Beer in Austria: history, traditions and breweries
Märzen is the everyday beer here, and Vienna gave the world a beer style of its own.
History
Austria’s beer history is closely linked to monasteries, landowners and inns. The Hofstetten brewery in the Mühlviertel goes back to an inn mentioned in 1229 and is considered the oldest brewery in the country.
The Stiegl brewery in Salzburg is first mentioned in 1492, and the Augustiner Bräu at Mülln Abbey has been brewing since 1621.
In 1841 Anton Dreher brewed an amber, bottom-fermented beer in Schwechat near Vienna: Vienna lager. Dreher had exchanged ideas on modern malting with Gabriel Sedlmayr from Munich and turned his brewery into one of the largest in Europe.
In the 20th century many breweries merged; the biggest now belong to Brau Union and therefore to Heineken. Alongside them there are many family breweries and a growing craft scene. Since 2012 Engelszell Abbey in Upper Austria, the only Trappist monastery in Austria, has brewed its own beer.
Traditions and drinking culture
In Vienna you order a “Krügerl” (0.5 l), a “Seidl” (0.3 l) or a “Pfiff” (0.2 l). Austrian Märzen is paler and milder than the Bavarian one and is the most popular beer in the country.
Fun facts
- Samichlaus beer, once the strongest beer in the world, has been brewed at Schloss Eggenberg in Upper Austria since 2000, every year on 6 December.
- On their journey through Great Britain in 1833, Anton Dreher and Gabriel Sedlmayr secretly took samples of wort and beer in the breweries – with a specially modified hollow walking stick. In the evening they analysed the samples in their hotel.
- Austria is among the world leaders in beer consumption per person – usually only the Czech Republic is ahead.
- Vienna lager was almost forgotten in Austria but lived on in Mexico: amber beers such as Negra Modelo still recall it today.
- The Hofstetten brewery brews a granite beer: red-hot granite stones from the Mühlviertel are placed in the wort.
Typical beer styles
Beer cities and their stories
Vienna and Schwechat
Vienna lager was born here in 1841. Dreher’s brewery in Schwechat became one of the largest in Europe, and today the style lives on mainly in Mexico.
Salzburg
At the Augustiner Bräu of Mülln Abbey you take a stone mug from the shelf yourself, rinse it at the fountain and have it filled from the wooden cask. Stiegl, first mentioned in 1492, is Austria’s largest private brewery and shows its history at the Stiegl-Brauwelt.
Obertrum
The Trumer brewery has been brewing since 1601 and is known for its Pils, fermented in open vessels.
Leoben
Gösser is brewed on the grounds of the former Göss Abbey; the brewery was founded in 1860 and is one of Austria’s best known today.
Vorchdorf
Every year on 6 December, Samichlaus beer is brewed at Schloss Eggenberg. It matures for ten months and has 14 % ABV.
St. Martin im Mühlkreis
This is home to the Hofstetten brewery. It traces its history back to 1229 and is considered the oldest brewery in Austria.
Engelhartszell
At Engelszell Abbey on the Danube, Trappist monks have brewed their own beer since 2012, for example the dark Gregorius.
Breweries and their stories
Stiegl
Austria’s largest private brewery. Its history of more than 500 years can be explored at the Stiegl-Brauwelt.
Known for: Stiegl-Goldbräu
Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln
Founded by Augustinian monks, today a monastery brewery with one of the largest beer halls in Austria. The beer flows from wooden casks into stone mugs.
Known for: Augustiner Märzen
Schwechat Brewery
This is where Anton Dreher brewed the first Vienna lager in 1841.
Trumer
Family brewery known for its open-fermented Pils.
Known for: Trumer Pils
Gösser
Brewed on the grounds of the former Göss Abbey, one of Austria’s best-known beer brands.
Known for: Gösser Märzen
Schloss Eggenberg
Brews Samichlaus beer, among others, in the castle – a beer that was born in Zurich.
Known for: Samichlaus, Urbock 23°
Hofstetten Brewery
Considered the oldest brewery in Austria. It is known for its granite beer, for which hot granite stones are placed in the wort.
Known for: Granitbier, Kübelbier
Engelszell Abbey
The only Trappist brewery in Austria. Its beers carry the “Authentic Trappist Product” seal.
Known for: Gregorius, Benno, Nivard
Timeline
- 1229St. Martin im Mühlkreis
An inn in the Mühlviertel is mentioned – the origin of the Hofstetten brewery, the oldest in Austria.
- 1492Salzburg
The Stiegl brewery in Salzburg is first mentioned. Today it is Austria’s largest private brewery.
- 1601Obertrum
The Trumer brewery starts brewing in Obertrum. Its pils still ferments in open vessels today.
- 1621Salzburg
Augustinian monks brew at Mülln Abbey. In its beer hall you still take your own stone mug from the shelf.
- 1632Vienna and Schwechat
A brewery is founded in Schwechat near Vienna – where Anton Dreher will later make beer history.
- 1833Vienna and Schwechat
Anton Dreher travels through Britain with Gabriel Sedlmayr and secretly takes samples in the breweries – with a hollow walking stick.
- 1841Vienna and Schwechat
Dreher brews the first Vienna lager in Schwechat, an amber, bottom-fermented beer.
- 1860Leoben
The Gösser brewery is founded on the grounds of the former Göss Abbey near Leoben.
- 2000Vorchdorf
Samichlaus beer moves from Zurich to Eggenberg Castle. It is brewed every year on 6 December and then matures for ten months.
- 2012Engelhartszell
Trappist monks start brewing again at Engelszell Abbey – the only Trappist brewery in Austria.