10 Years Erste Bernauer Braugenossenschaft — Anniversary Festival Börnicke

Ten Years of Cooperative Brewing in the Mark

On May 23, 2026, a remarkable cooperative anniversary will be celebrated in Börnicke, a district of Bernau near Berlin: the Erste Bernauer Braugenossenschaft eG turns ten years old. What started in 2016 as an idealistic citizens' initiative — a brewery run by a cooperative, producing regional beer and simultaneously saving a historic building from decay — has now become an established presence in the Bernau region. The festival on Whit Saturday is a thank you to members and regular guests, while the brewery opens its doors to the general public.

Festival Tapping with the Mayor

The highlight in the early afternoon is the festival tapping around 1 PM by André Stahl, the mayor of the town of Bernau bei Berlin. A special Bernauer beer, created exclusively for the anniversary, will be tapped — a special brew that will only be served on this day and in limited quantities. In addition, there will be brewery tours, offering a look behind the scenes of the facility: the brewhouse, fermentation tanks, and maturation cellar. Anyone who wants to talk to the brewer has the opportunity here.

Four Bands in One Day

The festival's musical lineup is broadly diverse: the Brauer-Blasmusik traditionally opens, the Silver Hill Green Grass Band brings country sounds to the courtyard, the singer-songwriter duo Lucidez provides poetic interludes, and in the evening, the Poor Boys take the stage with cover rock and party music. Several hours of live music in different genres — from early morning drinks to late into the night.

Market with Over 30 Exhibitors

A market with more than 30 vendors surrounds the brewery: regional food products (sausages, cheese, honey), crafts, jewelry, plus classic festival attractions like a stand from the Bernauer Briganten (a historical city militia in Renaissance costumes) and demonstrations by the volunteer fire department. A children's program with face painting and puppet-making activities is offered for families. Culinary delights include: tarte flambée from a stone oven, regional game specialties, and of course, Bernauer beer in its various varieties.

Brandenburg, Bernau, and Börnicke

Bernau bei Berlin is located in the Barnim district, directly northeast of the capital — historically a brewing town with a tradition dating back to the 13th century. Bernauer beer was once widely known; however, breweries disappeared with industrialization. In 2016, citizens took matters into their own hands and founded the brewery cooperative. Today, the cooperative brews in the renovated former distillery building in Börnicke, which the town restored with around 2 million euros. The Gutshof now serves as both a brewery and an event venue.