Zoigl-Ausschank Falkenberg – Hafnerkarl

Zoigl – a tradition with its own character

Zoigl is an uncarbonated, naturally cloudy beer brewed in a communal brewery (Kommunbrauhaus). The tradition dates back to the late Middle Ages and is still alive today in only five places in the Oberpfalz: Falkenberg, Mitterteich, Neuhaus, Eslarn, and Windischeschenbach. The Genuine Zoigl Communal Brewers have organized themselves into a protective association that defends the tradition against dilution.

Hafnerkarl: one of two Falkenberg Zoigl locations

In Falkenberg, there are two Zoigl serving establishments that alternate throughout the year: Kramer Wolf and Hafnerkarl. When one is serving, the other rests – this keeps the tradition alive without the two communal brewers cannibalizing each other. The Hafnerkarl serves its Zoigl in a rustic room with wooden tables; the mugs are usually half-liter, and it's served with regional snacks, lard, and sausage.

What distinguishes Zoigl from normal beer

Zoigl is unfiltered and unpasteurized. The brew is made in the communal Kommunbrauhaus, then delivered to the respective Zoigl brewer, who matures it in his private cellar and serves it on a few days a year. When the beer is ready, the brewer hangs out the traditional six-pointed Zoigl star – the signal to the neighborhood that the taproom is open.

Falkenberg – Castle, Naab, and Zoigl Culture

Nestled between a castle ruin and the Waldnaabtal valley, Falkenberg is one of the most scenically beautiful places in the northern Oberpfälzer Wald. A visit to a Zoigl can be ideally combined with a hike in the Steinwald Nature Park or a detour to the nearby Falkenberg Castle ruin.