In the far north, beer is far more than a drink — it is craft, history, and a slice of regional identity. Around Villa Boreal you will find one of Germany's densest brewing landscapes: from the industrial flagship brewery on the Flensburg harbour to tiny organic brewers tucked behind brick courtyards. We've gathered the six most rewarding addresses — all visited in person, all under 60 minutes from Bockholm.
1. In Flensburg
THREE ADDRESSES IN THE CITY
Three breweries, three worlds: the big traditional brewery with the famous “plop”, a young craft brewer with a farm philosophy, and Germany's northernmost brewpub right on the inner harbour.
Flensburger Brauerei
Since 1888 · Family-runFounded: 1888 · Flensburg
The iconic brewery with the famous swing-top “plop” — family-owned since 1888, today one of northern Germany's best-known brands. Classic Pilsener, Edles Helles, Weizen and the alcohol-free Frei. The swing-top returned in 1989 and became the brand's signature sound.
Founded in 1888 by six Flensburg citizens as an export brewery. Survived fires, wars and the consolidation of German brewing. Today one of the few independent large breweries in the country.
Flensburger Pilsener · Edles Helles · Weizen · Frei (alcohol-free)
Visit
- ·Brewery tour Mon–Sat, €22 per person
- ·3 hours including tasting
- ·Book at besichtigung.flens.de
Buy & Taste
- ·Available throughout Schleswig-Holstein
- ·Factory shop on Munketoft
- ·Online: shop.flens.de
Flensburger Brauerei
Munketoft 12, 24937 FlensburgRoute
flens.de
FARM REBLS · James Farm Brewery
Craft · Regional · Sylt hops
Founded: 2010s · Flensburg
“Beer that rocks” — handcrafted Pils, Helles, Lager and an alcohol-free, all in the spirit of the James Farm philosophy. Freshness, short distances, uncompromising craft. The brewery is also home to the famous “Sylter Hopfen”, a beer made from hops actually grown on Sylt.
Born from the Genusswerk and James Farm Market in Flensburg. Closely linked to the Westindien Compagnie, which has revived hop growing in Keitum on Sylt — the first there for over a century.
FARM REBLS Pils · Helles · Lager · Sylter Hopfen Gourmet beer
Visit
- ·James Farm Market in Flensburg — fresh counter, café, online shop
- ·Tastings on request
- ·Brewery visits currently on request
Buy & Taste
- ·James Farm Market, Flensburg
- ·Andys Sylter Genusswelt (Sylter Hopfen)
- ·Bierselect.de and selected delicatessens in SH
James Farm Market
Flensburg (see genusswerk-flensburg.de)Route
farm-rebls.de
Hansens Brauerei
Germany's northernmost brewpubFounded: 1990s · Flensburg · Inner Harbour
Right on the inner harbour, in the heart of Flensburg's old town: Germany's northernmost brewpub. Behind glass, in the brewing kettle, the house Pils, Dunkles and seasonal styles are made — and served right next door. Northern German cuisine, vaulted atmosphere, a large terrace facing the harbour in summer.
Founded almost 30 years ago by Franz-Dieter Weiß — with the idea of bringing gastronomic craft and brewing under one roof. Today a Flensburg institution and a popular meeting point for locals and Förde visitors alike.
Hansens Hell · Hansens Dunkel · seasonal specials
Visit
- ·Restaurant open daily — reservation recommended
- ·Summer terrace right on the inner harbour
- ·Brewery visible from the main room
Buy & Taste
- ·Served only on site
- ·Occasional special bottlings on site
Hansens Brauerei
Schiffbrücke 16, 24939 FlensburgRoute
hansensbrauerei.de
2. Around the Förde
THREE ADDRESSES IN THE REGION
Drive a few minutes out of town and you'll find three very different characters: an organic pioneer in Dollerup, the first Sylt-grown hops in over a century, and a Danish-inspired brewhouse in the heart of Glücksburg.
URSTROM · Sauer & Hartwig
Organic beer · First of its kind in SHFounded: 2011 · Dollerup
The first Bioland-certified beer from Schleswig-Holstein. Werner Sauer (master brewer, originally from Rheinland-Pfalz) and Dr. Axel Hartwig (from Handewitt, doctor by training) have brewed in Dollerup, near the Danish border, since 2011. Seven styles, all from certified-organic raw materials — lean Pils, Lager and seasonal specials.
Hartwig “learned” at Sauer's side as a teenager, when Sauer was already working as a master brewer. Two decades later, they turned the hobby into a profession — and brought the organic ethos to northern German brewing.
URSTROM Pils · Lager · seasonal organic specials
Visit
- ·Brewery visits and tastings on request
- ·Farm shop in Dollerup
- ·Around 25 min from Bockholm
Buy & Taste
- ·Farm shop in Dollerup
- ·Organic shops in Flensburg, Glücksburg, Kiel
- ·Online: urstrom-bier.de
Privatbrauerei Sauer & Hartwig
Dollerup (see urstrom-bier.de)Route
urstrom-bier.de
Sylter Hopfen · Westindien Compagnie
First hops on Sylt for 100+ years
Founded: Hop growing from the 2010s · Keitum, Sylt · brewed in Flensburg
Storm-tested hops, grown by Flensburg's Westindien Compagnie on the island of Sylt — in Keitum, within sight of the church tower. The cones are then brewed at James Farm Brewery in Flensburg into a pale gourmet beer. A northern German curiosity with genuine terroir.
Hop growing on Sylt had been gone for centuries. Thomas W. Kipka and his Westindien Compagnie have brought it back — as a homage to old Flensburg trade traditions with the West Indies. Tradition meets modern brewing know-how.
Sylter Hopfen Gourmet beer (0.75 l, corked)
Visit
- ·Hop field in Keitum on Sylt — freely accessible
- ·Tastings via Andys Sylter Genusswelt
- ·Brewery: James Farm Brewery in Flensburg
Buy & Taste
- ·Andys Sylter Genusswelt (sylter-genusswelt.de)
- ·Bierselect.de — about €19.99 / 0.75 l
- ·Selected delicatessens in SH
Hop growing Westindien Compagnie
Keitum, SyltRoute
sylter-genusswelt.de
MARKTWIRTSCHAFT · LYKKE
Brewhouse on Glücksburg's PostplatzFounded: 2010s · Glücksburg
“Become LYKKE, sip by sip.” Right on Glücksburg's Postplatz, the Marktwirtschaft brings brewhouse and dining room together under one roof. Five house LYKKE beers — from the amber Haustrunk to seasonal specials. Danish-inspired, northern German-grounded.
A young brewery using traditional methods — from stalk to glass. “LYKKE” is Danish for happiness: a deliberately Scandinavian-German nod to Glücksburg's identity right on the Danish border.
LYKKE Haustrunk · Pils · Helles · seasonal specials
Visit
- ·Brewhouse with restaurant — Wed–Sun
- ·Beer seminars and morning gatherings
- ·Online reservation available
Buy & Taste
- ·Direct at the brewhouse on Postplatz
- ·Selected retailers in Glücksburg & Flensburg
- ·Haustrunk: bottled fresh from the lagering tank
MARKTWIRTSCHAFT Brauhaus zu Glücksburg
Postplatz 1, 24960 GlücksburgRoute
marktwirtschaft-lykke.de
OUR BEER ROUTE
Three breweries — one perfect day
Morning: Tour of the Flensburger Brauerei
A three-hour guided tour through brewhouse, fermentation cellar and bottling line — with a tasting at the end. Mon–Sat, €22 per person. Pre-booking recommended.
Lunch: Hansens Brauerei on Nordermarkt
Hearty northern German cooking under the vaulted ceiling of Germany's northernmost brewpub. The house Pils served straight from the tank — reservation recommended.
Evening: Marktwirtschaft Glücksburg
After a 10-minute drive home, one final glass of LYKKE on Postplatz — early-evening atmosphere, five house beers from the lagering tank, snacks alongside.
OUR FAVOURITE MOMENT
Sundowner with Sylt hops
Sylt hops are grown in Keitum on the island of Sylt — storm-hardened, salty, unique. The beer is brewed at James Farm Brewery in Flensburg. A 0.75-litre bottle on ice, a piece of cheese from the James Farm Market — and the view of the Förde from the Villa Boreal terrace.
This is what the north tastes like in a single bottle: land, sea and wind, cast in amber.
Conclusion
Six breweries, six characters, one region. From the industrial “plop” to handcrafted Sylt-hopped beer — the Flensburg Förde is one of Germany's most varied beer landscapes. From Villa Boreal you can reach all six addresses in 10 to 60 minutes. Our tip: plan two days — and taste your way slowly.
