Historic brewing region
Franconia
Northern Bavarian region with the highest brewery density in the world, home of Rauchbier and of the unfiltered Kellerbier tradition.
In Germany.
Why it matters to beer
Franconia preserved practices that industrialisation removed elsewhere: malt dried over open beechwood fires, unfiltered and lightly-carbonated cellar beer served from wooden casks, and a village brewery culture that survived consolidation.
Styles from here
Beers brewed here
- Aecht Schlenkerla Helles
An unsmoked Helles brewed in a smoke brewery, which picks up a faint smokiness from the building itself.
- Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen
The reference smoked beer, made with malt kilned over the brewery’s own beechwood fire, and unmistakably smoky from the first smell.
- Aecht Schlenkerla Urbock
A strong smoked bock from Bamberg, released in autumn, where the malt is dried over beechwood fire.
- Mahrs Bräu Ungespundet
The Franconian unfiltered lager most widely met outside Bamberg, and the readiest way to taste what filtration removes.
Breweries
Elsewhere in the country
Bavaria · Munich · Cologne · Düsseldorf · Berlin · Dortmund · Hallertau
Last reviewed 2026-08-15.