Brauerei Schanzenbräu

What Brauerei Schanzenbräu does

Brauerei Schanzenbräu is a family-owned craft brewery headquartered in Nürnberg, Germany, producing unfiltered, hop-forward beers for a regional Franconian customer base. Founded in 2004 by Stefan Stretz (managing director and majority owner) from a backyard workshop in Gostenhof using repurposed washing kettles, the brewery moved to a more professional site in 2007 and opened its current production facility in Nürnberg-Höfen in January 2016, with tank storage expanded in 2018 and again in 2024. The core portfolio comprises six mainstays — Nürnberger Rotbier, Helles, Kehlengold Kellerpils, Pils, Helles Alkoholfrei, and Rotbier Radler Alkoholfrei — supplemented by seasonal specialties (Märzen, Sommerbier, Festbier, Roter Bock, Rotes Weizen, Sternenbock, Elisen Seidla, Waldseidla) and specialty products (Whisky Bock SLYRS Fass, Spritzz, Rotbierbrand spirit). The brewery operates a paid tour with tasting program (€28/person), a brewery taproom (Lagerverkauf), and a 170-seat Schankwirtschaft pub and beer garden in Gostenhof, with a new standing-tap venue (Stehausschank) opening above Club Stereo in April 2026.

The business model is a hybrid direct-to-consumer and regional wholesale operation. Direct revenue streams include taproom sales, on-premise consumption at the Schankwirtschaft, brewery tours, merchandise (T-shirts, beanies, caps, glasses, Rotbierbrand), and party-keg rentals (10l–30l). Wholesale revenue is generated through regional retail chains (EDEKA, REWE, Fristo, Fränky, Getränkeritter, Markgrafen), gastronomy distributors (Fruchtecke, Trinkkartell, Getränke Geins), online shops (Meibier, Sagasser, Bierothek), and specialty travel retail at YORMAS (Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof) and Airport Nürnberg Duty Free. A small but strategically meaningful revenue line comes from contract brewing of house beers for hospitality partners (Freidla for Die Wirtschaft; PEGGY NITZ for Brasserie Nitz), recipes developed at the BarthHaas Campus. The company is structured as a GmbH & Co. KG (Schanzenbräu GmbH & Co. KG, HRA 15974), is privately financed with no external funding rounds, and operates with a small core team of approximately five employees plus brewmasters. No revenue is disclosed, and the brewery remains a micro-scale, regional player.

Name

Brauerei Schanzenbräu

Legal name

Schanzenbräu GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://schanzenbraeu.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Brauerei Schanzenbräu is a family-owned craft brewery in Nürnberg, Germany, producing unfiltered, hop-forward beers for regional consumers across Franconia. It sells via its own taproom, Schankwirtschaft pub, regional retail and gastronomy distributors, and offers brewery tours and contract-brewed house beers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (72241), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (424810)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB), Craft Beer Retail & Bottle Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAC), Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings (THAJAGAE)

Keywords

• Craft beer
• Unfiltered beer
• Brewery tours
• Regional brewery
• Rotbier brewing

