STRONG BEER FESTIVAL IN BAVARIA
Best Beer Halls for Munich's Fifth Season
Sometimes
referred to as the “Fifth
Season” in Bavaria and
especially popular in Munich is “Starkbierzeit” (strong beer
time) which comes to Munich after Fasching (see also COLOGNE'S
CRAZY DAYS).
The tradition of beer brewing came to Germany mostly from monks, whose
images and
orders often
adorn
the bottles
and names of the brews like Franzikaners for the Franciscans. Since
the middle ages, the monks of Bavaria brewed a “strong beer” with
more of the “wort” (malt) which provided nutritional value
for the recovery from the Lenten fasting, and more alcohol content,
making for a full-blooded, malty taste, fermented from the bottom of
the barrel called “ Doppelbock”.
In March, after lent passes partying Munchners celebrate the strong
beer season festival, which is a mini-version of Oktoberfest (see Munich's
Oktoberfest Big Beer Party), only in spring
and
with less
crowds. The original and best known strong beer is the Salvator, brewed
by Paulaner and served
at the
brewery’s Paulaner am Nockerberg wirtshaus (restaurant) and beer
garden in Haidhausen, just to the east of the Isar River and outside
the Isartor gate of Munich. The festival time is sometimes referred
to as “going on top of the hill”. (Nockerberg means Nocker
Hill). Stone-lifting competitions and music also accompany the beer
drinking.
To go along with their strong beer the Munich beer halls serve special popular dishes "O'batzter" (Camembert cheese crumbled with onion, paprika and butter), "Steckerlfisch" (a grilled fish on a stick), "Leberkäs" (a typical Bavarian meat) or broiled chicken "Brathendl".
The drinking of much high alcohol content beer has given rise to the long time custom of performance artists in cabaret style shows called the "Derblecken" or "Tratzen" making fun of politicians and the prominent social figures who often are in the audience and endure the slings and arrows to show they’re good old sports.
The Paulaner am Nockerberg which recovered from a devastating fire a few years ago covers three floors including the original Salvatorkeller lower level. It’s usually necessary to make reservations for festivities as they sell out during the strong beer season Starkbier München.
Paulaner am Nockerberg
77 Hochstraße in Haidhausen
Tel +49 89 (0) 45 99 130
By subway U2 or U5 to Kolumbusplatz
Web Info
Paulaner am Nockerberg
Other Parties to Celebrate Strong Beer Season Festivals
Lowenbräu Keller
The Lowenbrau Brewery and beer garden to the west of the old city toward the Nymphenberger Palace first opened in 1883 as a country inn in an old manor house. The beer hall has been host to music bands since the days of John Phillip Sousa and it’s beer garden is one of Munich's best traditions as the Lowen (Lion) is Munich's symbol. Lowenbrau is the Bavarian beer probably most familiar internationally.
The LowenbrauKeller
Nymphenburger Strasse 2 at Stiegelmeierplatz
+49 (0) 89 52 60 21
Web Info:
LoewenbrauKeller
The Augustiner Keller
Within
walking distance from the main train station the hauptbahnhof the AugustinerKeller
has been
around since the 1830’s. A special
attraction of the Augustiner beer hall in the early days was the “beer
ox” which was needed to haul the summer beer from deep in the
cellars. The ox hasn’t been around since 1891, but you can still
get a good bite of meat with your stark beer. Augustiner Keller performance
hall can hold almost 5,000 people, but maybe you can get a spot in the "Bierstüberl" (Beer
snuggery) one of the cozy corners.
AugustinerKeller
Arnulfstrasse 52
Tel. +49 (0) 89 59 43 93
Walk west from the northside of the Hauptbahnhof
Or S-Bahn / Tram to Hackerbrücke stop
Web Info:
AugustinerKeller
Unions-Bräu
Also
In Haidhausen if the Nockerberg is full the Unions-Bräu-Haidhausen
is also having strong beer season events.
Einsteinstrasse 42 near Max Weber Platz
+49 (0) 89 47 76 77
Web Info (German)
Unionsbraeu
Of course you don't have to wait for strong beer season to go party at these famous beer palaces, the halls and beer gardens are very popular year round. May Pole festivals are soon to follow and it's always beer drinking season in Munich. © Bargain Travel Europe
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SEE ALSO:
A
TOUR WALK AROUND MUNICH
CASTLE ART MUSEUM BAVARIA
ORVAL
ABBEY BELGIAN TRAPPIST BEER
POLYNESIAN
MUNICH TRADER VIC'S
GOLDEN LÖWEN HOTEL BADEN-BADEN
