Private Brewery Schwerter Meißen

One of the oldest private breweries in Saxony can be found in Meißen. The private brewery Schwerter Meißen GmbH not only sells its beer in shops, but also has a brewery that is located in a commercial area.

We drove across town to the brewery. In front of the building is a terrace with a few tables and there is a dining room. Although we were there for dinner at a rather unusual time, it was not easy to get a table. There was an event in the restaurant and most of the tables on the terrace were reserved. There were exactly 2 tables free for spontaneous visitors. So it’s better to book a table in advance!

The beers from the Schwerter Meißen private brewery are well made in terms of craftsmanship and taste. We later picked up a bottle of each variety we discovered in the shops so that we could better compare the individual products. But this much can be said in advance. There was no beer that didn’t taste good. All the beers were well-balanced in taste, drinkable and went well with strong food.

History of the private brewery Schwerter Meißen

The first documented mention of the Brauhaus Meißen dates from around 1460. In 1868, the brewery was bought by the Hirschstein brewery owner Bahrmann, who ran it with his sons for a few years.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the company was renamed Schwerter Brauerei AG. In 1953 Wilhelm Wohlers took over the brewery and it was now called Schwerter Brauerei Wohlers KG. In the course of the nationalisation of companies in the former GDR, he had to hand over the management of his company. From 1972, the beer was brewed under the company name VEB Felsenkeller Brauerei Meißen – Betriebsteil Schwerterbrauerei.

What is being brewed?

Around 25,000 hectolitres of beer are brewed each year at the Schwerter Meißen private brewery. A total of 10 different beers are produced, some of which are only offered seasonally.

We have tested some of the beers. My personal favourites are the Meißner Schwerter Lager Rubin and the Meißner Schwerter Kellerbier. They convinced me the most in terms of taste.

Meißner Schwerter Privat Pils

• A straw yellow beer with a compact foam.
• The beer smells slightly of lime.
• Taste: slightly tart, sparkling, typical taste of a Pilsner.
• Original wort 11.5 %, alcohol content 4.9 % vol.

Meißner Schwerter St. Afra Dunkel

• a great dark beer, slightly reddish shimmer, similar to the mahogany tones, beige-coloured foam.
• You can primarily smell the caramelised dark malt with its roasted aromas, slight coffee note.
• The beer has a very smooth taste for a dark beer. You can taste the coffee/espresso flavour a little.
• Original wort 11.7 %, alcohol content 4.9 % vol.

Meißner Schwerter Lager Rubin

• Colour-wise a great beer, ruby red and radiant, foam: firm and light.
• The beer smelled pleasant, not too malty.
• The beer tastes a bit like caramel and toffee, it is not too bitter. I found it quite light and drinkable.
• Original wort: 11.4 %, alcohol content 4.7 % vol.

Meißner Schwerter Elbsommer

• Saison beer
• naturally cloudy, fine-pored white foam
• smells wonderfully fruity, like summer
• Tastes fruity and light
• Original wort 11 %, alcohol content 4.5 % vol.

Meißner Schwerter Kellerbier

• naturally cloudy, sunny yellow with beautiful white foam.
• Smells very hoppy, a little citrusy
• Tastes fresh, like hops, slightly bitter
• Original wort 11.5 %, alcohol content 4.8 % vol.

Meißner Schwerter Urhell

• The sunny yellow beer is crowned by a white foam.
• Aroma of hops and quite fruity.
• Pleasantly drinkable taste, full-bodied
• Original wort 11.5 %, alcohol content 4.8 % vol.

Meißner Schwerter UrBräu

• Very fine-pored white foam, almost golden yellow beer.
• smells a little like herbs
• Quite strong taste
• Original wort 12.5 %, alcohol content 5.5 % vol.

Meißner Schwerter Bennator Bockbier

• Seasonal beer – drunk on tap in the beer garden.
• What a colour! It glows amber-golden in the glass, the foam is a little beige.
• The beer smells fruity, slightly of apricot. Supposedly, a slight smell of sherry hovers over the beer. Since I don’t know exactly what sherry smells like, I couldn’t detect it.
• The first taste impression: soft, not too tart.
• You can taste a slightly nutty note, some chocolate and caramel.
• Original wort 16.5%, alcohol content 6.5% vol.

Meißner Schwerter Maibock

Meißner Schwerter Naturradler

Brauereigaststätte „Zum Schwerter Bräu“

Ziegelstraße 6
01662 Meißen
Website

Opening hours

Tuesday – Sunday: from 11.00 a.m.