State brewery in the High Black Forest, known for Tannenzäpfle, beer specialities, whisky and the Rothaus GenussWelt with inn

Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus AG

Rothaus 1, 79865 Grafenhausen-Rothaus (brewery) · Rothaus 2, 79865 Grafenhausen-Rothaus (brewery inn/GenussWelt)New on Amplifa

1791Founded by St. Blasien Abbey

1,000 mGermany's highest-altitude brewery

7Own springs

40Double rooms in the brewery inn

AG of the state of Baden-WürttembergLegal form

About Rothaus

The Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus AG has been brewing in Grafenhausen-Rothaus at an altitude of 1,000 metres in the High Black Forest since 1791 and is Germany's highest-altitude brewery. The product range includes Pilsner, Märzen, Hefeweizen, wheat bock, pale bock, table beer, naturally cloudy beers, Radler and non-alcoholic variants – including the Tannenzäpfle, offered since 1956 in the 0.33-litre bottle. The beer is brewed with crystal-clear, soft water from seven own springs, regional malting barley and aroma hops from Tettnang and the Hallertau; in the brewhouse inaugurated in 2006, made of stainless steel, production follows traditional methods with cold fermentation and long cold lagering. For the non-alcoholic beers, the alcohol is removed on a plant unique in Germany, without removing the aromas. In addition, the brewery produces a Rothaus single malt whisky. The brewery is owned by the state of Baden-Württemberg and operates the Rothaus GenussWelt, a 3-star-S brewery inn with 40 rooms, restaurant, beer garden, ZÄPFLE Heimat brewery museum, ZÄPFLE Markt and online shop.

Site: Grafenhausen-Rothaus / Schwarzwald
Processes: Brewery tours, Brewery museum (ZÄPFLE Heimat), Hotel/inn (3-star-S, 40 double rooms, 18–26 m²), Restaurant/beer garden with regional cuisine, Conferences/seminars, Events/weddings, ZÄPFLE Markt (merchandise shop) and online shop (rothaus-shop.de), Whisky bar with Rothaus single malt whisky
Materials: Spring water, Barley and wheat malt, Aroma hops
Founded: 1791
Industries: Brewery/beverage industry, Hospitality/tourism

01
Malting/malt procurement
02
Brewing in the brewhouse
03
Fermentation
04
Lagering
05
Bottling
06
Distribution

Water, malt and hops

Spring water

Crystal-clear, soft water from seven own springs in the High Black Forest

Barley and wheat malt

Domestic malt from spring barley as well as wheat malt as the basis of the beers

Aroma hops

South German aroma hops from Tettnang and the Hallertau for flavour and freshness

Sites

Rothaus Brewery (Rothaus 1)

Main plant: brewery at 1,000 metres altitude in the High Black Forest

Materials: Spring water, barley and wheat malt, aroma hops

Brewhouse with stainless steel brewhouse vessels
Fermentation and lagering tanks
De-alcoholisation plant

Rothaus GenussWelt (Rothaus 2)

3***S brewery inn with 40 double rooms, restaurant, beer garden, conference rooms, ZÄPFLE Markt and ZÄPFLE Bar

Hotel (40 rooms, 18–26 m²)
Restaurant and beer garden
Conference rooms
ZÄPFLE Heimat brewery museum

Alpenblick guesthouse

Guesthouse of the brewery inn, approx. 5 minutes' walk from the main building

Beer specialities

**Tannenzäpfle**0.33-litre bottle · Pilsner

**Hefeweizen / Weizenzäpfle**0.33-litre bottle · Wheat beer

**Heller Bock (pale bock)**Beer speciality

**Weizenbock (wheat bock)**Beer speciality

**Tafelbier (table beer)**Anniversary beer · Double anniversary 2026

**Tannenzäpfle Alkoholfrei (alcohol-free)**alcohol-free · de-alcoholisation plant

**Weizenzäpfle Alkoholfrei (alcohol-free)**alcohol-free · de-alcoholisation plant

**Natur Radler Zitronenzäpfle naturtrüb**Beer-mixed drink · Radler alcohol-free 0.0%

**Schwarzwald Zäpfle naturtrüb**Naturally cloudy beer speciality

Inside the production

Green-power charging stations in the visitor car park

Industries

Brewery/beverage industryHospitality/tourism

Additional services

Brewery toursBrewery museum (ZÄPFLE Heimat)Hotel/inn (3-star-S, 40 double rooms, 18–26 m²)Restaurant/beer garden with regional cuisineConferences/seminarsEvents/weddingsZÄPFLE Markt (merchandise shop) and online shop (rothaus-shop.de)Whisky bar with Rothaus single malt whiskyGroup events/buffets

Tradition since 1791

1681
Tavern 'Zum Rothen Haus' documented in records
1791
Founding of the brewery by St. Blasien Benedictine abbey under Prince-Abbot Martin Gerbert II.
1806
Secularisation: brewery passes to the Grand Duchy of Baden ('Grand Ducal Baden State Brewery Rothaus')
1842–1846
Extensive rebuilding and modernisation measures
1847
Fire destroys parts of the brewery; production quickly resumed
1875
Investments in new technology: special railway wagon, more powerful steam engine, kiln, ice cellar, yeast-cleaning and sorting machine
1892
First Rothaus bottled beer sold in St. Blasien
1904
Major fire destroys large parts of the brewery; rebuilding until 1905
1956
Introduction of Tannenzäpfle in the 0.33-litre bottle by brewery director Edwin Nägele
1996
Introduction of Weizenzäpfle in the 0.33-litre bottle
2006
Inauguration of the new brewhouse; 50 years of Tannenzäpfle; inauguration of the Zäpfle fountain
2009
Market launch of Tannenzäpfle Alkoholfrei and Weizenzäpfle Alkoholfrei on a de-alcoholisation plant unique in Germany
2016
Anniversary year: 225 years of the brewery and 60 years of Tannenzäpfle; concert by PUR with over 10,000 visitors
2026
Double anniversary of 235 years of Rothaus and 70 years of Tannenzäpfle; redesign of the ZÄPFLE Heimat brewery museum; anniversary beers Tafelbier, Fürst Abt Edel and Weizenbock