Swiss Breweries
styles - history - beers


Introduction
For those of us with an 'O' Level in geography, it comes as no surprise that there are many similarities between Swiss beer and that of Austria and Bavaria. (For the geographically-challenged: Austria and Bavaria are Switzerland's northern and eastern neighbours.)

This is continental Europe (and not Belgium), so we're in lager country, children. We shouldn't be surprised that country with four official languages is ever so slightly schizophrenic. On the one hand, Swiss brewers voluntarily stick (in certain circumstances) to the Reinheitsgebot. Then they're proud to brew lagers with a third maize or rice. So proud, in fact, that they celebrate the foreign grain in the beer's name. Not that I'm complaining. Odd it might be, honest it certainly is.

Swiss law allows the use of maize and rice, as well as up to 10% sugar and 20% starch. So just how Reinheitsgebot any of the beers really are, is totally up to the brewer. On the Schweizerischer Bierbrauerverein - Société Suisse des Brasseurs site they claim that certain styles are always brewed to the Reinheitsgebot - it's up to you whether you believe them or not.

 Index
Swiss brewing industry
Swiss beer satistics
Swiss beer styles
Swiss Breweries
Swiss Beer Law
East is East and West is West
There are two distinct beer cultures (ignoring mass-market stuff):

Western Switzerland (French-speaking cantons and neighbouring areas, the limit being somewhere near Berne) has been exposed to Belgian imports for 30 years. Since 1997 beers from Quebec have also been available. But they don't limit their influences to other Francophone regions; the micros in this part of Switzerland are also open to British styles.

Eastern Switzerland (German-speaking cantons) is still very much lager country. The micros and brewpubs there brew lager, lager and more lager... it's also the region where independent family brewers are still strong. Their lagers are decent, at times, if unspectacular.

The Swiss brewing industry
Without any big predators of its own, Switzerland, inevitably, attracted the attention of those that had already emptied their own praries of buffalo. Heineken and Carlsberg gobbled up a considerable portion of the Swiss industry without a great deal of effort. Between them they have around two thirds of the Swiss beer market.

They did what this type of global parasite always does: push their own crappy lagers and kill off any interesting beer that falls into their hands. So goodbye Switzerland's only internationally-known beer (Samichlaus - now brewed in Austria by Schloss Eggenberg). I'm sure that such philanthropically-inclined enterprises will continue to improve and rationalise the the poor old parochial Swiss brewing industry.

Map of Swiss breweries (the red dots are larger breweries, yellow, green and blue dots are micros)


Source: Swiss microbreweries http://www.microbreweries.ch/


The current number of active breweries is 92 - a very respectable number for a country with only 7.25 million inhabitants.. The breweries break down as follows:
Brewery No. Details
Carlsberg/Feldschlösschen 3 Has breweries in Rheinfelden (Feldschlösschen), Fribourg (Cardinal) and Sion (Valaisanne). Has 42% of the Swiss market.
Heineken 2 Has a brewery in Chur. Previously known as Calanda Haldengut Brauereien. Has 17% of the Swiss market. Bought largest independent Eichof in 2008.
Independents 17 Mostly pretty small (<50,000 hl).
Brewpubs 42 The first brewpubs started to appear in the 1990's. As you can see, there are quite a few of them.
Microbreweries 28 The microbrewery scene is very buoyant in Switzerland.
Brewers' Trade Organisations
As in several other traditional brewing nations, there has been a growing divergence between the interests of a handful of large brewers and their smaller rivals. One result has been the establishment of a group representing the views of small, established breweries.
Schweizerischer Bierbrauerverein - Société Suisse des Brasseurs :
Postfach
8023 Zürich
Tel: 01 - 221 2628
Fax: 01 - 211 6206
Homepage: http://www.bier.ch

The established organisation.
 Interessengemeinschaft unabhängiger Klein- und Mittelbrauereien
Geschäftsstelle: HSP Consulting AG, 9008 St. Gallen
Telefon 071 - 244 0656 /
Telefax 071 - 245 7242
Email: Info@bierig.ch
Homepage: http://www.bierig.ch/

The new organisation. It currently has 17 members.
Beer Drinkers' Organisation
Switzerland has an active and well-supported beer consumers' organiasation: Association des Buveurs d'Orges (ABO) - "Barley Drinkers' Association". Unlike Belgium, where the beer consumer movement is almost exclusively Flemish, ABO draws its support from both the French- and German-speaking communities (yes, I am aware that two other langauges are spoken in Switzerland). This is reflected in their magazine, "Le Courier de l'Orge/Der Gerstenkurier", which is bilingual.

Association des Buveurs d'Orges (ABO)
Case postale 2,
1800 Vevey 1.
Tel: 021 964 73 30
Email: info@abo-ch.org
Homepage: http://www.abo-ch.org/


Swiss Beer Styles
Heaven and Helles
Swiss beer, to no real surprise, slots in neatly between Austria and Bavaria. These are the only major beer markets where, though pale lager is still king, it's in the form of Helles rather than Pils. But how long will this last, especially with Heineken and Carlsberg running much of the Swiss brewing industry?


Bottom-fermenting Styles
The overwhelming of majority of beer brewed in Switzerland is bottom-fermenting. The great majority are in broadly the same style as their Bavarian equivalents.

This is a breakdown of the bottom-fermenting styles:
Style alc. Plato description
Schwarzbier 4.6 - 5.2%   A recent appearance (or re-appearance) on the Swiss brewing landscape. Röstmalz gives these dark lagers their alluring pitch-black hue. The bitterness in such beers derives mostly from this type of roasted malt, too.
Luxusbier min. 4.1% 10º The definition of this type of beer is incredibly vague - anything in a fancy bottle made from unusual ingredients.
Pilsner/Premium-Bier 4.6 - 5.2%   The standard very pale, slightly hoppy sort of crap sold everywhere. Swiss versions are rarely labelled as "pils" - the vague term "Premium-Bier" is preferred. Tend to slightly stronger - over 5% - than in other German-speaking countries.
Lagerbier (Dunkles) 4.2 - 5.3% 10 - 12º A lightly-hopped dark lager. This style is always brewed to the Reinheitsgebot.
Lagerbier (Helles) 4.2 - 5.3% 10 - 12º A lightly-hopped pale lager. This style is always brewed to the Reinheitsgebot. The most popular style of beer in Switzerland.
Zwickelbier 4.8 - 5.7% 11.5 - 14º Unfiltered lager. Usually an unfiltered version of a Helles or Spezialbier. A relatively new innovation, but one that has already been taken up by many brewers.
Spezialbier Hell 4.8 - 5.7% 11.5 - 14º Full-bodied and quite heavily-hopped pale lager. Along the same lines as a Bavarian Spezial. This style is always brewed to the Reinheitsgebot.
Spezialbier Dunkel 4.8 - 5.7% 11.5 - 14º Dark, malty lager, similar to a Bavarian Dunkles Export. This style is always brewed to the Reinheitsgebot. Though many breweries make one, it is very much a minority style.
Festbier/ Märzenbier 5.8 - 6% 14 - 15º The term Festbier is quite vague, covering a whole range of pale or amber lagers. This style is always brewed to the Reinheitsgebot.
Bock 5.4 - 7% 13 - 17º Strong, bitter-sweet lagers, which can vary from pale yellow to dark brown in colour. Usually available only at certain times of the year - typically Easter and Christmas. Some of the Swiss examples would be considered far too weak to be called a bock in Germany or Austria. This style is always brewed to the Reinheitsgebot.
Leichtbier max. 3%   Low-alcohol pale lager.
Maisbier/Reisbier 4.8 - 5.7% 11.5 - 14º Pale lager, where the palate has been lightened by the use of maize or rice in the grist. Such beers have names like "Maisperle".

Top-fermenting Styles
There are a few examples of Bavarian-style wheat beers, but the style does not enjoy the same level of popularity as it does in Germany. That aside, the commercial Swiss breweries are effectively 100% bottom-fermenting.

This is an overview of the top-fermenting beers brewed in Switzerland:
Style alc. Plato description
Weizenbier 4.8 - 5.4% 11.5 - 13º Top-fermenting wheat beer in the Bavarian style. Comes in pale and dark, filtered and unfiiltered varieties. Lightly-hopped, high in carbonation, and with a characteristic spiciness derived from the special yeast culture.
Altbier 4.2 - 5.3% 10 - 12º A copper to pale brown coloured beer, which is fairly dry and hoppy.
Others varies   Some micros and brewpubs brew beers in British styles, such as Bitter, Stout or Porter. Others try their hand at Belgian styles like Witbier or strong ale.


Swiss Breweries
Swiss Beer Statistics


Statistical Overview
Year No. breweries Production hl # Imports hl Exports hl Consumption hl Consumption
(litres/head)
1986/87   4,124,369 485,900   4,610,269 69.8
1987/88   4,077,943 534,175   4,612,118 69.4
1988/89   4,133,263 551,736   4,684,999 69.9
1989/90   4,170,337 603,568   4,773,905 70.7
1990/91   4,183,358 661,422   4,844,780 71.0
1991/92   4,080,671 708,542   4,789,213 69.4
1992/93   3,865,955 701,676   4,567,631 65.5
1993/94   3,852,892 697,575   4,550,467 64.8
1994/95   3,730,082 700,996   4,431,078 62.7
1995/96   3,596,388 708,885 30,164 4,305,273 60.6
1996/97   3,534,849 714,319   4,249,168 59.5
1997/98   3,558,045 719,403   4,277,448 59.9
1998/99   3,578,572 633,421   4,211,993 58.8
1999/00   3,613,986 580,718   4,194,704 58.3
2000   3,586,026 575,929 17,000 4,161,955 57.8
2001   3,536,823 617,023 21,949 4,153,846 57.4
2002   3,493,536 633,897 21,471 4,127,433 56.6
2003   3,665,888 668,486 25,865 4,334,374 58.7
2004   3,560,825 701,723   4,262,548 57.3
2005 92*          
Notes:
Brewing year: 1st October to 30th September before 2000
# excluding exports
* my calculation
Source:
Schweizerischer Bierbrauerverein


Market share by brewery
Brauerei 1999 2004
Feldschlösschengruppe (Carlsberg) 47 42
Calanda - Haldengut (Heineken) 15 17
Imports 15 16
Eichhof 7 --
Schützengarten 4 -
Others 12 -
Regional breweries (3) - 14%
Small breweries (20) - 10%
Micronreweries/brewpubs (100) - 1%
Total 100 100
Source:
Interessengemeinschaft unabhängiger Klein- und Mittelbrauereien


Market share by beer type
Beer type 2003 2004
Lagerbier 69.9% 77.6%
Spezialbier 24.7% 16.9%
Specialities 5.4% 5.5%
Source:
Schweizerischer Bierbrauerverein


Market share by package type
Package type 2003 2004
Draught 34.2% 34.5%
Returnable bottle 33.5% 32%
Non-returnable bottle 23.1% 22.9%
Can 9.2% 10.6%
Source:
Schweizerischer Bierbrauerverein


Swiss Beer Law
http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/c817_02.html

Deckblatt | SR 817.02 Lebensmittelverordnung
38. Kapitel: Bier

Art. 394 Definitionen
  1. Bier ist ein alkoholisches und kohlensäurehaltiges Getränk, das aus mit Hefe vergorener Würze gewonnen wird, der Doldenhopfen oder Hopfenprodukte zugegeben werden. Die Würze ist aus stärke- oder zuckerhaltigen Rohstoffen und aus Trinkwasser hergestellt.
  2. Hopfenprodukte sind Hopfenpulver, angereichertes Hopfenpulver, Hopfenextrakt, Hopfenextraktpulver und isomerisierter Hopfenextrakt.

