Mainz

Mainz is a German city on the Rhine River, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate (Pfalz). It’s known for its old town, with half-timbered houses and medieval market squares. In the centre, the Marktbrunnen is a Renaissance fountain with red columns. Nearby, a distinctive octagonal tower tops the Romanesque Mainz Cathedral, that looms over the Altstadt’s romantic warren of cobblestone streets, and the burial place for centuries of ruling Prince’s and Archbishops. It is also Germany’s wine capital, Mainz was founded by the Romans on the left bank of the Rhine and has more than 2,000 years of history. The city’s museums have Roman artefacts discovered beneath the city, like a small armada of 1700-year-old warships now kept in an industrial locomotive shed. In the 1430s the Mainz citizen Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, and the museum dedicated to him has two of the remaining editions of the Gutenberg bible. Mainz also puts on a big-time carnival, and its televised parade on Shrove Monday pulls in hundreds of thousands of spectators. It also has four brewpub’s and some nice pub for the beer rambler as of April 2022.  So lets stat this beer adventure with them;

Kuehn Kunz Rosen - Brewery & Taproom, Weisenauer Str. 15

Open: Wed - Sat 17.00 - 23.45 Closed: Sun - Mon

Located on the outskirts of the popular downtown area of Mainz,but still easy to get to. About a 10min walk from the train station Mainz Römisches Theater or 15min from the oldtown. It is situated on the grounds of an industrial park that is about 80 years old, the whole area is being developed.  You don't find many modern craft breweries in this region, but Kuehn Kunz Rosen is making their mark! The brewery started in 2017 and has a diverse portfolio of recipes.  The best part is that the beer is served in either traditional 0.3L pours or smaller 0.1L taster sizes. These are somewhat pricey for the volume you get, but it is a great option to be able to enjoy the variety of their beers.  They also sell a 4-beer sampler flight which is a better value. When you first arrive, the stone and brick buildings look a little dilapidated, but that is part of their practical charm. In the center courtyard is a brick paver parking lot, and some patrons drive in to pick up bottles of beer. The brewpub is up the small hill on the right.  Outside are several wood picnic tables and the middle part of the brick building has arched windows that allow you to see the stainless steel brewing vessels and fermenters inside.  On the left is a 2-story square brick structure and you'll climb a flight of metal stairs to their entrance. Inside is their tasting room and small kitchen.  The open kitchen is immediately on the left, staffed by a single cook. For food they offer soup, salads, and flammkuchen pizza. To the right is their 5-stool bar which is staffed by a single bartender. The staff are welcoming and cheerful, but perhaps a tad slow with the pours. On the right are several rustic wood dining tables, and up on a mezzanine level are a couple more tables and a couch. The floor is distinctive black and white tiles and the high white ceiling has metal conduit trays. Down a few stairs is the brewery floor. On the right are their large stainless steel brewery, and in the room further back you can see the farm of stainless steel fermenters. It is a decent sized operation. The tasting room has a casual, friendly atmosphere and classic pop background music is playing which is a nice touch.  On one table are samples of grain and brewing ingredients for demonstration purposes, and they give occasional tours (look online). Paper menus and chalkboards behind the bar list their 11 taps (rotating with their own stuff and aswell beers from friends) These span a range of styles. In addition to the house beers they also carry a few guest craft beers, a nice offering of unique ales. They also have most of their varieties in bottles for sale to go. If you're in Mainz, this brewpub is very much worthy of a visit.

Eisgrub-Bräu, Weissliliengasse 1a, Mainz.

Open: Daily 11.30 – 00.00

A Brewpub in the old town of Mainz. Build in an old fortress or castle of some kind, pretty big and nicely decorated. Standard German beer assortment but actually really nicely made. Service is okay, bit disinterested (typical German). Beers served in steins which is pretty cool especially  in the Cosy atmosphere of the basement with secluded sitting corners. The brewing vessels are openly visible and make a nice brewpub atmosphere. Anyway, the two beers they brew normally are an exceptionally well-made Marzen and a truly great Schwarzbier, which you can order 3 and 5 liter towers (beer bongs) of beer to enjoy with larger groups. It is nice to sit outside on the long terrace. Can get very busy so if you intend to eat there then book first.

Eulchen Brauereiausschank, Kupferbergterrasse 17

Open: Tues - Sat 17.30 - 23.00 Closed Sun - Mon

After a couple of years brewing outside of town, they now their own brewery in Mainz since 2018. The taproom is attached to the brewry that is located in a large orange brick 3-story building which is situated inside a complex of much larger historic buildings, that include Kupferberg a sparkling wine manufacturer and next to the former area of former brewery Mainzer Aktien Bierbrauerei. Its a big open taproom, basically one big hall, with bare stone and brick wall's that have tall tables and chairs along the window wall, and some formal dining tables in the center. Up to 12 taps possible including some tap only specials. There is a beergarden outside overlooking great vies of the city. There is a small kitchen providing fine local dishes. You can have a look in the stainless steel brewery that is on the way to the toilets. Comign back from there have a look at the old door portal. It's a great place and I do hope that it will get popular soon.

