Frankenmuth is one of the top tourist destinations in the beautiful state of Michigan. Located just south of Saginaw and 90 miles north of Detroit along the well-traveled I-75, people have been stopping here for years to visit the German-themed shops, eat world-famous chicken dinners, shop at the giant Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, and have a pint at the Frankenmuth Brewery.

One of the Oldest Breweries in the United States

Only 11 breweries have been around in America since before 1900, and one of them sits right in the middle of “Little Bavaria,” Michigan. The Frankenmuth Brewery has been around since its founding during the Civil War in 1862 under various monikers, but its strong tradition of brewing great beers has persisted. John Matthias Falliers built the brewery’s original building and opened it up in the same location it stands today, overlooking the glistening Cass River. It’s located just across the river from Heritage Park, home to many of Frankenmuth’s festivals, including the Frankenmuth Auto Fest, Zehnder’s Snowfest, the Bavarian Festival and the World Expo of Beer.

While it hasn’t always been called the Frankenmuth Brewery, the same operation has existed for the past 162 years. Previously, it was called Cass River Brewery and Geyer Brothers Brewing Co., but its current name has been in place since the 1980s. When you visit, expect good food, great beer and a whole lot of Dachshund-related memorabilia! Frankie, the Dachshund mascot of the brewery, has been synonymous with the place for over 80 years. John Geyer, one of the previous owners, loved his pack of purebred hounds and used the likeness of his favorite pup (also called Frankie) in marketing. It’s stuck around ever since!

When asked about why Frankenmuth Brewery is such a mainstay of the area, Nicole Torres, Digital Content Manager, said:

“The Frankenmuth community is incredible. It is vibrant with a strong culture and a real appreciation for history, so we couldn’t ask for a better place to thrive. Beyond that, we brew good beer. As a microbrewery, we’re small enough to ensure consistency and quality in all that we brew while still being able to offer a good variety of options.”

German Beer Greatness in Small–Town Michigan

Naturally, the Frankenmuth Brewery brews great German-style brews; Frankenmuth is a town built around German-style tourism. But Torres wants it known that they’re not a one–trick brewery, saying, “Of course, we’re known for our traditional German beers – with our Hefeweizen as our flagship and Oktoberfest as a seasonal favorite. However, we offer a much wider range with something to appeal to all palettes.”

This beer expansion and creativity boomed when they hired legendary brewmaster, Steve Buszka, to the team in 2014. Brewing since 1991, Buszka has helped run big-name breweries such as Bell’s (back when it was known as the Kalamazoo Brewing Company) and create recipes for famous brews like Two-Hearted IPA and Expedition Stout. Together, Buszka and the Frankenmuth Brewery have gone on to win many awards for their beer, specifically at the locally-hosted World Expo of Beer.

With 21 beers always on tap and rotating through 36 throughout the year, there’s always something new to try. For a taste of what they have to offer, what better brew to look at than their Munich Style Dunkel Lager?

The Munich Style Dunkel Lager: Breakfast in a Can

The Munich Style Dunkel Lager is German in origin, fitting for a beer from Little Bavaria. It’s also one of their most decorated. At the World Expo of Beer, the brew won Gold in two categories in 2024: International Lager and Dark European Lager.

Dunkel means “dark” in English, so it only makes sense that this is a dark beer. This one is on the dark end of the spectrum, looking almost black, but when held up to different lights, the brown becomes clear with some deep garnet highlights. The head is creamy, tan and very inviting.

It smells like a lazy Saturday morning; coffee, toasted bread crust, nuts and chocolate. Breakfast beer may not be something we recommend, but if we did, this would be the beer. There aren’t any evident hop or yeast aromas; this beer is all malt. When first sipped, you will be struck by a fair bit of carbonation, more than expected. Once settled, the liquid envelopes like a warm hug, with a medium-heavy and smooth body.

As the beer tickles the taste buds, coffee is dominant, with hints of sweet chocolate and rich nuttiness. On the back end, toasty bread comes up with almost no bitterness. This is a mildly sweet but easily drinkable beer. At 5.1% ABV, it’ll go down easily and never get old.

For a beer with medium-bold flavors, it would go great with any meal matching its intensity. Grilled and fried chicken come to mind right away, perfect for Frankenmuth since the town is famous for its chicken dinners. Mildly spicy dishes would also pair well, with the sweetness and maltiness washing away the spice and providing a great palate cleanser. The author had this beer with some buffalo chicken spring rolls, and it was delightful. The contrast of the crunchy fried wrapper and smooth beer made both easy to consume.

Steve Buszka, brewmaster, had this to say about this stellar beer:

“Not a lot of people brew that style of beer – the Munich Dunkel – and we brew a particularly tasty style. Our German beers are all brewed according to Reinheitsgebot – the German Beer Purity Law that limits beer ingredients to just water, malt, hops and yeast.”

Frankenmuth: Plenty of Beer & Things to Do

Frankenmuth Brewery is a great place to visit for its solid food and even better beer. The brewery plans on releasing a Harvest Ale at the beginning of October made in partnership with Top Hops Farm in Goodrich, Michigan, as well as their iconic Christmas Town brew on November 1st.

While you’re in town for the beer, there’s plenty else to do. From traditional German food to a massive year-round Christmas store to not one but two indoor waterparks, there’s a reason it’s one of the biggest tourist destinations in the state of Michigan. Plan your next visit, and we’ll see you there! Auf wiedersehen!

Frankenmuth Brewery – (989) 263–8300
425 S Main St Frankenmuth, MI 48734
Mon – 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Tue – Closed
Wed – Closed
Thu – 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Fri – 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sat – 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sun – 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Featured imaged contributed by Frankenmuth Brewery. 

---

Can't visit the site everyday like us? Bummer! No worries, we've got you covered. Submit your email below to receive our monthlyish newsletter on reviews, tours, events and more!

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you're human: