The Brauhaus

Dominic now owns this bar. I heard this place has had a rough rep in the past but I have nothing but good things to say. A group of friends and I were in town for a week and often stopped here on the way home from a full day of storming the castles… We received great service and enjoyed our time here.

Discovering Brauhaus was a bit of a turning point in my life. Until then, I had just been a foolish young lad drinking Budweiser and other such watery rubbish all the time. The extensive menu at Brauhaus encouraged to finally give something else a go. I quickly developed a love of German beers, and haven’t looked back since!
The beers at Brauhaus aren’t cheap, but there is a great selection from all over the world. They have a few beers on tap, but the majority come in bottles of 500 mL. I often manage to get beers from small regional breweries in the black forest, beers which you wouldn’t even find in other parts of Germany, never mind abroad. Selection– really excellent.
The place is tiny inside. As a committee member of the German society, this was our pub of choice each week. Unfortunately, on popular nights, the majority of people would not get a seat, a problem that was often exacerbated by the Edinburgh Borussia Dortmund fan club also being based at Brauhaus.
However, the selection alone makes Brauhaus worth visiting again and again. You can easily try different beers every time and never got bored. Recommended.

German beer bar in Edinburgh. That must be worth checking out. Especially with all the good reviews on Unilocal.First impressions were fine, it was more like somebody’s kitchen than a bar, but the staff were friendly and the bar is dug friendly so we immediately got off on the right foot.
I actually ended up with an American 7.1% IPA from the flying dog brewery and it was very good. Probably should have gone German but nothing jumped out at me as looking that tasty. They seem to have a large selection of beers though and from various parts of the world so even if you don’t like German tastes you should still find something you will like.
Rating wise, I’ve gone three stars as I don’t think there was anything really that special about it. Not much atmosphere, fairly low budget feel and the smallest toilets I have seen in a long long time. Fine for a pint, but I doubt you would rush back.

My boyfriend and I found Brauhaus by accident as we were walking back to our hotel in Bruntsfield. At first it felt like we were walking into someone’s front room with its slightly chintzy tables, chairs and cushions, but how many people do you know whose front room stocks 200-​odd beers from all over the globe? Aye, not many!
Despite the fact the power went out just after we arrived, the staff cooed really well, keeping everyone topped up with drinks and banter til everything came back on again. Beers remained cold, staff kept the music going and kept a great atmosphere throughout :)
A great wee find and I’ll need to find my way back again so I can work my way through all those tasty beers!

During a recent trip to Edinburgh, my boyfriend and I were looking for a wee pub to have a pint in and, as we were staying at the Premier Inn at Lauriston Place, a short wander round the corner led us to this place. At first I was worried we wouldn’t get a seat, as Brauhaus is a cosy and crowded wee corner, but it turned out to be deceptively spacious with plenty of seats.
For such a small-​seeming pub, they have an impressive selection of beer, whether it’s speciality or standard you’re after. While I swithered over which beer to choose, he ordered a pint of Erdinger and the bar man gave me a generous sample as I cluelessly asked for ‘something light, smooth and not too beery’. I can’t remember what the name of the beer was, but I approved and promptly ordered myself a pint of it.
We sat ourselves down at one of their big wooden tables, on country kitchen chairs, while some nice punters shuffled over to make room for us. The walls were decorated with beer labels and the music playing took me back to my teenage student days of gig-​going and cider-​and-​blackcurrant-​drinking.
I really enjoyed my visit to Brauhaus, as the bar and its man were warm and welcoming and it’s the ideal place for a cosy pint.

Brauhaus — Now under new management. Well let’s have a looksee.
It’s still small, the male loos are still old and manky and the look of the place is still cluttered and a bit tatty (DIY beer label wallpaper crumbling of the walls, sun-​bleached beer bottles on display out front, etc.). But there’s still an array of beer and friendly staff right? Well, most of the staff is still there…
So what has changed? Well the incessant playing of game after game after game of football on the televisions has gone. As have the scruffy (and given the size of the room, totally impractical) couches. Big tree stumps for stools? Gone too which means more room. In their place are some simple wooden tables and chairs. All improvements in my book!
And to the negatives. The football has been replaced by smooth 70’s easy listening music. (Well at least when I’ve been in it has.) Let’s be honest, NOTHING kills atmosphere in a bar like smooth 70’s easy listening music. Worse still, the range of beers on offer has plummeted. Hefty menu book replaced by two sides of A4. Don’t get me wrong now, it’s still a sizable list but Brauhaus bills itself in having «The largest range of beers in the country». Quite a few of my of faves are gone. Oh, and the prices have gone up. Not good when the place wasn’t cheap to begin with.
I think the new management has bungled the opportunity to turn this place into something special. Why not shut doors for a couple of weeks, really spruce the place up, fling open the doors and yell «We’re back AND we’re better!!» With regret, I say this has not been the case and at least in the short-​term, things have gone backwards.
Plenty of other pubs in Tollcross and might I add, a couple of them sell some very tasty beers. I’ll be spending my pennies elsewhere.