Art. 395 Mindestanforderungen und Zusammensetzungsmerkmale
  1. Bier muss in der Regel klar sein. Bestimmte Biertypen (z. B. unfiltriertes Bier, Hefeweizenbier) dürfen Trübungen oder Ablagerungen aufweisen, die infolge eines speziellen Herstellungsverfahrens entstanden sind.
  2. Für die Herstellung der Würze können neben Gersten- oder Weizenmalz folgende stärke- oder zuckerhaltigen Rohstoffe verwendet werden:
    • a. Cerealien wie Gerste, Weizen, Mais, Reis;
    • b. Zucker, Invertzucker, Dextrose, Glucosesirup bis höchstens 10 Massenprozent;
    • c. Stärke bis höchstens 20 Massenprozent.

  3. Für die Zubereitung der Würze dürfen Röstmalz und Röstmalzextrakte verwendet werden.
  4. Der pH-Wert des Bieres darf bei der Abgabe an Konsumentinnen oder Konsumenten 5,0 nicht übersteigen.
  5. Der Gehalt an Kohlendioxid muss mindestens 0,3 Massenprozent betragen.
  6. Bier muss aus einer Stammwürze von mindestens 10 Massenprozent hervorgegangen sein. Vorbehalten bleibt Artikel 396 Absätze 3 und 4.

Art. 396 Sachbezeichnung
  1. Die Sachbezeichnung lautet «Bier».
  2. Entsprechend dem Stammwürzegehalt können auch folgende Sachbezeichnungen verwendet werden:
    • a. Lagerbier bei 10.0 - 12.0 Massenprozent
    • b. Spezialbier bei 11.5 - 14.0 Massenprozent
    • c. Starkbier bei mindestens 14 Massenprozent
  3. Bier darf bis zu einem Alkoholgehalt von 3,0 Volumenprozent als «Leichtbier» bezeichnet werden. Der Stammwürzegehalt von Leichtbier unterliegt keiner Begrenzung.
  4. Bier mit einem Kohlenhydratgehalt von höchstens 7,5 g pro Liter und einem Alkoholgehalt von höchstens 4,5 Volumenprozent darf als «kohlenhydratarm» bezeichnet werden. Der Stammwürzegehalt muss 8,0?9,0 Massenprozent betragen.

Art. 397 Übrige Kennzeichnung

Trübe Biere, die nach einem speziellen Verfahren hergestellt wurden, müssen auf der Etikette einen entsprechenden Hinweis enthalten.


Art. 398 Ausschank
  1. Zum Ausschank von Fassbier sind nur Druckapparate (Bierpressionen) gestattet, bei denen komprimiertes Kohlendioxid oder Stickstoff verwendet werden.
  2. Der Anschluss der Druckgasleitung am Siphon oder Anstichkopf muss mit einem Rückschlagventil versehen sein.
  3. Mit den für Bier bestimmten Schenkhahnen dürfen keine anderen Getränke ausgeschenkt werden.
  4. Tropfbier und Bierreste dürfen nicht ausgeschenkt werden




What do my scores mean?
< 25 positively unpleasant
25 - 40 has its faults
40-50 OK
50-60 reasonably good
60-70 above average - definitely worth trying
70-80 excellent - worth hunting for
80 > world class - you must try it



Swiss Breweries
Listings


Brauerei Aare Bier
Neuenburgstr. 4,
3282 Bargen BE.
Tel: 032 - 391 0022
Fax: 032 - 391 0029
Email: Email info@aarebier.ch
http://www.aarebier.ch

Founded: 2006
Annual production: 5,000 hl (2006 capacity)

Microbrewery. Its owners, the company Max Herrmann, has been in the animal feed business for more than 40 years. The decline of the agricultural sector has prompet them to diversify.

Ackermann
Schlatthof 1,
4628 Wolfwil.
Tel: 062 - 926 3644
Fax: 062 - 926 3645
Email: info@schlatthof.ch
Homepage: http://www.schlatthof.ch

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Hopfe-Häxli   Pale lager. Unfiltered. Organic.  
       

Microbrewery on an organic farm.

Brauerei Adler AG
Hauptstrasse 34,
8762 Schwanden GL.
Tel: 055 / 647 35 35
Fax: 055 / 647 35 34
Email: adlerb@active.ch
Homepage: http://www.brauereiadler.ch

Founded: 1828
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Adler Bräu Lager Bier Hell 4.5% Pale lager - Helles.  
Panix-Perle Spezialbier Hell 4.8% Pale lager - Spezial.  
Adler Bräu Bügel-Spez Hell   Pale lager.  
Fridolin-Kundert Bräu 4.8% Dark lager.  
Tödi Ice-Beer 4% Pale lager.  
Adler Bräu Festbier   Seasonal - Easter and Christmas.  
Adler Bräu Bockbier   Seasonal - Easter and Christmas.  
Glarner Zwickelbier 4.8% Pale lager - Spezial. Unfiltered version of Spezialbier.  

Independent brewery. Owned by the Kundert family for more than 100 years.


Aemme
Hohgantweg 2,
3550 Langnau.
Tel: 034 - 402 16 66

Founded: 2000
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Alt      
Hell   Pale lager - Helles.  
Trüeb 4.8% Unfiltered pale lager.  

Brewpub.


Altes Tramdepot Brauerei Restaurant AG
Grosser Muristalden 9,
3006 Bern BE.
Tel: 031 / 368 1415
Fax: 031 / 368 1416
Email: info@altestramdepot.ch
Homepage: http://www.altestramdepot.ch

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Tram-Helles 4.7% 12º Pale lager - Helles. Unfiltered.  
Tram-Märzen 4.9% 12.5º Amber lager - Märzen. Unfiltered. Brewed from Wiener-, Pilsener- and dark Caramel malt and Saaz Hops  
Tram-Weizen 4.7% 12.5º Unfiltered wheat beer. Top-fermented.  

Brewpub in, as the name suggests, an old tram garage. In addition to the three regular draught beers, they brew seasonal specialities. In 2003, these beers included: English Bitter Ale, Pils, Oktoberfestbier, Trappist Beer, Smoked Beer, Muenchner, Easter Bock.

Opening times:
(Summer) Mon-Sun 10:00 - 00:30
(Winter) Mon-Sun 11:00 - 00:30


Brauerei Baar AG
Langgasse 41, Postfach 142,
6341 Baar ZG.
Tel: 041 / 761 12 08
Fax: 041 / 760 26 83
Email: info@brauereibaar.ch
Homepage: http://www.brauereibaar.ch

Founded: 1862 (in same family since 1902)
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Hopfemandli Lager hell 4.8% Pale lager - Helles.  
Hopfemandli Lager dunkel 4.8% Dark lager - Münchner.  
Goldmandli Spezial dunkel   Dark lager - Export Münchner.  
Goldmandli Spezial hell 5.2% Pale lager - Spezial.  
Bügel-Spez   Pils.  
BMB - Baarer Maisbier 4% Pale lager. Contains a proportion of maize in the grist.  
Erdmandli Amber   Amber lager.  

Independent, family-owned brewery.


Back & Bräu
Mühleweg 23,
Langenthal.
closed


Back & Bräu
Bahnhofplatz 2,
St-Gallen.
closed


Back & Bräu
Loretostrasse 19,
9620 Lichtensteig.
Tel.: 071 988 46 46
Fax: 071 988 63 94
Email: burth@backundbrau.ch

Founded: 1997
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Huusbier      

Brewpub.



Back & Bräu
Bahnhofplatz 5,
8640 Rapperswil.
Tel.: 055 220 89 99
Fax: 055 220 89 98
Email: speer@backundbrau.ch

Founded: 1995 *** CLOSED 2005 ***
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Huusbier      

Brewpub.


Back & Bräu
Seestrasse 2,
Thun.

Founded: 1995
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Huusbier      

Brewpub. No longer brewing.


Back & Bräu Steinfels
Heinrichstrasse 267,
8005 Zürich.
Tel.: 01 271 10 30
Fax: 01 271 15 05
Email: steinfels@backundbrau.ch

Founded: 1995 *** CLOSED 2004 ***
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Huusbier      

Brewpub.


Back & Bräu Zur Linde
Universitätstrasse 2,
8005 Zürich.

Founded: 1989
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Huusbier      
       

Brewpub. No longer brewing.


Bäre-Bräu
Sandrainstrasse 10, Postfach 5609,
3001 Bern.
Tel. 031 - 376 2130
Fax: 031 - 376 2135
Email: info@brauilade.ch
http://www.bieridee.ch/

Founded: 1998 ***** CLOSED 2005 *****
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Schwarzbier 5.3% Black lager.  
Bernensis 6.2% Amber lager.  
Z'Spez 7% Pale lager.  
Wacholderbräu 6% Seasonal.  
Vollmond-Alt   Alt. Seasonal.  
Urweizen Dunkel 4.5% Unfiltered dark wheat beer. Seasonal.  
Rauchbier 5.3% Smoked lager. Seasonal.  
Vollmond-Triple 9% Belgian-style tripel. Seasonal.  
Höpfeli   Pale lager. Seasonal.  
Doppel-Hopf   Pale lager - Spezial. Seasonal.  

Brewpub. The smallest brewery in Bern. ***** CLOSED 2005 *****

Opening times:
Tuesday: 17:00 - 00:30
Thursday: 17:00 - 00:30
Friday: 17:00 - 00:30
Saturday: 13:00 - 00:30


Bäsibräu
Wieseneg 14,
Besenbüren.
Tel:
Fax:
Email:
http://www.baesibraeu.ch

Founded: 2004
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Bäsibräu Weizen 4.3%   Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Bäsibräu Lagerbier     Pale lager - Helles.  

Microbrewery.


La Belle de Genève
Rue de Montbrillant 30,
Genève.
Tel: 078 - 850 2220
Fax:
Email:
http://www.belle-de-geneve.ch

Founded: 2004
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
La Belle de Genève Blonde   Pale beer.  
La Belle de Genève Blanche   Wheat beer.  
La Belle de Genève Ambree   Amber beer.  

Contract brewer. Since the Brasserie Artisanale de Genève went bust in 2004, the beers have been brewed elsewhere.


Biberbräu
Bulthaldenstr 9,
5023 Biberstein AG.

Founded: 1997
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
       
       

Brewpub.


la Bière de Posieux (La Croix-Blanche)
route de Fribourg 71,
1725 Posieux.
Tel: 026 - 411 9900
Email: bernard.buchilly@bluewin.ch
Homepage: http://www.croix-blanche-posieux.ch/

Founded: 1999
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Blonde 5% Pale ale.  
Blanche 5% Wheat beer.  
Rousse 5% Red ale.  

Brewpub.


Bier Paul
Idastr 28,
Zürich.

Founded: 2003 Merged in 2005 with Erusbacher Bräu
Annual production:

Brewpub. Merged in 2005 with Erusbacher Bräu to become Erusbacher & Paul


Brauteam
Hardegg 5,
3326 Krauchtal.
Tel: 034 - 411 0036

Founded: 2001
Annual production:

Brewpub.


