{"id":10958,"date":"2024-11-18T14:32:03","date_gmt":"2024-11-18T13:32:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/?p=10958"},"modified":"2026-05-08T00:51:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T22:51:44","slug":"rothaus-brewery-black-forest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/rothaus-brauerei-schwarzwald\/","title":{"rendered":"Rothaus Brewery \u2014 Tannenz\u00e4pfle, guided tour and tips from the hotel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Rothaus brewery in Grafenhausen is a 15-minute drive from the Sonnenhof &amp; Sonnhalde and is one of the most popular destinations for our hotel guests who want to combine half a day's holiday with a bit of regional culture. We have been recommending the brewery for years \u2014 usually as a morning excursion followed by lunch at the \u201eBrauereigasthof Rothaus\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This page gives an honest overview of what awaits hotel guests on site: brewery tour, Tannenz\u00e4pfle tasting, directions, reservation notes and tips for combining it with other activities in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rothaus at a glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Location: Grafenhausen-Rothaus, a 15-minute drive from the hotel<\/li>\n<li>Altitude: 974 metres above sea level<\/li>\n<li>Founded: 1791 as the abbey brewery of the Benedictine monks of St. Blasien<\/li>\n<li>Today: Staatsbrauerei Rothaus AG, owned by the state of Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg<\/li>\n<li>Best-known product: Tannenz\u00e4pfle (pilsner in the green 0.33 l swing-top bottle)<\/li>\n<li>Brewery tour: approx. 90 minutes, advance reservation recommended<\/li>\n<li>Brewery restaurant: regional cuisine, lunch menu from 12 noon<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">History \u2014 from monastic beer to state brewery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The brewery was founded in 1791 by Benedictine monks from St. Blasien when the monastic community needed a supply point for the farms in the region. With secularisation in 1806, the business passed to the Grand Duchy of Baden and became a state brewery. This makes Rothaus one of the few breweries in Germany that is still publicly owned today \u2014 the state of Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg has been the owner since 1952.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The well-known logo featuring the girl \u201eBiergit Kraft\u201c and the two \u201eTannenz\u00e4pfle\u201c was introduced in 1972. Until then, the pilsner was simply called \"Pils Spezial\". Today's name and appearance go back to the brewery's director at the time, Karl Sch\u00e4uble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The brewery tour<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The official brewery tour lasts 90 minutes and costs \u20ac12 per person (as of 2026). Included are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tour of the brewhouse, lagering cellar and bottling plant<\/li>\n<li>Explanation of the brewing process with real cuv\u00e9e stations<\/li>\n<li>Tasting of four varieties at the end<\/li>\n<li>three-bottle gift pack to go<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reservations are compulsory. This can be done online via the brewery's website or by telephone. At weekends and during the Advent season, tours are often fully booked weeks in advance. Those who are flexible can usually still get a place during the week \u2014 we recommend the morning tour at 10 am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tour is not suitable for visitors with restricted mobility \u2014 stairs, tight spaces and a cellar section with low ceilings make it unsuitable for wheelchairs. It is of interest with children from around the age of 10; younger children are generally quickly overwhelmed by the machinery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to try during the tasting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rothaus produces eight main beers. Four are available to choose from during the guided tasting session. Our recommendations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tannenz\u00e4pfle Pils<\/strong> \u2014 the classic. Slim, bitter note, hoppy. What made the brewery famous.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hefeweizen<\/strong> - fruity, naturally cloudy, compelling in summer. Anyone who likes wheat beer and wants to try something outside the Bavarian style will find a distinct character here.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Icicle<\/strong> \u2014 the winter beer. Bottom-fermented, easy to drink, slightly more malty than the Tannenz\u00e4pfle. Seasonal from November to February.<\/li>\n<li><strong>M\u00e4rzen<\/strong> \u2013 amber-coloured lager, malcy, from April to June. A pleasant bridge between pilsner and darker beers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are less keen on beer, the \u201eZ\u00e4pfle-St\u00fcble\u201c also serves a house-made apple spritzer made from regional orchard meadows. The apple juice is the brewery's own product and is surprisingly good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brewery pub \u2014 where the food is best<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Right next to the brewery stands the \u201eBrauereigasthof Rothaus\u201c. It is set up as an inn, featuring Black Forest parlours, a regional menu and a beer garden that is open in good weather. The beer garden is considered the highest-altitude one in Germany (974 m), which is a nice conversational tidbit, but practically speaking does not make much difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What we recommend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Black Forest sausage salad with artisan bread<\/li>\n<li>Trout from local streams, baked or meuni\u00e8re style<\/li>\n<li>Homemade Maultaschen in broth<\/li>\n<li>Game bratwurst (venison or red deer, depending on the season)<\/li>\n<li>Black Forest gateau for dessert<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The menu