Forst Brewery Beer Garden (Bräustüberl)

The Forst Brewery Beer Garden, or Bräustüberl, at Lagundo (Algund) just outside Merano is the home of Birra Forst, South Tyrol's best-known brewery, and one of the region's most enjoyable warm-weather evening destinations. Rather than a club, it is a large beer garden and tavern at the brewery itself, where visitors sit beneath the trees with the full range of Forst beers — from the everyday lager to the strong, dark Sixtus and seasonal brews — poured fresh, accompanied by hearty Tyrolean food. The crowd is broad and all-ages: families, groups of friends, locals and tourists, in a thoroughly relaxed and convivial setting with no dress code. The atmosphere is unhurried and festive in the best beer-garden tradition, especially during the Forst beer festival (Forster Bierfest) in spring, when the brewery comes alive with music and crowds. Music is generally background, with occasional live bands rather than DJ programming. The drinks programme is, naturally, all about Forst, with beers by the half-litre and litre at brewery prices that are reasonable for the region, alongside regional wines and soft drinks; food covers Tyrolean classics such as sausages, dumplings, goulash and pretzels. Opening hours are seasonal, running roughly daily from 09:00 to midnight in the warmer months, and the garden is at its best from spring through early autumn; it is quieter or closed in deep winter. There is no cover charge and no bottle-service or club culture — this is a beer garden, and seating is largely first-come, though reservations help for larger groups at peak times. For anyone exploring the Merano area, a relaxed evening of fresh Forst beer and Tyrolean food beneath the trees at the brewery's own garden is a quintessential South Tyrolean experience.