Brauerei BierVision Monstein AG
Andreas Aegerter,
Postfach,
7278 Davos Monstein,
Tel: 081 - 420 3060,
Fax: 081 - 420 3061
Email: info@biervision-monstein.ch
Homepage: http://www.biervision-monstein.ch/

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Monsteiner Huusbier   Pale, unfiltered lager. Lagered for two months.  
Monsteiner Wätterguoge-Bier   Amber, unfiltered lager. Uses some lightly smoked malt. Named after an alpine lizard.  

Brewpub. The highest brewery in Europe (1650m). The beers are fermented in open tanks.


Birraria
via Penate 7,
6850 Mendrisio.
Tel: 091 - 630 0330
Fax. 091 - 630 2388
Email: info@labirraria.ch
Homepage: http://www.labirraria.ch/

Founded: 2002
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Chiara 4.5% Pale lager - Helles.  
Weizen 5% Wheat beer.  

Brewpub.


BFM Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes
Chemin des Buissons 8,
CH-2350 Saignelégier.
Tel: 032 - 951 2626
Email: info@brasseriebfm.ch
Homepage: http://www.brasseriebfm.ch/

Founded: 1997
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
La Salamandre 5.5% Bière blanche (wheat beer).  
La Meule 6% Amber, top-fermenting beer.  
La Torpille 7.5% Dark ale.  
La Mandragore 8% Stout. Spiced. Seasonal - Winter.  
La Dragonne 7.5% Dark ale. Brewed with honey and spices. Meant to be drunk warmed (mulled). Seasonal - Winter.  

Microbrewery. All the beers are unfiltered. Owned by Jérôme Rebetez. Has a good reputation for interesting beers.


Brauerei BoFo Bräu
Mühlebühl 7,
9100 Herisau.
Tel:
Fax:
Email: info@bofo.ch
http://www.bofo.ch/

Founded: 2003
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
BoFo Bräu das Orginal 5% 12° Pale lager.  

Microbrewery named after its two founders, Marco Forrer und Jeremias Bolt.


Bière du Boxer SA
Route d'Echallens 32,
1032 Romanel/Lausanne.
Tel. +41 (0)21/646 53 63
Fax +41 (0)21/646 36 01
E-mail info@boxer.ch
http://www.boxer.ch/

Founded: 1960
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Boxer Gold 4% Pale lager. Seasonal - Summer.  
Boxer Draft 4.7% Pale lager - Helles.  
Boxer Old Spezial 5.2%    
Boxer Premium 5.2% Pils.  
Boxer Brunette 5.2% Dark lager. Matured for 90 days.  
Boxer Hacienda 5.2% Pale lager - hemp.  
Cowboy's Beer 5.3% Pale lager.  
Boxer La Forte 8% Pale lager.  

A small brewery with a very odd founding date. Owned by Löwengarten Holding AG, Goldach.


les Brasseurs Genève
Place Cornavin 20,
1201 Genève.
Tel: 022 - 731 0206
Fax: 022 - 731 0210
geneve@les-brasseurs.ch
http://www.les-brasseurs.ch/

Founded: 1997
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Ambrée   Amber ale. Unfiltered.  
Blanche   Wheat beer. Unfiltered.  
Blonde   Blond ale. Unfiltered.  

Brewpub.


les Brasseurs Lausanne
rue Centrale 4,
1003 Lausanne.
Tel: 021 - 351 1424
Fax: 021 - 351 1425
Email: lausanne@les-brasseurs.ch
http://www.les-brasseurs.ch/

Founded: 1997
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Ambrée   Amber ale. Unfiltered.  
Blanche   Wheat beer. Unfiltered.  
Blonde   Blond ale. Unfiltered.  

Brewpub.


les Brasseurs Nyon
Rue de la Gare 18,
1260 Nyon
Tel : 022 362 40 50
Fax : 022 361 71 68
Emails: nyon@les-brasseurs.ch
http://www.les-brasseurs.ch/

Founded: 2001
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Ambrée   Amber ale. Unfiltered.  
Blanche   Wheat beer. Unfiltered.  
Blonde   Blond ale. Unfiltered.  

Brewpub.


Burgdorfer
Wynigenstrasse 13,
3401 Burgdorf.
Tel: 034 - 423 1361
Email:burgdorferbier@bluewin.ch
Homepage: http://www.burgdorferbier.ch

Founded: 1999
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Burgdorfer Lagerbier 4.9% 12º Pale lager - Helles. Unfiltered.  
Burgdorfer Aemmebier 5.3% 12.8º Amber lager. (80% Münchner malt, 15% Pilsner malt und 5% Caramel malt)  
Burgdorfer Winterbock 7% 16.2º Bock. Seasonal - Winter.  
Burgdorfer Osterbock 6.8% 16º Bock. Seasonal - Easter.  
Burgdorfer Dunkle Weisse 5% 12.3º Unfiltered dark wheat beer.  
Burgdorfer Wiesnbier 5.3% 13º Amber lager - Marzen. Seasonal - October. Oktoberfest beer. Münchner und Pilsner Malt.  
Burgdorfer Krimibier 5.5% 13º Dark lager. Münchner, Pilsner und Carafa Malt. Seasonal.  
Burgdorfer Festbock 7% 16.2º Amber bock. Top-fermented.  

Brewpub. Supposed to brew pretty good beer.


Brasserie Du Cardinal
Passage du Cardinal,
1701 Fribourg FR.
Tel: 0848 125 000
Fax: 0848 125 001
Email: info@feldschloesschen.com
Homepage: http://www.cardinal.ch

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Cardinal Lager 4.8% Pale lager - Helles.  
Cardinal Dunkelbier   Dark lager.  
Cardinal Speciale 5.2% Pale lager - Spezial.  
Cardinal Rheingold 6.2% Pale lager.  
Cardinal Original Draft 4.9% Pale lager. Packaged to look like Miller Draft. This is how the brewery describe it:
"Von den angelsächsischen Draft-Bieren inspiriert, ist das Cardinal Original Draft ein extrovertiertes Bier, das auch um Mitternacht angenehm erfrischt."
I'll be sticking to introverted beer.		  
Cardinal Frühlingsbier 5.5% Pale lager. Seasonal - Spring.  
Cardinal Weihnachtsbier 5.5% Amber lager. Seasonal - christmas.  

Part of Feldschlösschen Getränke AG, a subsidiary of Carlsberg (since November 2000). Brands from the closed Gurten brewery are the only drinkable products coming out of Cardinal in Fribourg.


Café du Centre
Grand Rue,
1874 Champéry.
Tel: 024 - 479 1550
Homepage: http://www.cafeducentre.com

Founded: 2000
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Amber   Smoked amber lager.  
Blonde      

Brewpub. In what looks like a Swiss chalet.


Café du Marché
Place au Marché,
2400 Le Locle

Founded: 2002
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
       
       

Brewpub.


Cave des Brasseurs
rue des Annonciades 15,
2900 Porrentruy.
Tel: 078 - 682 6939
Email: martialcourtet@hotmail.com
Homepage: http://membres.lycos.fr/biereporrentruy/start.html

Founded: 1996
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
La Fox 4.4%    
la Fausse Blonde 5.2%    
la Chaste Clef 5%    
la Fleur du Malt      
la Sainte Bernadette 7.8%    

Brewpub.

Opening times:
Tuesday 17:00 - 18:30
Friday 17:00 - 21:00
Saturday 14:00 - 17:00


Brasserie Artisanale du Château
Place du Tunnel 1,
1005 Lausanne.
Tel: 021 - 312 6011
Fax: 021 - 312 6012
Email: laurent@biereduchateau.ch
Homepage: http://www.biereduchateau.ch

Founded: 1997
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Blanche 4.8% Wheat beer. Unfiltered  
Bitter 4% Bitter. No artificial CO2 - handpumped. Cask conditioned.  
Blonde 4.8% Pale lager (ale?).  
Rousse 4.8% Red ale?. Their biggest seller.  
Brune   Stout.  
Ginger beer 4.2% Ginger beer. I think the name says it.  

Brewpub.


Brasserie Artisanale du Clos des Pommiers
Clos des Pommiers,
1082 Corcelles-le-Jorat.
Tel: 021 - 903 4092
Fax:
Email: info@closdespommiers.ch
http://www.closdespommiers.ch

Founded: 2003
Annual production: 50 hl

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Blanche Neige 5.5%   Belgian-style Witbier. Unfiltered.  

Microbrewery.


Brasserie Artisanale de la Côte
Vy Mont Blanc,
1262 Eysins.
Tel: 022 - 361 3042
Email: pdoria@dplanet.ch

Founded: 1999
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
La Blonde 7% Blond beer.  
L'Ambrée 7% Amber beer.  
La Vulcain 9%    

Microbrewery.


Dr. Gab's Beer
Dérochet,
Lausanne.
Email: info@drgabsbeer.com
http://www.drgabsbeer.com

Founded: 2001
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Ténébreuse 4.1% Stout. Ingredients: Pilsener and chocolate malt, torrefied barley, Northern Brewer hops.  
Gabslag 4.7% Pale lager. Ingredients: Pilsener malt, Saaz, Golding, and Northern Brewer hops, Saflager bottom-fermenting yeast.  
Farandole 4.9% Pale ale (rousse). Ingredients: Pilsener malt, amber malt, chocolate malt, Northern Brewer and Golding hops, flaked barley, Manchester yeast.  
Houleuse 5.8% Belgian style wheat beer (Witbier). Ingredients: Pilsener malt, wheat malt, flaked barley, Saaz and Golding hops, coriander, orange peel, Danstar yeast.
  
Crockus 6.3% Dark lager. Ingredients: Pilsener malt, pale and dark Munich malt, Hallertau and Golding hops.
  
Chameau 7.2% Amber-brown ale (Belgian style).Top-fermenting. Ingredients: Pilsener malt, amber malt, chocolate malt, Hallertau and Saaz hop, Belgian yeast.
  
Tempête 8% Strong golden ale (Duvel-style). Ingredients: Pilsener malt, sugar, Golding and Northern Brewer
hops, Belgian and British yeasts.		  
Crépuscule 5% Blonde. Seasonal - Summer. Ingredients: Pilsener malt, wheat malt, Saaz and Hallertau hops
  
Casanière 8.6% Bière de Noël. Seasonal - Winter. Ingredients: Pilsener malt, flaked barley, torrefied barley, flaked maize, Northern Brewer and Golding hops, coriander, cinnamon, Manchester yeast.
  

Microbrewery. They brew an interesting mix of British and Belgian styles.


ECM Bräu
Flühgasse 8,
8008 Zürich.
Tel: 043 - 243 7575
Fax:
Email: info@sbier.ch
http://www.sbier.ch

Founded: 2005
Annual production: 250 hl

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
s Bier      

Microbrewery.

Brauerei A. Egger AG
Brauereiweg 3,
3076 Worb BE.
Tel: 031 / 839 03 57
Fax: 031 / 839 03 25
email: info@eggerbier.ch
http://www.eggerbier.ch

Founded: 1862
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Eggerli 4% Pale lager - Helles.  
Zwickel-Bier   Unfiltered pale lager.  
Galopper 4.8% Pale lager - Helles. Unpasteurised.  
Albertus Helles Spezialbier 5.2% (12º Plato) Pale lager - Spezial.  
Albertus Dunkles Spezialbier 5.2% Dark lager. They only brew 250 hl a year.  
Maximus 5.2% Pale lager. First brewed in 1985. Has a lower gravity than the Albertus.  
Fleur d'Abeilles 5.9% Honey beer. Brewed under licence.  
Bockbier   Bock. Seasonal - Easter and Christmas.  

Independent brewery, currently run by the 5th generation of the Egger family.

