The Ringbahn Beer Challenge is different from your average pub crawl. It’s a crazy adventure for people who love trains, beer, and a good challenge. If that sounds like you, then you’re in for a treat!
In 2017, I turned 36 and was looking for a unique way to celebrate, and I wanted to do something epic. I was brainstorming ideas with my friend Mike over a few beers at BRLO Brewery when I mentioned wanting to do a beer challenge involving Berlin’s subway system. He thought it was a crazy idea, but he loved it! That’s when I knew I had to make it happen.
I decided to go with the Ringbahn line because it circles the city, making it easy for people from different parts of Berlin to get together.
Plus, 27 stations seemed like the perfect number for my birthday challenge.
The Ringbahn Beer Challenge Rules
The rules are simple: one large beer at every station. That is it.
See how far you can make it!
My First Attempt: Summer 2017
On the first weekend of July, I gathered a group of friends and set off on our Ringbahn Beer Challenge. We started in the afternoon at S-Bahn Neukölln, planning to cover West Berlin first and then head towards Prenzlauer Berg in the evening. Of course, things didn’t quite go according to plan!
We grabbed beers from various places—station kiosks and spätis, corner bars, and even a supermarket. At Innsbrucker Platz, we surprised the staff at a restaurant called Odessa Mama when 15 of us showed up and ordered beers!
As the evening progressed, the beers started hitting us. We stumbled upon a Hertha-themed bar in Jungfernheide and even got some birthday shots! We skipped Westhafen station because I couldn’t find any place to buy beer, so I just drank one I had brought along.
By two in the morning, we reached Gesundbrunnen, and half the group decided to call it a night. Only my friend Ciaran from Abandoned Berlin and I were left from the original group. We finally made it to Schönhauser Allee, where I apparently walked into a späti, tripped, and fell flat on my face! That’s when I decided to end the challenge for the night.
Round Two: The Revenge
A few months later, my girlfriend visited from Brazil, and I decided to complete the challenge with her. We started where I had left off – Gesundbrunnen – and continued our beer journey. We drank at some cool bars like Hintersee Bar and Beakers, and even a grumpy corner bar where they weren’t too thrilled to see a bunch of rowdy, slightly drunk people.
We had beers at spätis, a proper bar at Frankfurter Allee, and finally reached Sonnenallee at two in the morning. The bar I had planned to visit was closed, so we ended the challenge at another späti.
I was the only one who had a beer at every Ringbahn station, so I can call myself the champion! But what a painful victory that really was.
27 Beers, 27 Stations: My Epic Ringbahn Beer Adventure
The Ringbahn Beer Challenge was a ridiculous and fun experience. We had some great laughs, made some memories (and forgot some, too!), and it was a birthday celebration I’ll never forget.
While I don’t think I’ll ever attempt the Ringbahn challenge again, it inspired me to try other beer challenges on different subway lines. In 2018, we tackled the U1 line, and in 2024, we tackled the U4 line.
If you want a unique and unforgettable way to experience Berlin, I highly recommend creating your own beer challenge. Just remember to pace yourself, stay hydrated, and be respectful of the places you visit. Prost!
