er-quest


DESTINATIONS MUNICH | EUROPE


t travelweekly.co.uk


Discover the beery beauty of Bavaria on a hop-tastic tour of Munich, writes Tamara Hinson


here’s a secret to the steins that line the rear wall of Munich’s Hofbräuhaus brewery. In the main hall, which dates back to 1589,


head past the beautiful ceiling frescoes and brass band to admire the rows of small metal cages, each containing a stein. But these are not just any steins – they’re the


personal drinking vessels of regulars, who pay €3 a year to rent their own stein locker. The bad news? They are so in-demand, there’s a four-year waiting list. The brewery’s tours are perfect for beer-loving clients who want to go behind the scenes while enjoying the history of the Hofbräuhaus, which can accommodate 3,500 people in its chestnut tree-filled beer garden and various halls – including the upstairs one where homeless people from the area are served a traditional Christmas dinner every year.


A COLD ONE Chestnut trees have always been a staple of Munich’s beer gardens. In the days before refrigeration, they were planted above cellars to provide shade – their supersized leaves helped keep both the beer and its drinkers cool. A fun fact? One of the first refrigerators was invented in Munich in the early 1870s, following years of research partly funded by breweries. The city is tapping into its beer heritage by launching an English-language Munich Beer Culture tour, which includes visits to breweries, plenty of local delicacies and entry to the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum. It’s a great way to learn about the big hitters as well as lesser-known breweries, including the Stehausschanks that are now springing up. The word means ‘standing bars’ and the one I visit near Viktualienmarkt is tiny. There’s no seating and it’s run by a crowdfunded ²


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PICTURE: München Tourismus/Werner Boehm


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