did not end that well back in 1918 (99 years ago). This beer has officially made it onto my “Beers I Never Forget” list. It is a super fruity bomb and unbelievably rich in flavors while keeping its IPA character. Not only can you buy beers there, you can also taste them. All the beers are refrigerated and they always have two beers on tap, which can be bought in 3 or 5cl glasses to drink there or in 2L growlers to take home. You’ll find a long table and two comfortable couches alongside it (to be exact, the both the table and the couches are basically old wooden pallets stapled on top of each other – and the couches have cushions on the pallets…but they are really comfortable and it looks pretty cool) in the middle of the shop, where you can relax on and enjoy the beer or you can taste them standing at the register and talk to the guys. Apart from their own products, they are mostly focused on domestic Viennese and Austrian beers, but they also have a nice international selection. So far, it is the only place I have found in Vienna that is selling Swedish craft beer (unfortunately not Omnipollo, but Gotlands Bryggeri, which is excellent, too). Should you have ever considered to get started with home brewing yourself, Beer Store Vienna is the place to go to. They sell everything you need for your very own beer creation; ingredients, equipment, manuals, etc. On their homepage, they even provide a recipe of the month and they regularly hold home-brew workshops. The two owners are not only beer enthusiasts but also (academic) beer sommeliers and national champions in hobby brewing, so they have an incredible knowledge and a strong expertise. They are super friendly and will always give you great advice at the shop. Just ask them what you like and you will not leave the shop unsatisfied.
OPENING HOURS. 12pm – 8pm. Sat: 10am – 6pm
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U6 Philadelphiabrücke
ADDRESS. Wilhelmstraße 23, 1120 Vienna
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BIERGREISSLER
This is one of the newest jewel out there since opening its doors in April 2017. The two tap beers are changed regularly and you’ll find a great variety of refrigerated bottles to be tasted directly in the shop. On the shelves, Biergreissler offers many domestic and international bottles. The front room of the shop is reserved for Austrian breweries, while in the back room the international section can be found, where German brews dominate. After closing hours (9pm), Biergreissler turns itself into a bar, i.e. you can even stay longer and taste the beers in the store for the same price as when bought for home. About a month ago, they had the fantastic El Presidente NEIPA, the newest creation by Bierol on tap, which is so far really hard to find anywhere else. I talked to the manager and he told me that it is possible to order food that you can consume on the premises. I think I will definitely take this opportunity at some point.
OPENING HOURS. Mon – Fri: 1pm – 9pm. Sat: 9am - 5pm
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U2 Rathaus
ADDRESS. Lederergasse 4, 1080 Vienna
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MALEFITZ
Malefitz definitely is something different. It is located in the depths of Meidlinger Markt in the 12th district and is somewhat of a hybrid of a bar, a market stand and a craft beer shop. It feels like the orange roof of this small market shack and the yellow, a quarter rolled-down shutters are screaming at you and dragging you towards it. A blackboard is announcing the current draught beers and a few high tables invite the customer to enjoy the beers outside. The big windows completely brighten up the place from all angles. There are a few tables and chairs inside and empty beer kegs are stapled onto each other in the corners. A little tap system is placed on table next to the counter, always ready to pump two different beers. A huge shelf is displaying sample bottles of the brews that are available. You can then grab the cooled beers from the four fridges to either drink them there or take them home. Malefitz’ selection is almost completely domestic. Roughly 90% of the beers are Austrian including some of the best products this country has to offer: Next Level Brewing, Der Belgier, Brauschneider, Woif, 6 Beers Brewing, Forstner, Brew Age, Bevog, you name it. They are all there and many, many more, as well. I once had the pleasure to have the tapped Global Warming IPA by the Viennese gypsy brewery Treibhaus. I had not known that brewery before and of course neither have I had that beer, which was phenomenal. I know a lot of the national beers, but that is not even close to what Austria is providing. I thus love Malefitz, because you will always find something new there. The owner of the place is legendary. He is a typical Wiener Original, as people from the city would say and he likes to refer to himself as the punk in the scene. He carefully selects the beers which he is drawing directly from the breweries. He is constantly trying to get new and also lesser known stuff in. The share of gypsy brewed beers is quite high and some of them are even brewed by friends of him and probably cannot be found anywhere else in Vienna. It can happen that you purchase a beer that is in so freshly that it is not even registered, yet. That happened to me when I bought the Mangalitza Milk Stout by Brauküche 35. If you feel like having a tour and tasting through the Austrian beer country, you cannot miss out on Malefitz. Another thing that I very much appreciate is that despite all the specialities, the prices are very reasonable. Speaking of which, don’t forget to bring your euros along. Plastic is not accepted here. It is cash only.
BEERS I RECOMMEND. 6 Beers Brewing – Gold Rush (California Common), Brauküche 35 – Mangalitza Milk Stout, Treibhaus – Global Warming IPA, Alefried – Farmhouse 07 IPA, Brew Age – Dunkle Materie, Rodauner Biermanufaktur – Gselchter (Smoked Ale).
OPENING HOURS. Tue – Thu: 2pm – 9pm, Fri: 12pm – 9pm. Sat: 10am – 5pm
NEAREST SUBWAY STOPS. U6 Niederhofstraße, U4 Meidling.
ADDRESS. Meidlinger Markt, 1120 Vienna
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