Brausilvester Special: Mohrenbrauerei celebrates the start of the new beer year

Mohrenbrauerei celebrated the start of the new beer year with around 13,000 guests. With the motto “130 years of Mohrenbräu Spezial,” Brausilvester on September 27 was dedicated to the classic red beer from Vorarlberg. Dornbirn's new mayor, Markus Fäßler, demonstrated his skill at the traditional barrel tapping. For the first time, a playground was set up on the outdoor grounds next to the beer garden and rides, making it a real family celebration. Another new feature was the after-party at Conrad Sohm starting at 11 p.m.

Bigger, louder, longer: at Brausilvester 2025, the Mohrenbrauerei celebrated the start of the new beer year and the anniversary of the classic beer “Spezial.” The double occasion made it the biggest celebration in the company's history. More than 4,000 square meters provided space for stages, bars, and a beer garden. Five live bands, numerous rides, hands-on activities, and, for the first time, a playground transformed the Dornbirn exhibition center into an autumn festival for the whole family. From 11 p.m., the special birthday party continued at the Conrad Sohm nightclub – also a first.

More than 13,000 guests attended the Mohrenbräu Brausilvester on September 27, including State Councilor Marco Tittler and Markus Fäßler. Dornbirn's new mayor performed the traditional barrel tapping for the first time, officially opening the new Vorarlberg beer year. Brausilvester dates back to the days before modern refrigeration technology. “In the past, beer production only started again after the hop and grain harvest in autumn. Fortunately, today we brew around the clock and celebrate centuries-old brewing culture and customs together,” said master brewer Tim Groeger happily.

600 crates of beer as the main prize
The 130 selected guests who discovered one of the coveted special bottle caps in advance also had reason to celebrate. Three million of these caps adorned the special containers during the summer. At Brausilvester, all 130 had the chance to win the grand prize: a lifetime supply of beer from Mohrenbräu – one crate every month for 50 years. The size of the prize was demonstrated by 600 crates at the live draw on stage.

Celebrity guest list
Mohrenbräu managing director Thomas Pachole got the party started with a thank-you speech to the audience: “Spezial is a cult favorite because so many people love it. Today, every third beer enjoyed in the state is a Spezial. That's a good reason to celebrate.” Together with the Huber family, who own the property, he welcomed many familiar faces, including Michael Diem (Bregenz Festival House), Gernot Erne (Raiffeisenbank Im Rheintal), and Claudia Brunner (atelier-c). Hanno Lercher (lawyer) and Alexander Juen (deputy mayor of Dornbirn) also attended the milestone birthday celebration for this Vorarlberg cultural treasure. In addition to beer and fine food, musical entertainment was provided by d'Hatler Musig, the Musikverein Doren, Buch Brass, the Allgäu Feager, and Dabado.