Visited about 5:00 on a Tuesday afternoon during Fringe. I was the only customer in the place for awhile, then a group of about five came in and settled in big armchairs around a low table. Huge selection of beers from all over the world. I came in search of Leffe, which a friend had told me I simply had to try sometime. Turns out they had four on the menu, so I picked one more or less at random. It came with a Leffe glass — I was impressed.
The place has a coffeehouse feel to it, with a few tables, plus big armchairs and coffee tables. Other people have commented about the TV’s showing soccer all the time. That was happening when I was there, but the sound was off, so it was not a problem. I imagine the place would not handle crowds well, but it was really pleasant when I was there. Definitely worth a visit for the beer selection, but it’s probably a good idea to go early.

Deceptively cool, as remembered. Upon walking in, the louder than normal music greets ears whilst fringing a choice of foreign or local beers. I went local, having spent the previous month at Heriot Watt working silly Sue I felt honoured to acknowledge an Origin beer created by competition winner students. Who knew there was such an evolving student led idea… Jay Z and Fat Boy Slim helped my view on this Monday evening elevate to the 90’s (I think) and they performed to deliver a smile on faces, ideal for kids of the 80’s. The man with the plan at the bar helped my choice and was abundant with ale knowledge when prompted. Clearly this local house receives friendly banter and is welcoming. Sinking on the sofa and soaking in the music whilst extending personal knowledge on ‘hoppiness’ is the way it rolls here, ideally propped with friends of course.

Large beer selection…
A small seating area…
Service was spotty.

Probably one of the best places in Edinburgh for a wide selection of beers. To say their menu of beers is extensive is an understatement. They probably have most of the bottled beers that are available in the city. Which is impressive. And, all beers are poured lovingly into the proper glassware.
Yes, it does get crowded after work and on weekend evenings. It is indeed rather small. There is an easy solution to this: my favorite thing to do was to go here on a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon. This allows you to relax on the couches, enjoy a couple of pints, and chat with the staff without feeling overcrowded.
Final note: they often have Weihenstephan hefeweizen on tap, which is greatness, especially on one of those rare Edinburgh sunny days.

Only boozer in Edinburgh to stock Jever and that at a great price too.
I object to paying upward of £3 for a bottle of mediocre Italian beer that happens to be trendy at the moment, but for the vast majority of beers which Brauhaus stock I’d gladly pay a pound more, each, than they charge.
As has been stated before, if it’s busy, it’s got a terrible capacity with an even worse layout, but the fact is they have a simply astounding collection of good beers at a very reasonable price.
If only they stocked Licher it would be utterly perfect.

This place should totally sell the Smooth Hoperator (It is a real beer folks!)… because it is amazing!!!
It is kinda out of the way a little, I had not a scooby where I was going I was just following my beer nose and thankfully we ended up here.
The selection of beer, as I am sure you have guessed, is endless. I was like a small child in a sweetie shop. Reading the selection of bottled beer and ooohhhh-​ing and aaahhhh-​ing… I may have let out the occasional squeal too!
The music was motown and I was in my element. Staff are fab. Banter was flowing.
I shall return… before I leave… and with all that amazing beer… it could get messy.

Brauhaus, you have the best range of foreign beers but sadly this obsession with showing football all the time spoils it all. Your seating layout is pretty rubbish too.
I will thus keep buying your awesome beers in your sister’s shop Nina’s round the corner where I always get good banter anyway.

We’re all f**king not friends anymore. Seriously? No seriously though… why has NO ONE taken me here before?
I’m genuinely befuddled as to why no one has told me that THEY HAVE A HUNDRED DIFFERENT KINDS OF BEER.
The confusion is made more confusing by the fact that no one mentioned they have LEATHER FRIGGING COUCHES.
And even more mystified by everyone keeping the secret that THE MEN THAT HANG OUT THERE DO SO IN FLANNEL SHIRTS SITTING ON SAID COUCHES.
Oh, and further perplexed by THE THREE, count them, THREE types of BROOKLYN LAGER THEY CARRY (in addition to about NINETY SEVEN OTHER BEERS) that no one has bothered to tell me about.
Yea, so friends, you’re going to need to borrow my diary so you «get me» a little better.
Seriously, I’m friends with like, 4000 people who Unilocal loudly and Unilocal often and NO ONE has even mentioned this place. I hate to say this, but epic failure Unilocal community, and full on five star success Brauhaus.
Kerrin N. You’ve been served, this one was your call.

When this place opened in 2008, I would have given five stars easily. Best selection of foreign beer in town, and good rock music in the background. Where else in Edinburgh could I find so many Belgian beers, beers I grew accustomed to being a young adult in Northern France?
Now in 2012 there’s a few reasons why I don’t rate this place that high anymore:
— It’s tiny. And successful. Avoid afterworks and evenings on Thursdays and Fridays and weekends, it’s really cramped and seats are impossible to get.
— Since 2010, the place has been showing football game after football game, most of the time. Bye bye music, now time for more and more footy. Not everybody’s cuppa.
— Since 2011, the place is officially a Hearts’ fan place. Fair enough. I just don’t care for football and lost the interest.
A nice concept which slowly started catering for a different audience as originally intended. Would really gain a lot if it went back to basics, or if some competition offered the same beers without the constant football.
Anyone interested?

