Altes Brauhaus

Altes Brauhaus is a historic building within the old town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in southern Germany. Its origins lie in a manorial brewery established by the town magistrate in 1698 and opened in 1699. In 1724, the operation received the designation of a free imperial town brewery, reflecting Rothenburg's status during the period of imperial-town rule. The site formed part of the town's brewing infrastructure and remains associated with the local history of beer production, although it is no longer documented here as an operating brewery. The building stands on Wenggasse inside Rothenburg's historic town walls, close to the market place and surrounded by the medieval townscape, town gardens, and timber-framed houses. Its architectural significance is linked to surviving features of the former brewhouse, including cross-barrel vaulting and traditional roof timberwork. These elements provide physical evidence of the building's earlier industrial and civic role and of the construction techniques used in the period. The brewery entered private ownership on 13 August 1804, when Johann Georg Roth acquired it at auction. It subsequently changed hands several times. In 1905, master brewer Josef Beugler, described as the great-grandfather of the present owner in the reference material, became proprietor. A major operational change followed in 1920, when brewing was moved to a steam brewery built by Hans Hopf outside the Klingentor gate. The Wenggasse premises then served as a malthouse and became known as the Altes Brauhaus, or old brewery. The town-centre property and the newer facility were operated together under the name Brauhaus Rothenburg. The Wenggasse building was converted into a hotel in 1984. Its identity therefore combines architectural heritage, the memory of Rothenburg's brewing tradition, and hospitality use in one of Bavaria's best-known historic towns. Available reference material does not establish a current corporate owner, a present brewing operation, a separate legal brand structure, or a complete current product portfolio. Altes Brauhaus is best understood as a place-based heritage and hospitality name rather than as a nationally distributed beer brand.

The Altes Brauhaus is located on Wenggasse within the historic centre of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria. The site began as a manorial brewery commissioned by the town magistrate. Construction took place in 1698, and the brewery opened in 1699. In 1724, it was redesignated as a free imperial town brewery, a title connected with Rothenburg's political status and municipal administration during the Holy Roman Empire. For much of its early history, the brewery was part of the town's institutional and economic life. The surviving building fabric records this earlier function. In particular, the former brewhouse retains cross-barrel vaulting, while the roof structure reflects the craftsmanship of the period's master builders. The property is situated near the market place and is integrated into a dense historic setting of town gardens and timber-framed buildings. The brewery was sold at auction on 13 August 1804 to Johann Georg Roth. This transaction transferred the operation into private ownership for the first time. The property later passed through several ownership changes. In 1905, master brewer Josef Beugler became proprietor. He is identified in the reference material as the great-grandfather of the present owner, although the identity of that owner is not specified. A decisive reorganization occurred in 1920. Brewing operations moved from the historic town-centre premises to a steam brewery constructed by Hans Hopf in front of the Klingentor gate. The Wenggasse property was retained as a malthouse and thereafter became known as the Altes Brauhaus. The brewery operations at the newer site and the former brewery building in town were brought together and operated as one business under the name Brauhaus Rothenburg. The historic building's function changed again in 1984, when it was converted into a hotel. This adaptation preserved the property as a commercially used historic site while ending, at least at the Wenggasse building itself, its primary role in brewing and malting. The building's significance now derives from the combination of architectural survival, local brewing history, and its location within Rothenburg's medieval townscape. The available material does not provide a verified current owner, management structure, website, financial information, current brewing license, or detailed hotel operating profile. It also does not document modern advertising campaigns, executive appointments, scandals, lawsuits, acquisitions, or product launches. Accordingly, Altes Brauhaus is catalogued here primarily as a historic former brewery and hotel property rather than as a contemporary packaged-beer brand.

• 1984

  Conversion into a hotel

  [1]Altes Brauhaus (Rothenburg ob der Tauber)en.wikipedia.org

  The historic Wenggasse building was converted from its former brewery-related use into a hotel.

• 1920

  Brewing moves outside the town centre

  [1]Altes Brauhaus (Rothenburg ob der Tauber)en.wikipedia.org

  Brewing was transferred to a steam brewery built by Hans Hopf outside the Klingentor gate. The Wenggasse premises became a malthouse and acquired the name Altes Brauhaus.

• 1905

  Josef Beugler becomes proprietor

  [1]Altes Brauhaus (Rothenburg ob der Tauber)en.wikipedia.org

  Master brewer Josef Beugler became proprietor of the brewery and began the ownership lineage referenced in the historical account.

• 1804

  Transfer into private ownership

  [1]Altes Brauhaus (Rothenburg ob der Tauber)en.wikipedia.org

  On 13 August, Johann Georg Roth purchased the brewery at auction, ending its period of direct municipal or manorial ownership.

• 1724

  Designation as a free imperial town brewery

  [1]Altes Brauhaus (Rothenburg ob der Tauber)en.wikipedia.org

  The brewery was redesignated as a free imperial town brewery during Rothenburg's period as an imperial town.

• 1699

  Brewery opens

  [1]Altes Brauhaus (Rothenburg ob der Tauber)en.wikipedia.org

  The newly constructed manorial brewery began operating.

• 1698

  Construction of the manorial brewery

  [1]Altes Brauhaus (Rothenburg ob der Tauber)en.wikipedia.org

  The magistrate of Rothenburg ob der Tauber built the brewery that later became associated with Altes Brauhaus.

A place-based historic hospitality property rooted in Rothenburg ob der Tauber's former civic brewing tradition and medieval urban heritage.

• Historic building · 1698

  Historic Altes Brauhaus building

  The principal offering and identity of Altes Brauhaus is the historic building on Wenggasse in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Constructed as a manorial brewery in 1698, it preserves architectural evidence of its former function, including cross-barrel vaulting in the brewhouse and traditional roof timberwork. Its heritage value is reinforced by its position within Rothenburg's walled old town and its proximity to the market place.

• Hospitality · 1984

  Hotel accommodation

  The Wenggasse property was converted into a hotel in 1984. The available reference material confirms the change of use but does not provide a verified room count, service catalogue, current operating company, or present booking information.

• 1984

  Conversion from brewery-related premises to hotelStrategy

  Background

  After the brewing operation had moved away from the town centre, the historic Wenggasse building no longer served primarily as the active brewery.

  Action taken

  The building was converted into a hotel.

  Aftermath

  The property continued in hospitality use while retaining architectural features and associations with Rothenburg's brewing history.

  Source

• 1920

  Relocation of brewing operationsStrategy

  Background

  The historic town-centre brewery was replaced operationally by a steam brewery built outside the Klingentor gate.

  Action taken

  Brewing moved to the new external facility, while the Wenggasse premises were retained as a malthouse and became known as Altes Brauhaus. The operations were subsequently associated under the name Brauhaus Rothenburg.

  Aftermath

  The relocation separated active industrial brewing from the historic town-centre property and established the building's later heritage identity.

  Source

1. 1Altes Brauhaus (Rothenburg ob der Tauber)en.wikipedia.org