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Sylvia Rose

German House Spirits: Beer Donkey (Bieresel)

Updated: Oct 4

Bieresel loves beer and other fermented beverages, such as apple cider, mead or wine. In German folklore the beer donkey lives in wine or beer cellars, public houses, breweries and farmhouse basements. He's known to visit pubs or Kneipen, and has a trickster side.



donkey on its way to the bar
Beer Donkey or Bieresel sometimes goes out for a laugh

In certain ways he relates to the Eight Immortals of Chinese lore. The Eight Drunken Immortals is a martial arts style. One move is "riding the donkey backward", based on a feat of Zhang. The Immortals may appear on Earth dressed as peasants with donkey companions.


Beer Donkey uses German pronoun 'der', masculine. He guards the drink and the process of fermentation, and bestows protective magic. He is a protector of yeast, the tiny living organisms producing alcohol and CO2 bubbles in brewing.



Fermenting Yeast
Fermenting Yeast

The spirit may be related to the Harvest Donkeys of Yule, who fertilize the fruit trees. As one of the domestic animal spirits the Donkey can be helpful, or kick up a fuss if denied a share of his favorite beverage, beer.


Like the house Kobolds this cellar spirit can cause significant damage in his habitat if upset. He breaks barrels and bottles, turns alcohol to vinegar and infests hops with powdery mildew.



Beer donkeys can turn cider to vinegar and beer to blech.
Is the Beer Donkey upset? He can turn cider to vinegar and beer to blech.

Even in a good mood Bieresel has a mischievous streak and might play tricks on brewers and landlords, hiding tools or causing equipment malfunctions attributed to gremlins in the 20th century. A kick or head-butt from the Beer Donkey can cause a great fall.


More vigorous spirit attacks can result in broken bones. Regional variations apply. In central Germany the beast may be Aufhocker. He leaps on a person's back, and increases his weight until the person dies or finds a way to dislodge it. Bieresel often attacks drunkards.



A huge Oktoberfest sized mug of beer
Off to a good start. Watch your back.

The Donkey's a good protector of the cellar. An owner should leave a dish of beer or cider to please the Donkey. A dish or glass of alcoholic drink each night is acceptable to Bieresel as tribute for continued good fortune. One may raise a glass to this spirit before taking a drink.


This animal may play trickster cards. If given permission to indulge, the Donkey can drain a barrel of beer in minutes. Like the Roggenhund or Rye Dog, this spirit is never satisfied. Sometimes der Bieresel comes into a drinking establishment and drinks it all dry.



The bar is closed
Bieresel has a relentless thirst and is known to drink all the beer in a pub

The sight of the Donkey might signal the approach of the Moss Mother, a mythical entity connected to the Earth, who brews her own beer. Moss Mother appears in the Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction series of novels.


In autumn Moss Mother travels to Harvest Festivals and homes throughout the land as an aspect of Nerthe (Nerthus, Hertha, Erde) the Earth Goddess. Where the people celebrate veneration of the Earth, in public halls or under the stars, Moss Mother leaves a blessing.



people by a bonfire in the great north woods
Celebration of the Land

In Bohemia, Bieresel is a type of Poltergeist, a dissatisfied spirit or medium to strong power who makes a mess and a lot of noise. His appearance is not as Donkey but an Ox, hideous and hostile, with swollen red face, horns and other demonic traits. The sight of this spirit is said to make one sick unto death.



Non-Fiction Books:


Fiction Books:

READ: Lora Ley Adventures - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series

READ: Reiker For Hire - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries




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