The founder of the brewery, Gottfried Egger, emigrated to the USA in 1855 and ran a brewery in Chicago. In 1862 he returned to Switzerland, where he built a new brewery.


Bruaerei Eichhof
Obergrundstrasse 110,
6002 Luzern LU.
Tel: 041 / 319 11 11
Fax: 041 / 319 12 06
email: info@eichhof.ch
http://www.eichhof.ch

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Klosterbräu Edeltrüb 4.8% Unfiltered lager. "Gelbbraun" - yellow-brown - according to the brewery.  
Eichhof Lager 4.8% Pale lager - Helles.  
Braugold 5.2% Pale lager - Spezial.  
Spiess Edelhell 5.2% Pale lager - Spezial. Made to the recipe of brewer Traugott Spiess from 1888.  
Pony 5.2% Pils.  
Hubertus 5.7% Dark lager.  
Barbara 5.9% Pale lager - Luxusbier.  

Bought by Heineken in 2008.


Biera Engiadinaisa

7559 Tschlin.
Tel: 081 - 866 33 03
Fax: 081 - 866 32 47
Email: info@bieraengiadinaisa.ch
http://www.bieraengiadinaisa.ch

Founded: 2005
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Biera Engiadinaisa 5%   Organic beer. Unfiltered.  

Microbrewery.


Erusbacher & Paul
Büttikerstrasse 3,
5612 Villmergen.
Tel: 056 - 621 1100
Fax:
Email:
http://www.erusbacher.ch/

Founded: 2005
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Erusbacher Bräu "Urtyp" 4.9%   Pale lager - Helles.  
Erusbacher Bräu "Naturtrüeb" 4.9%   Unfiltered pale lager.  
Erusbacher Bräu "iis bier" 4.7%   No idea what sort of beer this is. I'll just quote the brewery:
"Das spritzig frische iis bier mit seinem milden, bierigen Geschmack und der leichtbetonten Hopfennote ist der ideale Durstlöscher für heisse Tage, laue Sommerabende und coole Partys."
You tell me what that means. Unless my German relations have been playing a very elaborate joke on me, "bierigen Geschmack" means "beery taste". It's sort of what you expect, when you buy a bottle that has the word "beer" somewhere prominent on the label. (Though I will admit that there are plenty of Belgian beers that don't have the slightest trace of "beery flavour".)
Bottled only. 		 
Erusbacher Frühlingsbock 7.3%   Dark Bock. Seasonal.  
Erusbacher Festtags Bier 5.2%   Dark lager. Seasonal.  
bier paul 01 5.2%   Pale lager - Spezial.  
bier paul 02 5%   Dark lager - Schwarzbier.  
bier paul 03 4.7%   Unfiltered rye beer.  
bier paul 04 4.3%   Unfiltered, bottom-fermented beer containing some wheat malt. Seasonal - Summer.  
bier paul 05 5.1%   Unfiltered Altbier. Top-fermented.  
bier paul 06 7.3%   Unfiltered Bock. Seasonal - Lent.  

Microbrewery. Formed in 2005 by the merger of the Erusbacher Bräu microbrewery and the Bier Paul brewpub.


Les Faiseurs de Bière
Tir Fédéral 4,
1022 Chavannes-Près-Renens.
Tel: 021 - 624 1933
Email: faiseurs.biere@eudoramail.com

Founded: 2000
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Messidor 5.5% Spiced ale.  
St-Eloi      
Macadam 6.2% Oatmeal stout.  
Sido's Porter 6.2% Oat porter. Seems a bit strong for a porter.  

Microbrewery.


Brauerei Falken AG
Brauereistrasse 1,
8201 Schaffhausen SH.
Tel: 052 / 632 00 00
Fax: 052 / 624 48 22
Email: brauerei@falken.ch
Homepage: http://www.falken.ch

Founded: 1799
Annual production: 100,000 hl

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Falken First Cool 4.5 % 10.8º Pale lager - Maisbier. Brewed with 35% maize to make it ever paler and lighter than a normal lager.  
Falken Eidgenoss 4.8 % 12º Pale lager. Organic beer made with honey.  
Falken Lager Dunkel 4.8 % 11º Dark lager. Coloured with Röstmalz.  
Falken Lager Hell 4.8 % 11º Pale lager - Helles.  
Falken Kloster-Bräu Zwickelbier 5.2 % 12.5º Unfiltered amber lager.  
Falken Edelfalke Spezialbier hell 5.2 % 12.5º Pale lager - Spezial.  
Falken Schwarz-Bier 5.2 % 13.5º Dark lager - Schwarzbier. Brewed from emmer - a sort of primitive wheat. From a comparison of the gravity and alcoholic strength, it must be much sweeter than a dry German Schwarzbier.  
Falken Munot Weizen 5.5 % 13º Pale, unfiltered wheat beer.  
Falken Prinz 5.5 % 13º Pale lager. Brewed from 100% pilsner malt.  

Independent brewery.


Brauerei Feldschlösschen
Theophil Roniger-Strasse,
4310 Rheinfelden AG.
Tel: 0848 125 000
Fax: 0848 125 001
Email: info@feldschloesschen.com
Homepage: http://www.feldschloesschen.com

Founded:
Annual production: 4,400,000 hl (incl. soft drinks)

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Feldschlösschen 2,4 2.4%   Pale lager - Helles.  
Feldschlösschen Original 4.8% 11.2º Pale lager - Helles.  
Feldschlösschen Ice Beer 5% 10.4 º Pale lager. Another freeze-dried beer.  
Feldschlösschen Quinto 5% 11.7º Pale lager.  
Feldschlösschen Hopfenperle 5.2% 12.2º Pale lager - Spezial.  
Feldchlösschen Dunkle Perle 5.5% 13.5º Dark lager - Spezial.  
Feldschlösschen Weihnachtsbier 5.5% 12.7º Pale lager.  

Part of Feldschlösschen Getränke AG, a subsidiary of Carlsberg (since November 2000). The group owns 3 breweries in Switzerland. The Swiss headquarters is in Rheinfelden.

The company has closed 5 Swiss breweries in the last 10 years:
  • Brauerei Zum Gurten in Wabern 1994
  • Hürlimann in Zürich
  • Löwenbräu in Zürich (closed by Hürlimann prior to its takeover by Feldschlösschen)
  • Warteck Brauerei in Basel 1991
  • Brauerei Hochdorf in 1992
The Wartech, Löwenbräu, and Hürlimann brands are currently brewed at Rheinfelden.


Brauerei Felsenau AG
Strandweg 34,
3004 Bern 4 BE.
Tel: 031 / 301 22 08
Fax: 031 / 301 96 03
Email: felsenau@felsenau.ch
Homepage: http://www.felsenau.ch

Founded: 1881
Annual production: 9,000 hl (1996)

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Schümli 2.9% Pale low-alcohol lager. Organic.  
Lager 4.8% Pale lager - Helles.  
Bärni Dunkles Spezialber 5.2% Dark lager.  
Bügel-Spez 5.2% Pale lager - Spezial.  
Junkerbier 5.2%    

Independent. Since March 2002 they have had a distribution deal with Heineken.


Felsenkeller
Dorfstr. 11,
8712 Stäfa.

Founded: 1997
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
       
       

Microbrewery.


Brauerei Fischerstube AG
Rheingasse 45,
4058 Basel.
Tel: 061 / 692 94 95
Fax: 061 / 692 94 92
Email: uelibier@bluewin.ch
http://www.uelibier.ch

Founded: 1974
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Ueli Robur   Dark lager - Dunkel.  
Ueli Lager   Pale lager - Helles.  
Ueli Reverenz   Pale lager - Spezial.  
Ueli Weizen   Top-fermenting wheat beer.  

Brewpub. A very early new brewery with a good reputation.


Fleisch & Brau
Chännelmattstr. 2,
3186 Düdingen.
Tel: 026 - 493 1103
Fax: 026 - 493 1120
Email: rs.egger@fleischundbrau.ch
http://www.fleischundbrau.ch/

Founded: 2004
Annual production: 60 hl

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
As Jùschts Pilsener Leicht 3%   Pils. Unfiltered.  
As Jùschts Amber Bier 5.5%   Amber lager. Unfiltered.  
As Jùschts Dunkles 5.5%   Dark lager - Schwarzbier. Unfiltered.  
As Jùschts Das Original 5.5%   Pale lager. Unfiltered.  

Microbrewery in a butcher´s (Metzgerei Egger).


Aktienbrauerei Flims Surselva AG
7018 Flims Waldhaus.
Tel: 081 - 928 1400
Fax:
Email: info@surselva-bier.ch
http://www.surselva-bier.ch

Founded: 2005
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Flimser Marenghin     Pale lager - Helles.  
Flimser Blutzcher     Dark lager.  
Flimser Rensch     Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  

Brewpub.

Opening times:
Mon-Sun 11.00 - 23:30 (closed Mondays in the Summer)


Birrificio Il Forno
route de Chancy 71,
1213 Petit-Lancy.
Tel: 022 - 793 60 30

Founded: 2001
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Blanche 4% Wheat beer.  
Blonde 4.5%    
Rousse 5.5% Red ale.  

Brewpub.


Brasserie Artisanale du Foudre
rue des Terreaux 1,
1095 Lutry.
Tel: 021 - 791 1643
Email: latour@vtx.ch

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Blonde 5% Pale ale.  
Blanche 5% Wheat beer.  
Rousse 5% Red ale.  
Bière du Dahu 5% Raspberry beer. Seasonal.  
St. Nicolas 5% Spiced amber ale. Seasonal.  

Brewpub.


Actienbrauerei Frauenfeld
Hohenzornstrasse 2,
8500 Frauenfeld.
052 / 728 99 00
Email: wartmann@actienbrauerei.ch
Homepage: http://www.ittinger.ch
http://www.brauhaussternen.ch


Founded: 1980 (closed1994)
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Ittinger Klosterbräu 5.4-5.6% 13.8º Amber lager. Brewed since 1982.  
Weizentrumpf 5.2%   Wheat beer.  

Set up to help fund the restoration of a monastary. It operates from the same premises as Brauhaus Sternen, which was the brewery tap. Both beers are currently contract brewed by Heineken in Chur.


Brauerei Robert Frei
Rebenweg 2,
5074 Eiken AG.
Tel: 062 - 871 1757

Founded: 1998
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
       
       

Brewpub.



Les Frères Papinot
1203 Genève.
Email: info@calvinus.com
Homepage: http://www.calvinus.com

Founded: 1999
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Calvinus 5.2% Biere blanche  

Contract brewer. The beer is brewed by Locher.


Brasserie Artisanale de Fribourg
rue de la Samaritaine 19,
Case postale 159,
1707 Fribourg.
Tel: 026 - 322 8088
Email : m.dornacher@eudoramail.com

Founded: 1999
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Barbeblanche 5% Wheat beer. In the Bavarian style.  
Barberousse 5.5% Amber beer.  
Old Cat 5.5% Stout.  
Pale Ale 1047   Pale ale. Brewed with an infusion mash.  
Fleur de Sureau   Beer flavoured with elderflowers.  
La Framboise 4.5% Raspberry beer. Matured for 2 years in the barrel.  

Microbrewery. Supposedly Switzerland's smallest brewery. It looks like it's in someone's kitchen.

Open on Saturday 8:00 - 18:00


Au Fût Malté
Rue du 23-Juin 24,
2830 Courrendlin.
Tel: 032 - 435 1638
Fax: 032 - 435 1639
Email: info@liquart.ch
http://www.liquart.ch

Founded: 2004 *** CLOSED 2006 ***
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Cérès     Witbier.  
Bière à la pomm     Apple beer.  
Bière à la framboise     Raspberry beer.  

