Munich Beer with a 400-Year Legacy – The Hofbräuhaus Royal Beer Hall

Text by Li Xinyi, compiled and reported | Source: MOOK Editorial Department | Photos provided by German National Tourist Board

If you can't miss standing at a café in Italy for an espresso, or sipping wine in France, then you can't miss drinking authentic German beer when in Germany. The German Oktoberfest is set to end on October 3, but don't worry—every visitor to Munich will surely stop by the Hofbräuhaus Royal Beer Hall to taste Munich beer. Established in 1589, this beer hall claims to be the largest in the world, accommodating up to 3,500 people at once. Moreover, the "HB" beer served here is one of Germany's most famous brews, and a one-liter mug is an incredibly satisfying experience.

Drinking beer is already a joyful and lively affair, and at the Hofbräuhaus, with its renowned reputation and crowds of tourists, the atmosphere is even more electric. Everyone widens their eyes to take in the unprecedented spectacle of the world’s most famous beer hall in the beer capital, and everyone comes prepared with a beer belly ready for a hearty drinking session. Add to that the live Bavarian folk music playing, and you'll want to try every kind of beer. Don't worry—just look at the other tables; everyone has several plates of meat and huge mugs of beer in front of them.

As for the most recommended dishes? Try the half roast chicken (1/2 frisches Bayerisches Hendl vom Grill mit hausgemachtem Erdapfelsalat), half a pork knuckle (1/2 hintere Schweinshax'n mit Reiberknödel und Speckkrautsalat), and Munich’s famous white sausage (Original Münchner HB-Weißwürste mit Brezn). As for beer, with so many varieties and seasonal flavors, it’s best to ask the waiter for a recommendation. Or take a peek at what the table next to you is ordering, and ask the waiter to bring you a glass too—you won’t want to miss out on any delicacies.

In the past, German beer brewing techniques were unstable, often resulting in failed batches, until the 1516 “Reinheitsgebot” (Beer Purity Law) stipulated that only malt, hops, and water could be used in brewing. To this day, German beer still adheres to this ancient decree. In Munich, the “beer capital,” there are currently six major breweries, the oldest being Augustiner, followed by Paulaner, Spaten, Hacker-Pschorr, Löwenbräu, and Hofbräu, producing a total of 580 million liters of beer annually.

Address: Platzl 9, 80331 Munich, Germany

Transportation: A 15-minute walk from the train station, or take the U-Bahn or S-Bahn to Marienplatz and walk for 3 minutes.

Phone: +49-89-290-1360

Website: www.hofbraeuhaus.de

"Excessive drinking is harmful to health."