isn't huge, but it's honest. A main course costs between 14 and 24 euros (as of 2026). Booking is recommended on Sundays and public holidays. Dogs are welcome in the beer garden and in part of the dining rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Directions from the hotel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The route from the Sonnenhof &amp; Sonnhalde to Grafenhausen-Rothaus:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Distance: 12 kilometres<\/li>\n<li>Travel time: 15 to 18 minutes<\/li>\n<li>Route: B500 towards Bonndorf, then the L154 to Grafenhausen<\/li>\n<li>Parking: free of charge in front of the brewery, more than 100 spaces<\/li>\n<li>Bus: route 7321, stop \u201eGrafenhausen Rothaus\u201c, reduced timetable at weekends<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is a ten-minute walk from the brewery to the centre of Grafenhausen. Anyone wanting to make a longer day trip can easily include the historic town centre, the Schwarzwald-Park (mini animal park) and the Schwarza waterfalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Three combinations for a full day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Combo 1 \u2014 Brewery + Tannenm\u00fchle (Families)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the morning, brewery tour at 10 a.m. (for adults), in the afternoon to \u201eHotel Tannenm\u00fchle\u201c \u2014 just five minutes further on, with a petting zoo, playground and trout ponds, free to visit. In the evening, sauna at the hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Combo 2 \u2014 Brewery + Schluchsee (Hiking)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Morning brewery tour, followed by a 25-minute drive to Lake Schluchsee. Hike around the northern section of the lake (from Aha to Schluchsee village, approx. 6 km). Lunch right by the lake at Strandcaf\u00e9 Aha. Return journey in the late afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Combo 3 \u2014 Brewery + Black Forest Model Making (Bad Weather)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it rains, a visit to the \u201eSchwarzwaldhaus der Sinne\u201c in Grafenhausen is well worth it \u2014 a small interactive exhibition about sensory perception, about a 20-minute walk from the brewery grounds. Admission \u20ac8, great for families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Seasonal advice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The brewery inn is open from early February to mid-Wednesday, and Wednesday is usually a day off (check in advance). During Advent, the brewery organises a small Christmas market in the brewery courtyard \u2014 with home-brewed mulled beer (a speciality) and a concert on the third weekend of Advent. Tickets are available online in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In summer, the beer garden is open daily (except when it rains). In winter, the interior is well-filled, especially at weekends \u2014 booking is recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can you buy beer direct from the brewery?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, in the on-site factory shop. Tannenz\u00e4pfle in the 0.33-litre swing-top bottle, all seasonal varieties and gift cartons. A bit cheaper than in the supermarket, but with the factory experience and the opportunity to get special varieties that are barely available regionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are there any non-alcoholic options?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, the alcohol-free Tannenz\u00e4pfle has been available since 2014 and is also available to taste. Alongside that, there is apple juice spritzer and coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can you take part in the tasting with your dog?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dogs are welcome in the \u201eZ\u00e4pfle-St\u00fcble\u201c and beer garden. The actual brewery tour is without dogs for hygiene reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which day of the week is the quietest?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From experience: Tuesday and Thursday are the quietest days. Sunday afternoons are busy, as are Saturday mornings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Black Forest Gourmet Hotel Package\u201e<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several of our packages include the brewery tour with tasting \u2014 such as the \u201eBlack Forest Indulgence\u201c weekend, which combines two overnight stays with pampering half-board, a 4-course menu with beer pairing on the evening of arrival, and the brewery tour on the following day. Price from \u20ac218 per person in a Comfort double room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Direct bookings via sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de save up to 35 % compared to booking portals. We are happy to reserve the brewery tour in advance for your preferred time. Enquire by phone on 07743 9201-0 or by email to info@sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also of interest: <a href=\"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/black-forest-excursion-destinations\/\">Places of interest in the Black Forest<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/hiking-the-wutach-gorge\/\">Hiking the Wutach Gorge<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/todtnau-suspension-bridge\/\">Todtnau Suspension Bridge<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Rothaus brewery in Grafenhausen is 15 minutes away from the hotel. Brewery tour, Tannenz\u00e4pfle tasting, directions, Black Forest indulgence hotel package.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":10961,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sonnenhof-in-der-naehe-entspannte-ausfluege-natur-geniessen"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10958"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11509,"href":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10958\/revisions\/11509"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10961"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}