Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu

Spaten‑Franziskaner‑Bräu is one of Munich’s most historically important brewing groups, formed from the merger of two major breweries: Spaten, a pioneer of Munich lager brewing, and Franziskaner, one of the city’s oldest producers of wheat beer. Together they represent a huge portion of Munich’s beer heritage, with roots reaching back to the 14th century.

Spaten’s identity is tied to classic Munich lagers. It played a central role in developing the Märzen style that became the foundation of Oktoberfest beer, and its Spaten Hell and Spaten Premium Lager are textbook examples of clean, malt‑forward Bavarian brewing. Franziskaner, on the other hand, is known for its Weissbier, especially Franziskaner Hefe‑Weissbier, which is soft, fruity, and approachable, with the familiar banana‑clove yeast character that defines Bavarian wheat beer.

Together, the combined brewery stands as one of Munich’s “big six,” deeply embedded in Oktoberfest culture and Bavarian tradition. Their beers are reliable, widely distributed, and representative of the classic Munich styles that shaped German brewing.