5 Things You Didn’t Know About Germany’s Most Popular Brewery
Hofbräuhaus München is one of the most unique and historic breweries in the world. Besides Oktoberfest, it is the #1 tourist attraction in Munich annually.
The Hofbräuhaus reputation attracts people from all over the globe to get a glimpse at this legendary beer hall and to drink out of those iconic liter mugs (officially known as steins). The Oom-pah band plays the traditional Bavarian music and everyone claps, dances or sings along.
The Bavarian decor and painted ceilings are impressive while the waitresses serve food and beer in their traditional drindl outfits. You must try the wiener schnitzel, bratwursts or the soft pretzel. The whole experience is a little touristy, but you can’t help get into it!
Here are 5 Things You Didn’t Know About the Original Hofbräuhaus:
1. It is the largest bräuhaus in Munich and holds up to 3500 patrons at once. If you don’t arrive early, it will be packed! But that is OK and part of the experience. In the tradition of Bavarian beer halls, if you see a space at one of the long benches just ask if it is available. Then sit down with your new friends, cheers to drinking beer, and make memories. Prost!
2. There are 424 individual beer stein ‘lockers’ where the regulars can leave their precious steins secured for the next visit. These lockers were first installed in 1970 and are so popular that they are often handed down from generation to generation. The waiting list to acquire your own locker could be years.
3. Hofbräuhaus was founded in 1589 by the Duke of Bavaria: Whilelm the 5th. They originally called it the ‘Brown’ Hofbräuhaus because they only brewed brown ale there. Also, the Royal Family had exclusivity to the beer. No peasants allowed! Of course, that changed in 1828 when it was opened to the public and we are all thankful!
4. Famous visitors include: John F. Kennedy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Adolph Hitler, Louis Armstrong, Vladamir Lenin, George H. W. Bush and many more.
5. There are 7 replicas of Hofbräuhaus in the United States and 24 total around the world. However, the original is always the best! You can’t recreate the history or the atmosphere even if you tried. But, if you can’t make it over to Munich, there might be one a little closer to home.
Das Bier (the beer):
Hofbräuhaus only serves a couple kinds of beer: Hofbräu Dark Beer, Hofbräu Original, Münchner Weisse, and Radler (which is one of their beers with lemonade). I can’t recommend Radler, but the rest of the beers are solid Bavarian brews. I’ve had their beer at other bars since and out of the bottle, but they just didn’t taste as good without the atmosphere.
Have you ever been to Hofbräuhaus München or Oktoberfest? What was your experience like? Feel free to leave comments below.
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I have been there many times, since I am from there and it’s on every visitors wish list.
You wrote up a pretty good summary of the place. It’s loud, it’s full, atmospheric, has great food and beer and Gemütlichkeit. Every tourists dream come true. ??
Thanks Evangelina!
You haven’t really experienced the Haus until you have danced on tables and drunk beer from a real ceramic stein, oh and add trying some dried seaweed in from the Japanese tourist who copies your lead and gets up on the table next to yours just to make it surreal!