Microbrewery. In a posh booze shop.


Brasserie Artisanale de Genève
Rte de Bois-de-Bay 28
Peney, 1242 Satigny.
Tel: 022 - 341 3757
Fax: 022 - 341 3756
Email: info@labelle-ge.ch
Homepage: http://www.labelle-ge.ch

Founded: 1998 *** CLOSED 2004 ***
Annual production: 2400 hl.

Beer alc Description Score (100)
La Belle de Genève Blonde   Pale beer.  
La Belle de Genève Blanche   Wheat beer.  

Microbrewery.


Gasthof Brauerei Frohsinn
Romanshornerstrasse 15,
9320 Arbon.
Tel: +41 71 - 447 8484
Fax: +41 71 - 446 4142
Email: info@frohsinn-arbon.ch
Homepage: http://www.frohsinn-arbon.ch

Founded: 1986
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Helles   Pale lager - Helles.  
Dunkles   Dark lager.  

Brewpub and hotel.


Mikrobrauerei G48
Pionierstrasse 10,
8400 Winterthur ZH.
Tel: 052 / 202 3488
Fax: 01 / 860 9841
Email: brau.g48@gmx.ch

Founded: 2002
Annual production:

Microbrewery.


Gnädinger Bräu
Wiesholz,
8262 Ramsen.
Tel: 052 - 743 13 12
Email: info@ramserbier.ch
Homepage: http://www.ramserbier.ch

Founded: 1998
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Gnädinger Hell 4.5% 12.5º Pale lager - Helles.  
Gnädinger Dunkel 5% 13.5º Alt.  
Wiesholzer Weizen 4.5-5% 13º Pale wheat beer.  

Microbrewery.


Gnos & Retsch
Zugerstrasse 64,
8810 Horgen.
Tel: 079 - 346 26 61
Fax: 041 - 440 12 54
Email: info@horgnerbier.ch
http://www.horgnerbier.ch/

Founded: 2002
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Horgner-Nixli 3.3%   Pale lager.  
Horgner Ur-Dinkel 5%   Pale Dinkel beer. Top-fermented. Unfiltered.  
Horgner-Hell 5.2%   Pale lager - Spezial. Brewed with Weihenstephan yeast. Unfiltered.  
Johanniter-Bräu Dunkel 5.5%   Dark lager. Unfiltered.  
Excelsior-Dunkelbier 5.8%   Alt. Unfiltered.  
Johanniter Starkbier Hell 10.2% 19° Pale Bock. Unfiltered.  
Horgner-Osterbier 5.2%   Pale lager. Brewed by "high gravity method". Unfiltered. Seasonal - Easter.  
Horgner-Osterbier Dunkel 5.5%   Dark lager. Brewed by "high gravity method". Unfiltered. Seasonal - Easter.  
Horgner Schneeflöcklibier     Seasonal - Winter.  

Microbrewery. Formerly called Gnos-Pfeiffer.


GoldküstenBräu
Bahnweg 133,
8706 Meilen.
Tel: 079 - 3436 333
Fax:
Email: info@goldkuestenbraeu.ch
http://www.goldkuestenbraeu.ch

Founded: 2004
Annual production:

Tiny microbrewery. Their website says everything except what they brew.


Gonzen Restaurant
Städtchenstrasse 56,
7320 Sarganz.

Founded: 1998 closed 2002.
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
       
       

Brewpub.


Brauerei "vo Gränchä bi Gott"
Allmendstrasse 41,
2540 Grenchen.
Tel: 076 - 330 8086
Fax:
Email: info@vogränchäbigott.ch
http://www.xn--vogrnchbigott-efbd.ch/

Founded: 2004
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
s'Witi 4.9-5.3% 12-14° Blond Ale. The brewery describe it as a "top-fermenting Pils".  
s'Tunnel 5.0-5.5% 12-14° Stout.  
s'Jura 5.2-5.7% 13-15° Amber Ale.  

Microbrewery. They brew to the Reinheitsgebot, which is pretty pointless if you´re top fermenting.

Opening times:
Wed 17:00 - 19:00
Sat 09:00 - 13:00


Grenchner-Bräu
Granicum (Lötscher),
Solothurnstr. 10,
2540 Grenchen.
Tel: 032 - 652 1277
Fax: 032 - 652 1704
Email:
http://www.granicum.ch

Founded: 2005
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Granicum Hell 4.8%   Pale lager - Helles.  
Granicum Dunkel 5.1%   Dark lager.  

Brewpub/microbrewery. Housed in a former dairy.

Opening times:
Tue-Wed 17:00 – 18:30,
Thur-Fri 17.00 - 23:30
Sat 09:00 - 12:00
Monday closed.

Private Brauerei Grimm
Ringstrasse 2,
4556 Aeschi.
Tel.: 062 - 9613000
Fax: 062 - 9614000
Email: braumeister@grimmbier.ch
http://www.grimmbier.ch

Founded: 2004
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Hopfenblume     Pale lager - Helles. Brewed using an infusion mash.  
Weisser Hund   13º Pale unfiltered wheat beer.  
Schwarzer Hund   13º Dark unfiltered wheat beer.  
Braunbär     Dark lager.  
Malzbier 1.5%   Malzbier.  

Microbrewery.


Brennerei Grogg
Laengmattweg 4,
2545 Altreu/Selzach.
Tel: 032 - 641 2440
Email: brennereigrogg@bluewin.ch

Founded: 1999
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Hugo Bier Hell 4.9% Pale lager.  
Hugo Nigra Dunkel 4.9% Dark lager.  

A small distillery that has also started brewing.


Brasseurs des Grottes
rue de la Servette 6,
1201 Genève.
Tel: 022 734 9200
Fax: 022 734 9201
Email: info@brasseurs.ch
brasseurdesgrottes@yahoo.com
Homepage: http://www.brasseurs.ch/

Founded: 2002
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Blonde 3.8% Blond ale.  
Blanche 5.5% Wheat beer.  
Ambrée 6% Amber ale.  

Modern brewpub next door to a cinema of the same name.


Haldemann
Chemin des Cygnes 51,
1786 Sugiez.
Tel: 026 - 673 0037
Email: freddy_haldemann@hotmail.com
Homepage: http://www.brewery.ch

Founded: 1998
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Helles Bier 5.1% Pale lager - Helles.  
Dunkles Bier 5.1% Dark lager.  
Weizen 5.1% Wheat beer.  
Bockbier 8.3% Bock.  
Oktoberfestbier 5.7% Seasonal - October.  
Weihnachtsbier 5.3 - 5.7% Seasonal - Christmas.  
Irish Beer 5.1% Brewed on request.  
Wacholderbier 5.5 - 6% Brewed on request.  
Trappistenbier 5.5 - 6% They really shouldn't call it this. Brewed on request.  
Honigbier / Met 5.5 - 6% Honey beer. Brewed on request.  
Schwarzes Holunder Bier 5.5 - 6% Brewed on request.  

Microbrewery. A brewery with brewing some unusual beers. I thought that the term "Trappist" was protected in the EU (silly me - Switzerland isn't in the EU). It's still irriatating to see such a precisely-defined term misused.


Brau AG Langenthal (Hasli-Bier)
St. Urbanstrasse 34,
4900 Langenthal.
Tel: 079 214 9278
gertsch@hasli-bier.ch
Homepage: http://www.hasli-bier.ch

Founded: 2002
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Hasli 4.9% Pale lager - Helles. Brewed from Pilsner und Münchner Malt.  
Hasli-Spez   Pale lager - Spezial. Lagered for 8 weeks. Unpasteurised.  
Hasli-Weizen   Unfiltered wheat beer. Seasonal.  
Hasli-Osterbock   Pale bock. Seasonal - Easter.  
16er Bier   Brewed to commemorate the disbanding of the 16th Regiment. Seasonal.  
Hasli-Weihnachtsbier 5.2% (13º Plato) Dark lager. Seasonal - Christmas. Includes cinnamon and orange..  

Brewpub.


Heineken Switzerland AG
Kasernenstrasse 36,
7007 Chur GR.
Tel: 081 / 256 01 11
Fax: 081 / 256 01 49
Email: leonore.schudel@heineken.com
http://www.heineken.ch

Founded: 1843
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Calanda Hell 4.8% Pale lager - Helles.  
Calanda Zwickelbräu 4.9% Unfiltered pale lager.  
Calanda Edelbräu 5.2% Pale lager - Spezial.  
Calanda Dunkel 5.6% Dark lager.  
Calanda Viva 5.7% Pale lager. More ice beer rubbish.  
Calanda Meisterbräu 5.7% Pale lager - Spezial.  

Heineken Switzerland AG
Haldenstrasse 69, Postfach
8401 Winterthur ZH
Tel: 052 / 264 41 41
Fax: 052 / 264 44 44
Email: leonore.schudel@heineken.com

Founded: bought by Heineken in 1999 - closed May 2002
Annual production:


Beer alc Description Score (100)
Haldengut Zwickel 4.6% Unfiltered pale lager.  
Haldengut Hell 5.2% Pale lager - Helles.  
Halden Krone Premium Spezial Hell 5.2% Pale lager - Spezial.  
Weizentrumpf 5.2% Wheat beer. Brewed for Actienbrauerei Frauenfeld, but also supplied to Heineken customers.  
Haldengut Dunkel 5.6% Dark lager.  

Heineken operates one brewery, located in Chur, through its Swiss subsidiary. The Haldengut brewery in Winterthur closed in 2002, the remaining brands being brewed in Chur. The two breweries were known as Calanda Haldengut Brauereien before the Heineken takeover. If they had room on their website for anything other than gimmicky junk, I might even be able to tell you what beers they brew.


Heinzenbräu

8352 Räterschen.
Tel: 052 - 363 1075
Fax:
Email: info@heinzenbraeu.ch
http://www.heinzenbraeu.ch

Founded: 2002
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Heinzenbräu Bier      

Microbrewery Has an almost worthless website.


Herzbräu
Dändlikon 3,
8634 Hombrechtikon.
Tel:
Fax:
Email:
http://

Founded: 1993
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Herzbräu Bärenmilch      
Herzbräu Drachenbier      

Microbrewery.


Hirnibräu
Winzerstrasse 79,
8049 Zürich.

Founded: 2005
Annual production:

Microbrewery.


Hopfen Tropfen
Rietweg,
8476 Unterstammheim.
Tel./ Fax: 052 - 745 2719
Email: reutimann@hopfentropfen
Homepage: http://www.hopfentropfen.ch

Founded: 2000
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Stammheimer Hopfenbräu   Unfiltered pale lager - Helles.  
       

Brewpub in a farm. They grow their own hops, which they use in a variety of products, including vinagar, oil, schnapps and tea. They run all sorts of beer- and hop-related activities, such as brewing seminars.


Hübeler Bräu
Alte Hägglinger Str. 29,
5605 Dottikon.
Tel: 056 - 624 2760
Fax:
Email: info@huebeler.ch
http://www.huebeler.ch

Founded: 2005
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Hübeler "Naturtrüeb" 5% 12° Unfiltered pale beer. Top-fermented. Bitterness 29 IBU, colour 7 EBC.  
Hübeler "Weizenbier" 7.1% 17° Unfiltered wheat Bock. Bitterness 16 IBU, colour 16 EBC.  

Microbrewery.