Headquarters

HQ city

Nürnberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Beer Product Sales: Sale of bottled, canned, and draft beer through brewery shop, retail stores (EDEKA, REWE, Fränky, Getränkeritter, etc.), and online shops (Meibier, Sagasser). Mainstays: Rotbier, Helles, Kehlengold, Pils. Seasonal and specialty beers: Märzen, Roter Bock, Sternenbock, Festbier, Sommerbier, Waldseidla.
2. Taproom & Schankwirtschaft Sales: Direct on-premise consumption sales at the Schankwirtschaft (pub with beer garden in Gostenhof) and the Stehausschank at Club Stereo. Draught beer, house Spritzz, Secco, and food service.
3. Brewery Tours with Tasting: Paid brewery guided tours with beer tasting sessions at €28 per person, approximately 2.5 hours duration. Includes introduction to brewery history, facility tour, and tasting of 3 beer varieties.
4. Merchandise & Merchandising: Sale of branded merchandise including T-shirts (€25), beanies (€20), trucker caps (€25), tote bags (€4.50), beer glasses, and Rotbierbrand spirit (€29.50 for 0.5l, €16.50 for 0.25l).
5. Event Services & Barrel Rentals: Party keg rental (10l–30l) with tap equipment for private events, catering to beer gardens and large gatherings. Also supplies Spritzz, wine spritzers, and Secco in 20l kegs for gastronomy partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Brauerei Schanzenbräu is a Nürnberg-based craft brewery that brews and sells 100% unfiltered, bottle-conditioned craft beers including its flagship Nürnberger Rotbier, Helles, Pils, Kehlengold Kellerpils, alcohol-free variants, and seasonal specialties. Beyond brewing, the company operates a Brauereishop (on-site retail), an online shop, a Schankwirtschaft pub, a Stehausschank taproom, contract-brewing services (Braugemeinschaft), and brewery tours with tastings.

Product overview

Schanzenbräu is a regional craft brewery from Nuremberg producing unfiltered, hop-forward beers. The core portfolio consists of six mainstays: Nürnberger Rotbier (their signature red beer), Helles, Kehlengold Kellerpils, Pils, Helles Alkoholfrei, and Rotbier Radler Alkoholfrei. Seasonal offerings include Märzen, Sommerbier, Rotes Weizen, Roter Bock, Festbier, and the special Sternenbock. The company operates a brewery shop (Lagerverkauf) for direct sales and a traditional Schankwirtschaft (tavern) with beer garden in Gostenhof. Services include brewery tours with tastings, party barrel rentals, and annual events including the Brauereifest and GOHO HOHO Christmas market. The brewery also produces collaboration beers through the Nürnberger Braugemeinschaft and supplies house beers to partner restaurants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nürnberger Rotbier Unfiltered, bottle-conditioned Nuremberg-style red lager; flagship product of the brewery and a regional specialty.
• Helles Unfiltered classic Bavarian-style Helles lager brewed on-site.
• Kehlengold Kellerpils Unfiltered keller-style pilsner brewed on-site in Nürnberg.
• Pils Unfiltered Pilsner in the Schanzenbräu core range.
• Helles Alkoholfrei Unfiltered alcohol-free Helles for consumers seeking a non-alcoholic option.
• Rotbier Radler Alkoholfrei Unfiltered alcohol-free Radler mixed with lemonade, based on the Rotbier recipe.
• Märzen Unfiltered Märzen seasonal lager.
• Sommerbier Unfiltered seasonal summer lager.
• Rotes Weizen Unfiltered red wheat (Weizen) specialty beer.
• Roter Bock Unfiltered red bock, a strong specialty lager.
• Festbier Unfiltered Oktoberfest-style seasonal lager.
• Sternenbock Unfiltered holiday bock sold during the Christmas season.
• Sternenbock (2025 edition) 2025 annual edition of the holiday Sternenbock.
• Nürnberger Waldseidla Limited regional specialty beer tied to the Nürnberg hinterhof concept.
• Schanzenbräu Spritzz Hop-forward spritz-based specialty drink produced by Schanzenbräu.
• Pride Weeks Bier Limited-edition Pride Weeks craft beer brewed by Schanzenbräu.
• Elisen Seidla Specialty craft beer packaged in the Seidla (small bottle) format.
• Rotbierbrand Rotbier-based spirit (brand) made from the brewery's flagship red lager.
• Glühbier (Nürnberger Glühbier) Hot mulled beer (Glühbier) sold at the brewery's Christmas market stand.
• Freidla (Hausbier for die Wirtschaft) Contract-brewed house beer for the restaurant "die Wirtschaft," produced by Schanzenbräu under the Braugemeinschaft model.
• PEGGY NITZ (Brasserie Nitz Hausbier) Contract-brewed house beer for Brasserie Nitz, produced by Schanzenbräu under the Braugemeinschaft model.
• Braugemeinschaft (Custom Contract Brewing) Contract-brewing service (up to 600 hl annually) for external hospitality partners and brewers using Schanzenbräu's brewhouse and Braumeister.
• Brauereishop (Lagerverkauf) On-site brewery shop selling the full Schanzenbräu range and merchandise directly to consumers at the brewery.
• Online Shop (schanzenbraeu.shop) Direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop shipping Schanzenbräu beers and gift packs within Germany.
• Schanzenbräu Schankwirtschaft On-site Schankwirtschaft (pub) at the brewery where Schanzenbräu beers are served to walk-in guests.
• Stehausschank Standing-tap bar (Stehausschank) at the brewery serving beer directly to visitors.
• Brauereiführung mit Tasting (Brewery Tour) Bookable brewery tour with guided tasting for groups (10+ persons priced at 28€ per person).
• Party Fässer (Party Barrel Hire) Rental of party barrels (Party Fässer) of Schanzenbräu beer for private events and celebrations.
• Schanzenbräu Merchandise (Bekleidung, Gläser, Souvenirs) Branded merchandise (clothing, beer glasses, and collectibles) sold via the Brauereishop and online shop.

