Forchheim is known for its Kellerwald, among other things. “Nauf auf die Keller” was also the motto for us as we set off on foot to the Forchheim Kellerwald.
You walk about 30 minutes from the train station, leaving the car behind, because if you go up to the cellar, you are sure to have a beer or two. The statement “Nauf auf die Keller” really hits home, because the Kellerwald is on a hill on the edge of the city in the middle of the forest.
More than 20 different beer cellars have settled close together on about 20,000 m². Some operate all year round, others only open during the beer cellar season from April to October. Each cellar has something unique. Whether it’s its own distinctive beer, delicious Franconian food or the cosy atmosphere in which you yourself just feel at home. Regular visitors to Kellerwald have told me that there are favourite cellars that are visited again and again and that other cellars have gone unnoticed until now. But it’s also not easy to decide ….
What cellars are there in the Forchheim Kellerwald?
1. Nürnberger-Tor-Keller The cellar is only opened during the Anna Festival.
2. Birgit´s Schindlerkeller The Schindlerkeller is one of the cellars that are open all year round.
The Greif Keller is run by a brewery in Forchheim.
Opening hours: April-September: Tue-Fri from 4 p.m., Sat from 3 p.m., Sun/holiday from 11 a.m., Mon day off. November-March: Fri-Sat from 4 p.m., Sun/holiday from 11 a.m., Mon-Thu day off
4. Schäffbräu Keller This cellar only opens during the Anna Festival and then serves beer from the Weißenoh monastery brewery.
5. Hebendanz Keller At Hebendanz you can get beer from Forchheim from April to September. A light, bright Pilsner that tastes very soft. I find it very drinkable.
Bamberg: Mahrs Bräu
6. Mahrs Bräu Keller I already got to know the Mahrs brewery during my visit to Bamberg. Here I drank “a U”, an unrounded, unfiltered beer (5.2% alcohol) with yeast cloudiness and a round malty taste. I liked it very much.
The cellar only opens during the Anna Festival.
7. Fritz-Schneider-Keller This cellar only offers its beer during the Anna Festival.
8. Rappen Keller The Rappen Keller always opens during the summer months.
9. Winterbauerkeller This cellar always opens at the end of April and offers plenty of space to celebrate in the restaurant and party barn.
10. Schaufel Keller You can always drink the beer from the Löwenbräu Buttenheim brewery on Thursdays and Fridays from 5 to 10 pm in the Schaufel Keller.
11. Fässla Keller The beers of the Veldensteiner brewery can be drunk in this cellar during the Anna Festival.
12. Kaiser Keller The Kaiser Keller always opens for the Anna Festival.
13. Brauwastl Keller Visitors to the Anna Festival can drink their beer in this cellar.
14. Schlössla Keller The Schlössla Keller offers beer from the Hebedanz brewery.
15. Glockenkeller We tested this cellar during our visit. You can read more about it in the course of this report.
16. Stäffala-Keller From the end of April to the end of August (always Thursday to Sunday), the beer from the Veldensteiner brewery is available here.
17. Eichhornkeller In summer, the Eichhornkeller offers beer from a brewer in Forchheim. From April to September, weather permitting, the cellar always opens to visitors in Forchheim’s Kellerwald from Wednesday to Friday (16:00 – 22:00) and on weekends and public holidays (12:00 – 22:00).
18. Weiß-Tauben-Keller One of the oldest beer cellars in Forchheim’s Kellerwald with around 800 seats. Beer from the Rittmayer brewery is served here.
19. Hofmann´s Keller During the Anna Festival, visitors can enjoy beer here.
20. Schwanen-Keller The cellar opens its doors during the Anna Festival.
21. Neder Keller The Neder serves beer from Forchheim. The cellar is open from Friday to Tuesday from 5 pm.
22. Schützenkeller The Schützenkeller opens on request.
23. Blümleins Keller Beer is available here during the Anna Festival.
Drinking beer on the Forchheim Kellerwald
The cellars in Forchheim have one thing in common. They are beautifully situated under shady trees and I found them all quite inviting. Deciding where the first cool beer will flow down the thirsty throat is therefore not so easy…
Glockenkeller
The Glockenkeller has one of the oldest preserved rock cellars. It dates back to 1697 and has been used for storing beer since then. The temperature in the limestone corridors is 6 degrees all year round. We were allowed to take a look into the corridors. In some places you can hardly stand upright and there are countless beer barrels and beer crates everywhere. During the season, 2000-3000 litres of beer are stored here, waiting to be drunk.
What struck me right away was that the Glockenkeller does not serve its own beer. The beer cellar operators serve beer from the Rittmayer brewery in neighbouring Hallerndorf. We fell a little in love with the beer when we visited the Rittmayer brewery. Whether it’s non-alcoholic beer or festival beer, we like it very much. Of course, I was all the more pleased to be able to drink the unfiltered 1422 in the Glockenkeller.
The inn on the Glockenkeller was built in 1904. Franconian cuisine is served here, which we tried during our visit. We liked it and the hearty food formed the ideal basis for the beer.
The Glockenkeller is open all year round and offers its visitors indoor and outdoor seating. Anyone who would like to drink a beer here can do so during the following opening hours:
Mon/Mi/Thu/Fri 16:30 – 22:30, Sat 11:00 – 22:30, Sun/Public holiday 10 – 22:30, Tue day off
Hebendanz Keller
From April to September, beer lovers can stop in at Hebendanz. We made ourselves comfortable on a terrace with a view of the neighbouring cellars and tested the beer selection.
The beer comes from the Hebendanz brewery in Forchheim. They offer a cellar beer, a wheat beer and non-alcoholic beer. I opted for the wheat beer. A wonderfully soft and banana-fruity taste, refreshing and suitable for summer.
Opening hours: April-September: Mon-Sat 12-22 hrs, Sun/ public holiday from 11- 22 hrs, no day off.
Birgit´s Schindlerkeller
The Schindlerkeller is one of the cellars that are open all year round in the Forchheim Kellerwald. The outdoor area offers space for 400 guests, and there is also a covered area with 100 seats. This is a great place to sit even when the temperatures are a little cooler. In a guest room with a fireplace, there is additional seating for about 50 people.
We went to Birgit’s Schindlerkeller and ate an excellently prepared huge portion of Schäuferla. The meat was wonderfully tender and easy to remove from the bone.
Opening hours: May-September: Monday – Friday: 15 – 23, Sat/Sun/holiday 11:30 – 23, no day off. October-April: Mon/Thurs/Thurs/Fri 15 – 23, Sat/Sun/holiday 11:30 – 23, day off on Wed.
Note: cash payment only!
Way back to Forchheim
We took the Kellerwald Express for part of the way back, namely from the Kellerwald to the large car park. During the Kellerwald season, the small electric train takes visitors to the Kellerwald from the beer gardens to the car park free of charge at weekends and on public holidays.
From there we walked back to the station in Forchheim.
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