I’ve spent so much money here when I first came to Edinburgh! It’s any beer lovers paradise!
With a giant beer menu, claiming to have over 200 different choices, this place is perfect for trying new brews. Sorted by country, you can choose beers from all over the world, even from where I live, Canada! If that’s not cool enough, generally the chosen beer comes in it’s own glass. So expect receiving anything from a slim tall pint glass to a gold rimmed goblet.
If that’s too difficult, you can decide to buy a ‘beer bucket’ which is an assortment of different beers for you to try! Perfect for the indecisive person I am!
The long list of Belgian fruit beers is very impressive too, which is perfect for girls who come along who don’t really like beer! So far I haven’t met any girl who doesn’t like fruli or a kriek as a replacement for a beer!
The only downside to this place is the lack of TLC being given to the building. Its got old sofas, tiles off the floor, and not that great of bathrooms. Also, its always cold! If they spent a little money just cleaning it up a little, it would be so much nicer!
Come earlier than later, as it does tend to pack up after work time.

I enjoy a good beer. I also enjoy trying something different. Brauhaus is thus ideal: the staff, knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. There is a beer menu for bottled beers (and draft wheat beer) from around the world — many not seen anywhere else. They stock unusual spirits, these folk get some interesting alcohols in.
And yet the layout is ill planned… This is a small bar with big furniture limiting the space considerably. Then there are the loos… While the bar may have been refurbished these have not.
How you feel about this place depends on your priorities, I can accept some flaws if the service and the drinks are good, I just wish the furniture was more practical and the loos spruced up a bit. I see Brauhaus as more a guilty pleasure not reaching its full potential but make no mistake overall I am a fan.

A decent place for a decent beer. Loads of choice although they do tend to have run out of my first second and third choice beers every time I’m there! However not to worry there are loads of other beers I will happily sup.
I do have a few issues with the interior. Seating is badly designed with huge tables and big sofas. Great for a lazy afternoon. A disaster if you are there and it’s busy or if you have a larger group. I think it would do well to have a more brauhaus/​beer hall bench like set up. Also the TV’s constantly showing football is a massive turn off for me but luckily the screens were hidden where I was sitting so I didnt have to suffer from constant distraction by flickering green lights!
Beers are great and they now do pretzels and sausages in fine German tradition.
Service is slow but friendly. All in all a great place for an enjoyable night out — especially when it’s cold out!

*Following my comments on the beer thread, here’s my review*
I totally dig Brauhaus. It’s not cheap, mind you, but they more beers than I thought existed in the world. They literally have a menu of beers to choose from. You know when you go to a really fancy restaurant and get a separate menu for wine? It’s like that. They also have German snacks like soft pretzels, sausages, and tasty bread filled with cheese– perfect for soaking up the copious amounts of beer you will be tempted to consume here.
Plus the seating is comfortable. Well, «comfortable» might not be the right word, there are comfy couches which are great if you’re with just one other person but not ideal if you are trying to speak with someone across from you. They also have the heaviest stumps in the world to sit on, so don’t even think about attempting to move one unless you are strong. Very strong.
This is a really great place to come during the week or an early weekend day but I would try to stay away for the Friday after work and Saturday evening rush because it’s really just not set up for crowds. The bartenders often have to grab your random beer order from downstairs, and when they have it in hand, the pour into the individually tailored glasses with great care.
The best part is that they get in Oktoberfest beers on tap in the Autumn, which is quite a treat!

The Brauhaus might just be one of the best pubs in Edinburgh.
It’s tucked away, and just off the beaten track enough for it to be an absolute treat when you discover it. It’s small and its décor is a mixture between a traditional pub and a hip contemporary watering hole.
It’s fairly small inside, and although the window seating area is comfy with an array of cushions scattered around, it’s still hard to get a seat after about 8pm or so. If you’ve travelled this far to get here however I would argue that it is worth standing for the drink, since they house over 250 beers from around the world! Their menu is categorized by country, and you can hope to try anything from the alluring, brooding darkness of Duvel to beer with a bit of a kick and more percentage!
It can get crowded, but it’s never in an unpleasant way. It’s a very cultured bar with a good atmosphere that I would recommend you visit once during your time in Edinburgh. I have a mission that one day I will try all these beers — this bar at least lets me fulfill my life’s ambition without having to leave the country!

Starker Pub. Hier gibt es Bier aus aller Welt. Die Bierkarte ist ein Bierpass und man kann aus ca. 40 Laendern der Welt Bier bestellen. Die Preise sind dafuer eigentlich auch okay. Ein 0,33er kostet 2,50. Des Weiteren gibt es auch koestliche Speissen wie z.B. Currywurst oder Brezeln. Das Publikum ist international und in den zwanzigern.