Beer Halls

Hi CJS -
Yes, you absolutely can go just to have a beer. Ordering food isn't required.
We went to several and didn't have a meal at any of them.

Some of the "beer halls", like the Spatenhaus, are really restaurants in all but name, and not really suited for only ordering beer. However, this would be appropriate in the Hofbräuhaus, or the Augustinerkeller.

Don't overlook the beer gardens as a method of beer sampling, though. These are probably more suited for your purposes than the beer halls.

Hi CJ- You might want to check this website out for planning purposes. It hits most of the biggies in Munich.

http://www.europeanbeerguide.net/munipubs.htm

Have a good trip!!!

I would totally agree with Tom about Spatenhaus an der Oper. Much more of an upscale restaurant than a beer hall.

On the other hand, I've been in the Hofbräuhaus many times, and I'm sure I've ordered just a beer at first (although always food later) and never was made to feel like I had to order food.

And I went to the beer garden at Weihenstephan and a lot of people were just sitting under the trees enjoying a beer. Beer and food sales are from different counters and you seat yourself.

I should have mentioned that we didn't go to any 'upscale' halls: we lifted our pints at pretty casual places with others doing the same, and we did it outside as often as possible.

Thanks for the advice.

I do to intend to hit the beer gardens if the weather is permitting otherwise I will go to the Beer Halls as a back up.

Thank you

I stumbled across a website several years ago called Beer Drinker's Guide to Munich. Fantastic site for a beer drinker going to Munich. I bought the book expecting a few pages of interesting reading material. What I got was 260 pages of beer drinking bible for Munich. I've been back several times and never go without that trusty book. If you are flying into the airport in Munich, be sure to check out the beer garden IN the airport. Nothing like beer and bacon after an all night flight!

Just a few recommentations from a local:
1. Augustiner is rated by most locals the best beer from Munich. Best go to Augustiner Keller since this is the only place where you get their Edelstoff beer served from the traditional wooden barrel - less carbonated and much better than from the alloy keg or the bottle. Augustiner Keller also is the oldest beer garden in Munich.
2. If you want to taste German craft beer don't miss Giesinger Bräustüberl and try their Triple Lemondrop and their Giesinger Erhellung (enlightment), a classic style bavarian lager.
3. A second source for craft beer is the Tap House - http://www.tap-house.de/en/. They offer 200 sorts of craft beer, 42 of them from the tap.
4. If you ask in Munich for the best beergarden, you will get 10 different answers from 10 people. My favorites are Augustiner Keller, Hirschgarten, Taxisgarten and Seehaus (at the Kleinhesseloher See).

As to your question regarding food ordering---remember, in Germany bier IS food, so not to worry.

As to your question regarding food ordering---remember, in Germany bier IS food, so not to worry.

This applies only to Bavaria, not to whole Germany :-)

Regarding beer tasting: Beergardens are not the ideal places for beer tasting, since the minimum quantity you get there is always 1 liter ("a Mass").

Have to disagree, I always order a half liter when I go to these beer gardens. When I was young and foolish I would order the full liter but old age has decimated my drinking and I have to go "small". I agree that the Beer Drinker's Guide to Munich is a great book. I met a guy on the plane who was from Munich and he also had the book, lol. Great reading and it has some 2 for 1 coupons on the most popular beer gardens so the book pays for itself!

If you are interested in taking a trip a little outside of Munich into the countryside, check out Andechs Monastery. Their beer is our favorite in all of the Munich area. In addition to the fantastic beer, the grounds are beautiful and worth seeing alone. They have a great little beer garden, as well as a beer hall. You have to walk up to the counter and order your food and beer, and carry it back to your table, so no issue if you don't want to order food.

http://www.andechs.de/en/the-monastery-brewery.html

Since someone mentioned Andechs (which I recommend) I'll also throw out the suggestion of Kloster Reutberg. It's like a mini Andechs without the tour buses. It can be reached by taking the S-Bahn to Holzkirchen and changing to an RVO bus or taking a short taxi to the Kloster.

DJ

You can easily order half a liter. Never seen a min of one liter