Hübeli Braui
Flurstrasse 2,
4522 Rüttenen.
Tel: 032 - 622 2933
Fax:
Email:
http://

Founded: 2004
Annual production:

Microbrewery.


Huus Braui
Schlossgässli 2
Schmiedgasse 30,
St Gallen.
Homepage: http://www.huus-braui.ch/

Founded: 1998
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Hell 5% 12º Pale lager -Helles. Brewed from pilsner malt, caramel malt and Tetnanger hops.  
Dunkel 5% 12º Dark lager. Brewed from pilsner malt, dark caramel malt, roast malt and Tetnanger hops.   
Gold 5% 12º Pale lager. Brewed from pilsner malt, pale and dark caramel malt, Munich malt and Tetnanger hops.  
Frühlingsbock 7%   Pale bock. Seasonal - Spring.  

Microbrewery.

Brewery tap opening times:
Mon - Fri: 16:00-19:30
Sat: 10:00-16:00
Sun: closed


Käppeljoch Bier
Colmarer Str. 16,
Basel.
Tel:
Fax:
Email:
http://

Founded: 2004
Annual production:

Microbrewery.


Brauerei Karbacher AG
Gösgerstrasse 32,
5012 Schönenwerd SO.
Tel: 062 / 849 19 11
Fax: 062 / 849 22 34
Homepage: http://www.brauerei-karbacher.ch

Founded: 1886
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Karbacher Bier   Pale lager - Helles.  
Karbacher Spezialbier 5.2% Pale lager - Spezial.  
Karbacher's Maisperle 5.2% Pale lager. Brewed partly from maize.  
Karbacher's Reisperle 4.8% Pale lager. Brewed partly from rice.  
Karbacher s'Hopfe Buurli 5% Pale lager. Organic.  
Karbacher Boy-Starkbier 8% Pale lager.  
Smile   Hemp beer.  
Kellerperle   Unfiltered pale lager. Only available at the brewery, where you can get your bottles filled directly from the lager tank.  
Karbacher Mustang Hafer Perle 5% Pale lager. Brewed using oats.  
Karbacher Mustang Hafer Perle Dunkel 5% Dark lager. Brewed using oats.  

Independent brewery. The only brewery in Kanton Soloturn. It was founded by a Bavarian, Franz Karbacher, to brew beer for his pub next to the Aarebrücke. The brewery is run today by his great-grandson.

Brewery tap:
Restaurant Braui
Gösgerstrasse 27,
5012 Schönewerd.
Tel: 062 849 13 85
Fax: 062 849 17 51

Opening times:
mo - fr 08:00 - 24:00
Sat 10:00 - 24:00
Sun closed

Posh, minimalist restaurant with plain white walls. Looks a bit charmless to me. Amazing to think that it's the original brewpub.


Komturei – Brauerei
Lindenstrasse 4,
9554 Tobel – Tägerschen
Tel: 071 - 917 1402
Fax: 071 - 917 1912
Email: info@komturei-brauerei.ch
http://www.komturei-brauerei.c

Founded: 2006
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Komturei Bier Hausbier     Unfiltered.  
Komturei Bier Hefe Weizen     Pale wheat beer. Unfiltered.  

Microbrewery.


Gasthaus-Brauerei Kreuz
Thunstrasse 84,
3700 Spiez BE.
Tel: 033 / 654 13 45
Email: gasthaus_brauerei_kreuz@bluewin.ch

Founded: 1993 ***** CLOSED 2005 *****
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Helles   Pale lager - Helles.  

Brewpub. ***** CLOSED 2005 *****


Kreuzmühle
Bäckerei-Konditorei-Café Kreuzmühle
Höfnerstrasse 14,
6314 Unterägeri ZG.
Tel: 041 / 750 11 19
Fax: 041 / 750 57 58

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Weizen   Wheat beer.  
Chrüzmühli-Bräu Weizenbier Hell 4.2% Wheat beer.  
Chrüzmühli-Bräu Bockbier Dunkel 3.6% Dark lager.  

Microbrewery. A bakery that also brews.


Brauerei Kündigbräu GmbH
Hauptstrasse 49,
5323 Rietheim.
Tel : 056 - 249 1613
Fax : 056 - 249 1611
Mobile : 079 - 655 4008
Email : info@kuendigbrau.ch
Homepage: http://www.kuendigbrau.ch

Founded: 1998
Annual production: 200 hl

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Lager   Pale lager - Helles.  
Wisliker Klosterbräu      
Münchner   Dark lager.  
Wienerbier   Amber lager - Vienna.  
Rauchbier   Smoked lager.  

A one-man microbrewery. All the beers are unfilterered.

The brewer, René Kündig, completed a brewing apprenticeship at Hürlimann in 1968. He worked briefly at Usterbräu in Uster before changing career in 1970. In the 1990's he got the urge again and took up home-brewing. His friends liked the beer so much, that he built a larger, professional brewery in an old pigshed.


Lägere Bräu
Dorfstrasse 36,
5430 Wettingen.
Tel:
Fax:
Email:
http://www.laegerebraeu.ch

Founded: 2003
Annual production:

Microbrewery. It´s amazing how little information you can get into a 20-page website. They don´t give their address! They appear to brew in a large saucepan.


Ledermann
Dändlikon 3,
8634 Hombrechtikon.
Tel:
Fax:
Email:

Founded: 1997
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
       
       

Microbrewery.


Brasserie de Lessoc
Au Village,
Lessoc.

Founded: 1999 ***** CLOSED 2001 *****
Annual production:

Brewpub.


Brauerei Locher AG
Alte Eggerstandenstrasse 1,
9050 Appenzell AI.
Tel: 071 / 788 0140
Fax: 071 / 788 0150
Email: info@appenzellerbier.ch
Homepage: http://www.appenzellerbier.ch

Founded: 1886
Annual production: 48,000 hl

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Alpenzeller Légère 2.6% Pale lager.  
Alpenzeller Lager hell 4.8% Pale lager - Helles.  
Alpenzeller Lager dunkel 4.8% Dark lager. Brewed from Wienermalz and Röstmalz.  
Quöllfrisch Lager Naturtrüb 4.8% Unfiltered pale lager. First brewed in 1992.  
Swiss Mountain Lager hell 4.8% Pale lager.  
Castégna hell 4.8% Pale lager. Includes chestnuts in the grist.  
Alpenzeller Hanfblüte Hanfbier naturtrüb 5.2% Unfiltered pale lager.  
Alpenzeller Weizenbier 5.2% Pale unfiltered wheat beer.  
Alpenzeller Vollmondbier naturtrüb 5.2% Unfiltered pale lager.  
Alpenzeller Holzfassbier 5.2% Amber lager. Brewed from Pilsner, Wiener and Caramel malt. Matured in oak barrels for four months.  
Säntis Kristall Spezial hell 5.2% Pale lager.  

Independent brewery. In the Locher family for 5 generations. Has a couple of quite interesting products.



Lupo Getränke AG
Niffel,
6281 Hochdorf LU.
Tel: 041 - 914 0808
Fax: 041 - 914 0888
Email: lupo@lupo.ch
Homepage: http://www.lupo.ch/

Founded: 1963
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Römer Edelhell   Pale lager.  

Independent brewery. Concentrates on supermarket cheap own-label brands.


Mettle-Bier
Weststr. 7,
3074 Muri.
Tel: 031 - 951 0181
Fax:
Email:
http://www.mettlebier.ch

Founded: 2000
Annual production: 5 hl

Nanobrewery. A tiny non-commercial brewery whose beer is not sold, only given away.


Mobile Brauerei
Wingertlistr. 56,
8405 Winterthur.
Tel: 079 - 701 2541
Fax:
Email:
http://www.mobile-brauerei.ch

Founded: 2002
Annual production:

Microbrewery. A mobile brewery that can be hired for parties.


Brasserie du Molard
Place du Molard 9,
1200 Genève (Geneva).

Founded: 2003
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Molard Blonde 5% Blonde ale. Unfiltered.  
Molard Blanche 5% Wheat beer. Unfiltered.  
Molard Ambrée 5% Amber ale. Unfiltered.  
Molard Bière de Noël   Seasonal - Winter.  

Brewpub.


Brauerei H. Müller AG
Dynamostrasse 8,
5401 Baden AG.
Tel: 056 / 203 06 06
Fax: 056 / 203 06 99
Email: admin@brauerei-mueller.ch
Homepage: http://www.brauerei-mueller.ch

Founded: 1897
Annual production: 70,000 hl (all drinks)

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Ice bear pure draft 4% Pale lager. The brewery thinks that forming ice crystals in the beer during lagering makes it taste better. I'm unconvinced.  
Müller Bräu Lagerbier 4.8% Pale lager - Helles.  
Müller Bräu Festbier 5% Pale lager - Spezial.  
Spezialbier Badener Gold hell 5.2% Pale lager - Spezial.  
Spezialbier Badener Gold dunkel 5.2% Dark lager.  
Müller Bräu Zwickel-Bier 5.2% Pale lager - Spezial. Unfiltered.  
Badener Braumeister 6% Pale lager.  

Independent brewery. In the 4th generation of the Müller family.


La Brasserie des Murailles Sàrl
48 route de Corsinge,
1252 Meinier.
Tel: 079 - 348 1078
Fax:
Email: contact@bmurailles.ch
http://www.bmurailles.ch/

Founded: 2001
Annual production: 250 hl

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
La Pieuse 4%   Abbey witbier. Unfiltered.  
La Meurtrière 5%   Black abbey ale (I think they mean dry stout). Unfiltered.  
La Meynite   5% Abbey Blonde ale. Unfiltered.  
La Sorcière 6%   Abbey Red ale. Unfiltered.  
La Catapulte 6%   Abbey brown. Unfiltered.  
Bière de Noël     Brown ale. Seasonal - christmas.  
Bière de la St-Patrick     Stout. Seasonal.  

Microbrewery in a farm. I like the idea of an "Abbey" stout.


Officina Della Birra
Via Cademario,
Bioggio.

Founded: 2000
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
       
       

Brewpub.


BK Bier-kultur AG Öufi-Brauerei
Fabrikstrasse 4,
4500 Solothurn SO.
Tel: 032 / 621 49 11
Fax: 032 / 637 03 85
Email: alex.kuenzle@oeufi-bier.ch
Homepage: http://www.oeufi-bier.ch/

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Öufi Bier Helles Pils 4.9% 11º Pils.  
Öufi Bier Dunkel "Orbi" 5% 12.8º Dark lager - Spezial. The grist consists of Pilsner, Münchner, Caramel malt and Röstmalz. Lagered for 5 weeks.,  
Öufi Weizen Bier 5% 12.8º Wheat beer.  
Öufi Märzen Bier 5.4% 13º Amber lager - Märzen.  

Brewpub.

Brewery tap:
Die Öufi-Beiz
Fabrikstrasse 4,
4500 Solothurn SO.
Tel: 032 / 621 49 11

Open:
Mon-Thur 16:00-00:30
Fri 16:00-01:30
Sat 11:30-00.30
Sun closed



Brasserie de l'Ours
pl. centrale,
1660 Château-d'Oex.
Tel: 026 - 924 2828
Fax: 026 - 924 2829
Email: info@brasseriedelours.ch
http://www.brasseriedelours.ch

Founded: 2005
Annual production:

Brewpub.


