Brauerei Locher

The Brauerei Locher is the best-known brewery in Appenzell, and one of the few Swiss breweries of its size still owned by a family. It was founded in the 19th century and is run today by the fifth generation of the Locher family, which gives the company a sense of continuity unusual in the beer business, where many old breweries have been absorbed by large groups. Its home is in the old town of Appenzell, in the Alpstein foothills of north-eastern Switzerland, and its beers are among the most recognisable in the region.

The Appenzeller Bier is the best-known product, a family of beers sold across Switzerland, brewed with water from the brewery’s own spring, and the brand includes lagers, wheat beers and seasonal specials. One of its beers, Quöllfrisch, takes its name from the spring and is the brewery’s flagship, widely available and associated with the mountains of Appenzell. The brewery has a reputation for experimenting with new styles while keeping its traditional recipes. It has also made a Swiss single-malt whisky, Säntis Malt, aged in used beer barrels, which has won awards and shows how the brewery has expanded beyond beer, in a very Swiss mountain tradition of local craft distilling.

A visit to the brewery explains how beer is made, from malted barley and hops to fermentation, filtering and bottling. Tours take visitors through the brewing hall, the cellars and the bottling area, with a guide who explains the steps and the brewery’s history. A tasting is usually part of the offer, giving a chance to sample several of the beers and perhaps to try the other products. The experience is informal and friendly, in keeping with the character of the town. Tour times, languages and prices vary, and some visits may need advance booking, so check the brewery’s website before you go.

Appenzell is a good place for a day of regional food and drink. The town’s painted houses and its Landsgemeindeplatz, where the canton’s open-air assembly meets, are close, as is the show dairy where Appenzeller cheese is made, and the Appenzell Museum covers local culture. The mountain landscapes of the Ebenalp, the Seealpsee and the Wildkirchli caves lie a short ride away. A beer from the local brewery goes well with a plate of Appenzeller cheese and a slice of the local bread.

The brewery suits beer lovers, families visiting the town, and anyone who wants to learn about the local craft. It is best combined with a walk through Appenzell’s old town.