The Search for the Perfect Pint
The beers and breweries of Munich
This is probably my favourite place on earth. There are six main brewers in Munich (although technically it is only 4). In 1997, Spaten and Lowenbrau merged into one and then Interbrew swallowed the pair of them in 2003. So I'll mention the BIG SIX - Augustiner, Hofbrauhais, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Lowenbrau and Spaten.
Augustiner-Bräustuben - Landsbergerstr.19,
80339 München (Munich)
This was opposite our hotel the last time we were in Munich (March 2011) so was particularly handy. We first went in there in 2007 and it is brilliant. It's only 5 or so minutes walk from the Hauptbanhoff or you can get a train to Hackerbrucke and walk over the bridge from the S-Bahn platform. Don't worry if you go the wrong way because you'll get to the Augustiner Keller which is as good. The Augustiner beer comes in several styles, from the basic Helles to Edelstoff. It's all sold in litres and costs around 5 euros. The beer hall is long and narrow with a row of centre posts (it used to be a stable). There are only around 500 seats so it can get loud and rowdy - just how I like it. The food is good and hearty - traditional Bavarian specialities such as pork knuckle and roast spuds. Even Johnny Hand liked the food. In fact him and Norman liked the place so much they fell over getting in and out of the place.
Augustinerkeller - Arnulfstr.52, Ecke Zirkus-Krone-Str.
80335 München-Neuhausen.
As I said earlier, this place is easy to get to. Either get the S-Bahn or take tram number 17 from the Hauptbanhof in the direction of Amalienburg Str and get off at Hopfenstrasse. It's only half a block walk from there. We spent the afternoon there on Ash Wednesday so don't expect any meat dishes on that particular day. However, the catfish was excellent. The beer garden holds around 5000 seats and the Keller around 250. The beer is obviously Augustiner Brau and is superb at 3.40 euro for a half litre.
Hofbräuhaus - Am Platzl 9,
80331 München
Anybody whose has been to Munich will have visited the famous "Hoff" - including Adolf Hitler. Just walk up Bayer Strasse from the Hauptbanhoff and you can't miss it. The hall is huge - it holds around 2000 drunks. It lives up to it's billing as a "must see" on every travellers visit and although it is commercialised it is well worth at least one visit. Again the beer (Hofbrau) is sold in litre pots for 5 euros. There are regular oompah bands and row after row of boisterous drinkers and is a cauldron of bubbling fun and enjoyment, spiced with excellent beer, good food and a fantastic atmosphere. Don't miss it.
A typical night in the Hofbrauhaus
One of the many oompah bands to be seen. Go at the start of Lent. You won't regret it
I'm going home, I never dance
Paulaner Bräuhaus - Kapuzinerplatz 5,
80337 München
From the Hauptbanhoff get tihe U1 or U2 to Sendlinger Tor then the U3 to Goethplatz. Most Paulaner beers are available here including Pils, Dunkles and a wheat beer. However the real treat is the home brewed beers. The chief brewer is justifiably proud of his Thomas Zwickl beer. The other mainstay is Hefe-Weissbier Naturtrub - an unfiltered wheat beer. There is also normally a seasonably special (if asked for).
Bayerischer Donisl - Weinstraße 1,
80333 München
You can't fail to see this place - it's just round the corner from the Town Hall. The service is friendly and the food is very reasonable in price, but it's not really my cup of tea. Go at lunch time and you won't have to suffer the Bavarian music.
Nurnberger Bratwurst Glockl Frauenplatz 9
This authentic pub is tucked away next to the Frauenkirche Cathedral very near central Marienplatz. It is a beautiful tavern that is filled with old world charm, great beer and food. Try the house specialty Nurnberg sausages that are grilled over an open flame. The refreshing Helles is offered from wooden barrels behind the rear bar. Beware of the awful Bavarian Organ music
OUTSIDE MUNICH
The transport system around Munich is brilliant and inexpensive so why not take a trip out to visit some other pubs and gardens?
Isar bräu - Kreuzeckstraße 23,
82049 Großhesselohe.
This place is a bit more difficult to get to but it's well worth the trip on the S Bahn. It's an old railway station that has been transformed into a fabulous brewery. The beer is excellent and the food is superb. Effing Paul may have disagreed as he only drinks Carling but what does he know? There are a number of different brews including Isarbräu Salonbier (unfiltered), Isarbräu Schwarzbier (unfiltered) Isarbräu Weizen (unfiltered) and Hofbräuhaus Traunstein Helles. Internally it's a bit special as well.
Garmisch Partenkirchen
Another fantastic day trip. The trains leave hourly and it takes a couple of hours to get there. I can't recall the name of the ONE bar we went to but you can get Lowenbrau at the top of the highest mountain in Germany. It costs 22 euro for the ski lift and is a fabulous day out. It was the venue for the 1936 Olympic Games and the views from the top are well worth the trip up. Especially when there's a pint waiting for you
Freising - Weihenstephan Bräustüberl - Weihenstephaner Berg 10,
85354 Freising
Weihenstephan Brewery is the oldest brewery in the world and is situated on one of the two famous hills in Freising, Germany surrounded by the Weihenstephan science center of the Technical University of Munich. This brewery is owned by the State of Bavaria but over a thousand years ago it was the monastery brewery of the Benedictine monks.
The Weihenstephan Brewery is a unique combination of tradition and custom, proven knowledge and modern science which gives the brewery its own identity. Beer brewing if done properly is a special philosophy and even as times change with new developments and achievements the Weihenstephan beer has always remained the same. Be warned though, it's a bit of a trek from the train station. However, once you are there, it's worth the walk. The beer garden is quite small - it only seats around 500. BUT, it's one of the cheapest anywhere around because the Bavarian state subsidises it and helps to keep the prices low and within the range of the poor old tax dodging students. There are numerous beers to try - Weihenstephaner Original , Weihenstephaner Edel-Pils, Weihenstephaner Tradition, Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Leicht, Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel, Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier, Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Hell and finally
Weihenstephaner Korbinian
The Weihenstephan Brewery is a unique combination of tradition and custom, proven knowledge and modern science which gives the brewery its own identity. Beer brewing if done properly is a special philosophy and even as times change with new developments and achievements the Weihenstephan beer has always remained the same. Be warned though, it's a bit of a trek from the train station. However, once you are there, it's worth the walk. The beer garden is quite small - it only seats around 500. BUT, it's one of the cheapest anywhere around because the Bavarian state subsidises it and helps to keep the prices low and within the range of the poor old tax dodging students. There are numerous beers to try - Weihenstephaner Original , Weihenstephaner Edel-Pils, Weihenstephaner Tradition, Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Leicht, Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel, Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier, Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Hell and finally
Weihenstephaner Korbinian