Appel Happel, Marienborner Bergweg 33 

Open: Mon - Thurs 09.30 - 13.00 & 15.00 - 18.30 Sat 09.00 - 15.00 Closed Fri & Sun

Basically an apple farm with a shop, it is easy to find and only about a 30 minute drive from Frankfurt. Were you can spend a wonderful day apple picking apples when in season. The couple who runs the orchard and shop speak both German and English. They produce and sell there own cider which you can get in the attached restaurant "Everyone's" They have a yearly festival showcasing everything "apple" with lots of different stall's.

Klingelbeutel, Kartäuserstr 6

Open: Mon - Sat 18.00 - 00.00. Closed: Sun

An old traditional "Kneipe" in the heart of the old town. It was renovated and reopened on the 1st February 2018. It's my kind of pub, lots cosy nooks and crannies to sit and chill out in and No television, plus a non-smoking place (thanks!). The place is now run by the crew of local Eulchen beer, but doesn´t want to be an official outlet, just a place for beer drinkers to come and enjoy different brews in a cozy atmosphere. There are 8 taps with rotating craft beers from everywhere. Needs some time to develop and attract new beer related customers to increase the offered beers. One Eulchen beer especially brewed for this place always on tap a smooth Pils called Klingelbeutel-Pils. A kitchen that provides Selfmade Flammkuchen for your hunger. Looking forward to see this place develop in a great spot for beer lovers!

Zeitungsente, Neubrunnenstrasse 7

Open: Daily 11.00 - 01.00

A small cosy pub with nice shady outside sitting area aswell, located about 5mins walk from Mainz central station. Frequented by locals and students. They have a huge menu because it actually is a pub that serves food from all the neighbouring eateries. So there are different types of cuisines ranging from German to Lebanese and Korean to Turkish. It's impressive. There are about six restaurants combined if I remember correctly. The prices are typical eating-out prices but not expensive. The portions are gigantic! They have half a dozen taps with Andechs and Braufactum as an example. The service okay, atmosphere is cool, a nice place to hang out.

Kleines Andechs, Holzhofstrasse 13

Open: Daily 18.00 - 04.00

A small bar on the corner of a busy street, the entrance next to a parking garage underneath the building. Inside you are welcomed by lots of dark wood, with lots of tables in a small cosy room, with the bar in the middle. They do serve the Andechs range of beers on tap. The Spezial Hell and the Export Dunkel. Some Kölsch and Franziskaner Weißbier aswell. Always great service. Late here means early!

Weinhaus Schreiner, Rheinstraße 38

Open: Tue - Fri 17.00 - 00.00 Sa. 11.30. 00.00 [Check website?]

A traditional Mainzer Weinhaus. So the focus is obviously on wines and not on beers. But they do have Bosch beer + some craft beers from the likes of Propeller and Hanscraft so worth seeking out. There is a really nice shaded beergarden for the summer evenings. It is crowded by locals (50+) on the weekend,so maybe better to book. The atmosphere is friendly and laied back. The service is always good. Menu is very good regional and seasonal food, distinguishing specialities include veal kidneys and other entrails. But also "normal" meats like steak, tartar, saumagen etc.

The Porter House, Grosse Langgasse 4

Open: Mon - Fri 17.00 Till late Sat - Sun 14.00 - Till late

A cosy Irish pub with a big patio, located in the city centre of Mainz, easy reachable by foot or public transportation. They have Kirner beers as well as the usual Guinness and Kilkenny. Nice service. Quite busy too. Lots of big TVs for football and other sports. It’s nothing out of the ordinary as it’s very much Irish pub but in Mainz it isn't that bad a place to have couple of beers!

Sixties, Große Langgasse 11

Open: Daily 11.00 - 01.00 or later?

The Sixties is an British style pub, with a half wooden interior, signs and poster on the walls, big screen TV's that show Bundesliga and loud music. One room for smokers and one for non-smokers. Table soccer is available also. Generally it is better to make an reservation in the evenings. Beer assortment is big with more then 10 taps and way above 100 bottles. Craftbeers are also rotating.
But the kind of place they often depict as a meeting place for various degenerates and lowlifes in movies. Food is standard pub fair staff are always busy. Nip in have a look you might like it?

Eulchen Trinkhalle, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring 54a

Open: Tue-Sat 16.00-21.00

An old Trinkhalle Kiosk on the traffic island, selling the Eulchen beers. Located in the heart of Neustadt and 5min walk from Mainz central station (HBF). Always 3 beers available, by time also the seasonal Bock beer and a Weißbierbrand, a Schnaps destilled from their Weissbier.

Weinraumwohnung, Neubrunnenstrasse 14

Open: Daily 11.00 18.00 possibly later?

Yes it is primarly a wine store. But with local top class wines. Wines from smal local Rheinhessen and Pfalz wineries, high quality products, so also quite high prices but definitely worth it. They have local beers tucked away on a shelf in the back of the shop from Eulchen, Kuehn Kunz Rosen, Kiezbaum Cider. Aswell as Kona Brewing, Stone Berlin and some other rotating craft beers. The staff are very knowledgeable about thei wines.

If you find any venues we have not visited as yet, please email me the details, as your reviews are most welcome, and help me keep my website up to date for fellow beer ramblers.