Brauerei zum Papagei: Spezialitätenbrauerei am Zimmerberg
Postfach 729,
8812 Horgen.
Tel: 043 - 244 66 33
Fax: 043 - 244 66 33
Email: info@brauerei-zumpapagei.ch
http://www.brauerei-zumpapagei.ch

Founded: 2005
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Emmer 4.7%   Top-fermenting spelt (emmer) beer.  
Celtic 5%   Stout.  
Helvetia 5%   Alt.  
Hydrant 5%   Pale lager.  
Brown Trout 5.2%   Dark wheat beer.  
Säumer 5.4%   Alt. Brewed from spelt, barley, rye and wheat.  
Bull Power 7.1%   Weizen bock.  
Druidenbräu 7.8%   Strong, dark ale.  

Microbrewery. All the beers are unfiltered.




Osteria-Birreria della Posta
Della Posta,
Malvaglia.
Homepage:

Founded: 2001 *** CLOSED 2005 ***
Annual production:

Brewpub.


Rappi Bier Factory
Schönbodenstr. 3,
8640 Rapperswil.
Email: kontakt@bierfactory.ch
Homepage: www.bierfactory.ch

Founded: 2001
Annual production: 120 hl

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Rappigold 4.8% 11.8º Top-fermented pale ale. Unfiltered.  
Johanna das Bier 5% 12º Dark beer. Brewed from Caramel malt, Wiener malt and dark Münchner malt and Goldings hops.  
Black Beer     Stout. Brewed from pilsner and Rostmälz. Unfiltered.  

Microbrewery.


Rathaus Brauerei
Unter der Egg 2,
6004 Luzern.
Tel: 041 - 410 52 57
Homepage: http://www.rathausbrauerei.ch

Founded: 1998
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Rathaus Seidel 5% 11º Pils.  
Rathaus Weizen     Unfiltered wheat beer.  
Rathaus Bock   >16º Bock.  
Weihnachtsbock     Dark bock. Seasonal - Christmas.  

Brewpub. All the beers are unfiltered.


Richie Bräu
Untere Berg 19
4310 Rheinfelden AG.
Homepage:

Founded: 1998
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
       
       

Microbrewery.


Brauerei Rosengarten AG
Spitalstrasse 14,
8840 Einsiedeln.
Tel: 055 / 412 39 88
Fax: 055 / 412 39 89
Email: beer@beer.ch
Homepage: http://www.beer.ch

Founded: 1872
Annual production: 13,500 hl (1998)

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Einsiedler Alpenbier 5% Unfiltered pale lager. Organic. First brewed in 1999.  
Einsiedler Dinkel   Pale lager - Dinkel. First brewed in 1996.  
Einsiedler Maisgold   Pale lager - Mais. Uses 30% maize in the grist. First brewed in 1980.  
Einsiedler Lagerbier Hell 4.8% Pale lager - Helles. First brewed in 1872.  
Einsiedler Spezial Hell   Pale lager - Spezial.  
Einsiedler Spezial Dunkel 4.8% Dark lager.  

Independent brewery run by the Gmür and Marty families. The only survivor of the 11 breweries that were active in the Kanton Schwyz in 1900. The brewery employs 15 people.


Rugenbréu AG
Wagnerenstrasse 40,
3800 Matten-Interlaken BE.
Tel: 033 / 826 46 56
Fax: 033 / 826 46 40
Email: office@rugenbraeu.ch
Homepage: http://www.rugenbraeu.ch

Founded: 1866
Annual production: 70,000 hl (beer, mineral water and wine)

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Rugenbräu Export Bier (Lager) 4.8% Pale lager - Helles.  
Rugenbräu Alpenperle 4.8% Pale lager - Mais. Lightly-hopped maize beer.  
Rugenbräu Zwickel Bier 4.8% Pale lager - Helles. Unfiltered.  
Rugenbräu Spezial Bier 5.2% Pale lager - Spezial.  
Rugenbräu Spezial Bier Dunkel 5.2% Dark lager - Spezial.  

Independent brewery. Christian Indermühle built the original brewery to serve the Hotel Interlaken. In 1892 Joseph Hofweber bought the brewery and it is still controlled descendents today.


Rüüs Bier
Bristenweg 4/6,
8916 Jonen.
http://www.xn--rsbier-3yaa.ch

Founded: 2002
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Sunset     Pale lager.  
Jameson     Amnber beer supposedly inspired by Ireland.  
Lady's Knight     Dark lager.  

Microbrewery.


Birrificio Artigianale San Domenico
Sentiero di Gandria 6,
6976 Castagnola.
Tel:
Fax:
Email: info@birrasandomenico.ch
http://birrasandomenico.ch/

Founded: 2006
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Vai Zen     Wheat beer. German style.  
Joy     Wheat beer. Belgian style, flavoured with curaçao.  
Mumù     Amber le. Uses British and German malt.  
Bugabù     Red ale flavoured with honey.  
Morgana     Abbey Dubbel.  
Flower Power     Dark ale flavoured with frech sambuco flowers. Seasonal - spring.  

Microbrewery.


San Peder
via Giovannini 15,
6710 Biasca
Tel: 091 - 862 4913

Founded: 2003
Annual production:

Brewpub.


Sauhofbräu
Breitenbachstrasse 17,
4242 Laufen.
Tel: 061 - 763 0348
Email: info@sauhofbraeu.ch
Homepage: http://www.sauhofbraeu.ch

Founded: 2001
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Festbier      
Rauchbier   Smoked lager.  
Dunkelbier   Dark lager.  
Münchner Lager      

Brewpub.


Scherlibräu
Postfach 122,
3145 Niederscherli.
Tel: 031 - 849 2046
Email: info@scherlibraeu.ch
http://www.scherlibraeu.ch/

Founded: 1999
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Altbier     Alt.  
Weihnachtsbier     Seasonal - Christmas.  
Osterbier     Seasonal - Easter.  

Microbrewery.


Brauerei Schützengarten AG
St. Jakobsstrasse 37,
9004 St. Gallen SG.
Tel: 071 / 243 43 43
Fax: 071 / 243 43 44
Email: schuetzengarten@telenet.ch
Homepage: http://www.schuetzengarten.ch

Founded: 1779
Annual production: 140,000 hl

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Edelspez 2,8 2.8% Pale lager.  
Schützengarten Lagerbier 4.8% Pale lager - Helles. Unpasteurised.  
Billwiller First Class Premium 4.8% Pils. Uses Czech Saaz hops.  
St. Galler naturtrüb 4.8% Unfiltered pale lager.  
Edelspez dunkel 5% Dark lager - Spezial.  
St. Galler Landbier 5% Pale lager - Mais. Brewed from barley, wheat and maize.  
St. Galler Klosterbräu 5.2% Unfiltered amber lager.  
Edelspez hell 5.2% Pale lager - Spezial.  
Festbier 5.2% Pale lager.  

Independent brewery, which is Switzerland's oldest. 40% of the beer is sold on draught.


Schwamendinger Hopfenbräu GmbH
Schaffhauserstrasse 273,
8050 Zürich Örlikon.
Tel: 079 - 227 2325
Fax:
Email: info@schwamendinger-bier.ch
http://www.schwamendinger-bier.ch

Founded: 2003
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Schwamendiger Hopfen-Bräu 5%   Organic. Unfiltered.  

Microbrewery.


Scottish Bar Pub
Rte du Jura 47,
1706 Fribourg.
Tél: 026 - 466 8202
Fax: 026 - 466 8203
Email: office@scottish.ch
Homepage: http://www.scottish.ch

Founded: 1999
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Blonde 5% Pale ale.  
Blanche 5% Wheat beer.  
Rousse 5% Red ale.  

Brewpub.


Seeland Bräu
Uferweg 5,
2560 Nidau.
Tel: 032 - 331 3732
Fax:
Email:
http://www.lagolodge.ch

Founded: 2000
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Seeland Blonde     Pale lager - Helles  
Seeland Brune     Dark lager.  
Seeland Spéciale      
Seeland Blanche     Wheat beer.  

Brewpub.



Seetaler-Bier Gmbh
Kannenbühlstrasse 23,
6280 Hochdorf LU.
Tel: 041 - 911 0955
Fax: 041 - 911 0955
Email: stefan.reinhard@bluewin.ch

Founded: 1997
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
       
       

Microbrewery.


la Sierrvoise
Ile Falcon,
3960 Sierre.
Tel: 027 - 456 5908
Fax:
Email:
http://www.sierrvoise.ch

Founded: 1996
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Sierrvoise Blanche 5% Witbier. Unfiltered.  
Sierrvoise La Claire 5.3%   Blond ale. Unfiltered.  
Sierrvoise Rousse 5%   Red ale. Unfiltered.  
Sierrvoise Noire 8%   Stout. Unfiltered.  

Microbrewery.


Speed Club
Zone industrielle,
1844 Villeneuve.
Email: resto@funplanet.ch
Homepage: http://www.funplanet.ch

Founded: 2000 *** CLOSED 2005 ***
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Funambrée 4.2%    
Funblanche 4.2%    
Funblonde 4.2%    

Brewpub. Has the best name and address I've come across. I suspect the place is less exciting than its name.


Stadtguet
Steinberggasse 16,
8401 Winterthur.
Email: info@stadtguet.ch
Homepage: http://www.stadtguet.ch

Founded: 2002
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Beginner 5.1% Pale lager.  
Kölsch   Kölsch. They really shouldn't call it that.  
Schwarzbier   Black lager.  

Microbrewery. Beers currently being brewed by Wädi-Brau-Huus.


Gasthausbrauerei Stadthaus
Marktgasse 2,
Huttwil.
Homepage: http://www.huttu-bier.ch

Founded: 2003
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
       
       

Brewpub.


Stauffacher
Räbengasse 6,
6422 Steinen.
Tel: 041 - 855 4089
brauerei.stauffacher@bluewin.ch

Founded: 1997 closed March 2003
Annual production:

Microbrewery.


Strättligen Bier
Bostudenstrasse 3C,
3604 Thun.
Tel: 033 - 222 6836
Fax:
Email:
http://

Founded: 2003
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Leann Dubh 4.4%   Stout.  
Special K 5.4%   Kölsch.  

Microbrewery.


Sonnenbräu AG
Alte Landstrasse 36, Postfach 227,
9445 Rebstein SG.
Tel: 071 / 775 81 11
Fax: 071 / 775 81 12
Email: sonnenbraeu@rheintal.ch
Homepage: http://www.sonnenbraeu.ch

Founded: 1891
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Sonnenbräu-Lightbier 2.5% 8.8º Pale lager. Bitterness: 23 EBU. First brewed in 1978.  
Sonnenbräu Lagerbier hell 4.8% 11.5º Pale lager - Helles. Bitterness: 20 EBU.  
Sonnenbräu "Rheinperle-Pilsner" 4.8% 11.7º Pils. Brewed from pilsner malt and Saazer aroma hops. Bitterness: 34 EBU. One of very few Swiss beers labelled as a pils. First brewed in 1981.  
Rheintaler Maisbier 5% 12.4º Pale lager - Mais.Bitterness: 24 EBU. First brewed in 1991.  
Sonnenbräu Zwickelgold 5% 11.8º Unfiltered pale lager. Bitterness: 18 EBU. First brewed in 1998.  
Sonnenbräu ICE-Beer 5% 11º Pale lager. More nonsense about ice crystals, etc. Bitterness: 22 EBU. First brewed in 1995.  
"Black Jack 21" 5% 12.4º Dark lager - Schwarzbier. Coloured with Röstmalz. Bitterness: 20 EBU.  
Sonnenbräu Lagerbier Dunkel 5.2% 12.8º Dark lager - Spezial. Coloured with Münchner malt. Bitterness: 24 EBU.  
Sonnenbräu Spezial 5.2% 12.8º Pale lager - Spezial. Bitterness: 24 EBU.  
Sonnenbräu Bockbier 5.4% 13.2º Bock. One of the relatively weak Swiss versions. Bitterness: 22 EBU.  
Sonnenbräu "Doppel-Bock" 6% 15º Doppelbock. Would scarcely count as a singleBock in Germany. Bitterness: 25 EBU.  