Quantifiable outcome

• World Beer Awards 2021 Bronze for both Rotbier and Helles (Germany)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Club Stereo (Nürnberg)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Collaboration with Club Stereo to open the Schanzenbräu Stehausschank (standing beer tap) in the 'Vorraum' bar above Club Stereo. Opens 30 April 2026 at 16:00 with OB Marcus König. Inspired by urban Bavarian tradition of spontaneous beer drinking.
• Hans-Sachs-Gymnasium NürnbergminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Annual collaboration with the P-Seminar (project-oriented seminar course) of Hans-Sachs-Gymnasium Nürnberg for the 'Zusammen Halbe' collaborative beer. Students participate in brewing day with brewmaster Markus Mann, learn about beer chemistry and brewing theory, and the project's charitable proceeds go to Nürnberger Tafel (2025) and Kinderschutzbund Nürnberg (2023). The 2025 edition uses Polaris, Hallertauer Tradition, and a new BarthHaas hop variety H17107.
• Akademie der bildenden Künste Nürnberg (AdbK)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2025For the Zusammen Halbe 2024, the visual identity and packaging were designed by students of the Akademie der bildenden Künste Nürnberg (Germany's oldest art academy, founded 1662). The beer was presented at the academy's summer festival.
• Brandholz BrauereiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Co-brew (CoBREW) partnership with Brandholz Brauerei for the 20th anniversary Jubiläumssud at Brauereifest 2024. Brewed on Brandholz's old 30hl system with malt bags and manually operated rake stirrers, 'Back to the Roots' concept referencing the original 2004 backyard brewing.
• Tourismus Information Nürnberg / Albrecht Dürer Airport NürnbergminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2025Stefan Stretz, as Bayernbotschafter, participated in tourism promotion trips organized by Albrecht Dürer Airport Nürnberg and Tourismus Information Nürnberg to international cities (Tallinn, Dublin, Krakau) with direct flights from Nürnberg. Schanzenbräu beers were presented at these events.
• Brasserie Nitz (Nürnberg)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2021Brasserie Nitz in Augustinerhof, Nürnberg city center, commissioned Schanzenbräu to brew its house beer 'PEGGY NITZ' – a pale golden Helles at 4.9% ABV with Hallertauer Tradition and Aramis hops. Recipe developed at BarthHaas Campus.
• Nürnberger Brau Gemeinschaft e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2021Schanzenbräu (Stefan Stretz as initiator and chairman) founded the Nürnberger Brau Gemeinschaft e.V. together with 8 other Nürnberg breweries (Bierwerk, Bruderherz, NBG, Nürnberger Burgbräu, StreuBräu, Tucher Privatbrauerei, Zeltner) and BarthHaas as hop merchant/concept brewery. The association promotes Nürnberg brewing culture and produces annual collaborative beers (Zusammen Halbe). The initiative began during the COVID-19 pandemic as a solidarity project, with 200 hl of the first Zusammen Halbe selling out immediately. The group also organized the Gostenhofer Adventszauber Christmas market.
• BarthHaas (Barth-Haas Group)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2021BarthHaas serves as both hop merchant and concept brewery partner. The BarthHaas Campus Concept Brewery in Hüll/Hallertau was used for recipe development of collaborative beers (Freidla, PEGGY NITZ, and all Zusammen Halbe batches). Schanzenbräu uses BarthHaas hop varieties (Ariane, Callista, Polaris, Hallertauer Tradition, Mandarina Bavaria, Amarillo, etc.) and collaborates on experimental hop products.
