In Vienna’s Ottakring district, there’s an event that makes beer lovers’ hearts race: the Tank Beer Days. But what’s the story behind this special event at Ottakringer? Quite simply—it’s all about maximum freshness. Normally, beer is filtered after brewing and bottled or put into kegs. During the Tank Beer Days, however, the beer is served directly from the brewery’s huge, cool storage tanks. Unadulterated, unpasteurized, and as natural as the master brewer intended after the long maturation process. It’s a pure, unadulterated taste that you’d normally only find deep in the brewery cellar.
Tradition since 1837
The Ottakringer Brewery is a Vienna institution. Founded in 1837 by Heinrich Plank, it is today the city’s last major independent private brewery. For nearly 190 years, it has shaped the cityscape and the culture of enjoyment in the 16th district. The brewery’s historic architecture also provides the perfect backdrop for events that blend tradition with modern bar culture.
The popularity of Vienna beer is impressively reflected in the hard numbers. The brewery sells around 432,000 hectoliters of beer every year. That corresponds to a staggering amount of over 86 million mugs, which find their way into the glasses of restaurants and private households.
The Ottakringer Experience On Site
But the Tank Beer Days are not just about sheer volume; above all, they’re about artisanal quality. Here, visitors have the rare chance to taste specialty beers straight from the source—beers that are often not even available in regular stores. Accompanied by live music and regional culinary delicacies, the entire brewery grounds transform into a huge, lively open-air beer garden. This clearly shows that beer in Vienna is far more than just a simple drink—it is an essential part of the local lifestyle and social tradition. Well then, cheers!
📍Ottakringer Brewery, Ottakringer Strasse 91, Vienna
🕰️ April 30 – May 3 / Thu. 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM / Fri. & Sat. 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM / Sun. 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