Independent brewery. It was built to serve Gasthaus "zur Sonne" by Eduard Graf. The brewery is currently run by the 4th generation of the Graf family. They consciously specialise in niche products.


Brauerei Sorg & Schädeli, Erusbacher Bräu
Büttikerstrasse 3,
5612 Villmergen AG.
Tel: 056 / 621 11 00
Fax: 056 / 621 11 01
Email: bier@erusbacher.ch
Homepage: http://www.erusbacher.ch/

Founded: 2000 See Erusbacher & Paul
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Erusbacher Bräu "Urtyp" 4.9% Pale lager - Helles.  
Erusbacher Bräu "Naturtrüeb" 4.9% Unfiltered pale lager.  
Erusbacher Bräu "iis bier"   No idea what sort of beer this is. I'll just quote the brewery:
"Das spritzig frische iis bier mit seinem milden, bierigen Geschmack und der leichtbetonten Hopfennote ist der ideale Durstlöscher für heisse Tage, laue Sommerabende und coole Partys."
You tell me what that means. Unless my German relations have been playing a very elaborate joke on me, "bierigen Geschmack" means "beery taste". It's sort of what you expect, when you buy a bottle that has the word "beer" somewhere prominent on the label. (Though I will admit that there are plenty of Belgian beers that don't have the slightest trace of "beery flavour".)
Bottled only. 		 

Microbrewery. Beers are unpasteurised. Merged in 2005 with Brew Paul to become Erusbacher & Paul
Merged in 2005 with Erusbacher Bräu to become Erusbacher & Paul


Brauerei Stadtbühl
Herisauerstrasse 49,
9200 Gossau SG.
Tel: 071 / 385 35 15
Fax: 071 / 385 35 80
Email: info@stadtbuehler.ch
Homepage: http://www.stadtbuehler.ch

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Stadtbühler Lager hell 4.8% Pale lager - Helles.  
Stadtbühler Lager dunkel 4.8% Dark lager. "Guinness-like", according to the brewery.  
Stadtbühler Naturgold 4.8% Unfiltered pale lager - Helles.  
Stadtbühler Spezli 5% Pale lager - Spezial.  
Stadtbühler Fürstenbräu 5.4% Amber lager - Starkbier.  
Stadtbühler Bierbrand 40% Distilled Stadtbühler Lager hell.  

Independent brewery. Has been in the Krucker family since its founding.


Brauhaus Sternen AG
Hohenzornstrasse 2,
8500 Frauenfeld.
Tel. 052 - 728 9909
Fax 052 - 728 9908
Email: office@brauhaussternen.ch
Homepage: http://www.brauhaussternen.ch/

Founded: 1989
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Huusbier   Pale, unfiltered lager.  

In 1865 an Ulmer brewery bought an old tannery on the edge of Frauenfeld and built a brewery on the site. Their website is unclear as to when the original brewery closed. Back & Brau built a fitted a small brewing installation into pub part of Sternen in 1989.

After 1995 beer was only been fermented on site - unfermented wort is shipped from the Back & Brau Steinfels in Zürich. In 2000 it dropped the Back & Brau name and became the Brauhaus Sternen. although most of its output was still mashed in Zürich, it also started brewing a Belgian style wheat beer on a seperate small brewing kit.In 2003 it installed a large size full mash brewery, and (as far as I know) now all beers are fully produced on site. It is owned by the Actienbrauerei Frauenfeld, in whose old brewery tap it is based.

Brewpub. The Actienbrauerei Frauenfeld operates from the same premises.


Suonenbräu
Dorf Str.,
Ausserberg.
Tel:
Fax:
Email:
http://

Founded: 2003
Annual production:

Microbrewery.


Aktienbrauerei Flims Surselva AG
Postfach
7018 Flims Waldhaus.
Tel. 081 928 1400
Email: info@surselva-bier.ch

Founded: 2005
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Flimser Marenghin     Pale lager - Helles.  
Flimser Blutzcher     Dark lager.  
Flimser Rensch     Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  

Brewpub.

Opening times:
Tue - Sun 11:00 - 23:30


Birreria Ticinese
Via S. Bernardino 24,
6532 Castione.
Tel: 091 - 835 8088

Founded: 2000 *** CLOSED 2005 ***
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Chiara - Helles      
Honey and Jasmin   Uses honey and jasmine.  
Meibock 5.5% Pale bock.  
Scura - Dunkel 5% Dark lager.  
Spezial   Pale lager - Spezial.  
Weizen 5% Amber wheat beer.  

Brewpub.


Les Trois Dames
Route de Culliairy 11,
1450 Sainte Croix.
Tel: 024 - 454 4375
Fax:
Email:
http://

Founded: 2004
Annual production:

Microbrewery.


Brasserie du Troublion
Rue de la Chappelle 24,
2034 Peseux.
Tel: 078 - 863 9423
Email: info@troublion.ch
Homepage: http://www.troublion.ch

Founded: 2001
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
       
       

Microbrewery.


Turbinenbräu
Badenerstr. 571,
8048 Zürich.
Tel: 01 - 440 5414
Fax: 01 - 440 5410
mail@turbinenbraeu.ch
http://www.turbinenbraeu.ch/

Founded: 2002
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Start 5% 12.5º Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Goldsprint 5.2% 12º Pale lager - Spezial.  
Rekord 5.2% 12º Amber lager. Unfiltered. Uses dark Munich malt.  

Microbrewery. The only standalone brewery in Zürich.


Brauerei Unser Bier AG
Laufenstrasse 16,
4002 Basel BS.
Tel: 061 / 338 83 83
Fax: 061 / 338 83 84
Email: info@unser-bier.ch
Homepage: http://www.unser-bier.ch/

Founded: 1997
Annual production: 4,000 hl

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Unser Amber 5% Unfiltered amber lager. Organic.  
Unser Naturblond 5% Unfiltered pils.  
Unser Weizen-Bier 5% Wheat beer. Seasonal - Summer.  
Unser Weihnachts-Bier 5.6% Seasonal - Christmas. Organic.  
Unser Fasnachts-Pils «Drummler» 4.8% Unfiltered pils. Seasonal - Carnival.  

Microbrewery. They're also distilling their own whisky.

The brewery tap is open on Thursday and Friday from 17:00.


Brasserie La Vadaise
Rue des Chenevieres 28,
Courtetelle

Founded: 2001 *** CLOSED 2001 ***
Annual production:

Brewpub.


Brasserie Valaisanne
Rte du Rawyl 30,
1950 Sion VS.
Tel: 0848 125 000
Fax: 0848 125 001
Email: info@feldschlösschen.com

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
       
       

Part of Feldschlösschen Getränke AG, a subsidiary of Carlsberg (since November 2000).


Wädi-Brau-Huus AG
Florhofstrasse 13,
8820 Wädenswil.
Tel: 01 / 782 66 55
Fax: 01 / 782 66 56
Email: waedibrauhuus@gmx.net
Homepage: http://www.waedi-bier.ch

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Wädi-Brau Hell 4.8% Pale lager - Helles.  
Wädi-Brau Hanf   Pale lager with hemp.  
Wädi-Brau Dunkel   Dark lager.  
Wädi-Brau Ur-Weizen   Wheat beer  
Wädi-Brau Ur-Hell   Pale lager - Helles.  
Wädi-Brau Märzen   Amber lager - Märzen.  

Brewpub. All the beers are unfiltered and organic.

Opening times:
Mon - Sat 08:30 - 00:30-
Sun an public holidays 11:00 - 00:30-


Brauerei Wabräu
Gurtenareal / Dorfstrasse,
3084 Wabern.
Tel: 079 - 654 6173
Fax: 031 - 961 8950
Email: info@wabraeu.ch
http://www.wabraeu.ch/

Founded: 2004
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Wabräu Hell 5%   Pale Lager.  
Wabräu Dunkel 5%   Amber Lager  
Wabräu Weizen 5%   Pale Wheat Beer.  
Wabräu Festbier 6%   Pale Festbier. (Seasonal.)  

Microbrewery. Located in the former washhouse of the Gurtenbier-Brauerei, which closed in 1996.


Weinfelden
Brauereistrasse 12,
8570 Weinfelden.
Tel: 071 - 622 3066
Fax: 071 - 622 7438
Email: baerlochers.trankstelle@bluewin.ch

Founded: 1864
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Bärlocher's Bierli 4.5% Pale lager - Helles.  
Dunkel 4.5% Dark lager.  
Spez Dunkel   Dark lager.  
Spezial 5% Pale lager - Spezial.  
Urbrau      

Independent brewery.


Brauerei Wetzel
Ziegelhüttenweg 137,
4469 Anwil.
Tel: 061 - 993 0006
Fax:
Email: wetzel@bluewin.ch
http://www.brauerei-wetzel.ch

Founded: 2005
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Wetzel Weizen 4%   Unfiltered pale wheat beer. Available June to November.  
Wetzel Kölsch 4.5%   Kölsch. It´s a bit naughty using a protected name. Available June to November.  
Wetzel Lager 5%   Amber lager - Vienna. Lagered for 6 weeks. Available December to May.  
Wetzel Chürbisbier 5.2%   Amber, spiced beer. Available November to December.  
Wetzel Wiehnachtsbier 5.6%   Dark lager. Seasonal - christmas.  
Wetzel Neujohrsbier 5.9%   Pale lager. Sesonal - Winter.  

Microbrewery.


Wisliger Berg Bräu
Dettenriederstr. 34,
8484 Weisslingen.
Tel: 052 - 384 0350
Fax: 052 - 534 8350
Email: info@bergbier.ch
http://www.bergbier.ch/

Founded: 2003
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Bergbier 4.5%   Unfiltered.  

Microbrewery. The kit is tiny - they brew only 75 litres at a time.


Brauerei Ziegelhof
Gerberstrasse 4, Postfach 505,
4410 LiestalL.
Tel: 061 / 927 30 00
Fax: 061 / 927 30 01
Email: info@ziegelhof.ch
Homepage: http://www.ziegelhof.ch

Founded: 1850
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Ziegelhof Lager 4.8% 11.5º Pale lager - Helles.  
Ziegelhof Drachen Gold 4.9% 11.8º Pils. Only in cans.  
Ziegelhof Goldbräu 5.2% 12.5º Pils.  
Ziegelhof Bügel-Spez 5.2% 12.5º Pale lager - Spezial.  
Ziegelhof Zwickel-Bier 5.2% 12.5º Pale lager - Spezial. Unfiltered.  
Ziegelhof Special dunkel 5.5% 13º Dark lager - Spezial.  
Rauracher Zwickel 5.8% 13º Dark lager - Spezial. Unfiltered.  
Rauracher Bräu 6.5% 16.5º Bock.  

Independent brewery.



I have to thank Paul Harrop whose New Breweries page provided much useful information, Bov for his Swiss Beer Guide and Laurent Mousson for his explanation of Swiss beer culture. This page would not have been as complete without their help.

Questions? Suggestions? Click to email me.



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This page was last updated 10.01.10

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