• Die Wirtschaft (Nürnberg)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2021Restaurant 'Die Wirtschaft' at Nürnberger Hauptmarkt commissioned Schanzenbräu to brew its house beer 'Freidla' – an balanced lager with hop-forward character. Recipe developed jointly with BarthHaas Campus. Die Wirtschaft opened October 2020.
• Dreieinigkeitskirche Gostenhof / Kurt GraubergerminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2017Co-organizers of the Gostenhofer Adventszauber (GOHO HOHO) Christmas market, held annually since 2017 at the Dreieinigkeitskirche square in Gostenhof. Schanzenbräu operates the beer hut with mulled beer and seasonal specialties. Charity partner for STAR FM children's charity (2025 edition supporting Straßenkinder e.V., Seelenpflaster e.V., and Ambulanter Kinderhospizdienst Berliner Herz).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Maisel & Friends: Bavarian craft brewery from Bayreuth operating a large brewhouse, taproom, and BrauErlebnisWelt experience center. Comparable as a craft beer / brewery-tourism hybrid but with significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Schlenkerla: Iconic Bamberg brewery famous for Rauchbier, with an attached historic tavern. Comparable as a Franconian tradition-steeped craft brewery combining production with on-premise hospitality, though with a much stronger specialty heritage brand.
• Camba Bavaria: One of the largest Bavarian craft breweries, operating a brewpub, large production facility, and hospitality complex in the Chiemgau region. Comparable as a Bavarian craft player but at substantially greater scale and with broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Brandholz Brauerei: Small Franconian craft brewery and active Schanzenbr\u00e4u co-brewing partner (CoBREW anniversary). Comparable as a similarly-sized craft operation focused on specialty small-batch brewing and traditional equipment.
• Hausbrauerei Altstadthof: Brewpub-style brewery in the Bamberg/Franconia region combining on-premise hospitality with beer production. Comparable operating model of combining small-batch unfiltered brewing with a traditional Schankwirtschaft/taproom.
• N\u00fcrnberger Burgbr\u00e4u: N\u00fcrnberg brewery and Braugemeinschaft member producing regional Franconian beers including Rotbier. Directly comparable as a local craft/regional brewery competing for the same Franconian taproom and retail accounts.
• Tucher Privatbrauerei: Historic N\u00fcrnberg brewery and fellow member of the N\u00fcrnberger Braugemeinschaft. Comparable as a Franconian/N\u00fcrnberger brewery producing lagers and Rotbier-style beers for the same regional on- and off-premise market, though at materially larger scale.
• Bierwerk N\u00fcrnberg: Craft brewery in N\u00fcrnberg and Braugemeinschaft peer. Comparable as a similarly-sized local craft brewery producing specialty/hoppy beers for the same regional consumer base.
• StreuBr\u00e4u: N\u00fcrnberg-based craft brewery and fellow N\u00fcrnberger Braugemeinschaft member. Direct comparable on geography, scale, and product style for the N\u00fcrnberg craft consumer.

Others

• Brauerei Krombach: Large national German brewer with broad distribution into EDEKA/REWE retail channels. Not directly competitive on craft positioning, but relevant as the dominant off-premise retail benchmark for hop-forward styles in Germany.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC
• Instagraminstagram.com/schanzenbraeu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brauerei-schanzenbr%C3%A4u

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brauerei Schanzenbräu