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'''Spaten is one of Munich's six major beer brands. Its beer brewing history dates back to 1397 when a brewer named Hans Welser set up a small brewery in central Munich, originally named Welser Prew.'''

The ownership of the once tiny brewery changed hands many times until 1807 when Royal the royal Hofbräu brewmaster, Gabriel Sedlmayr, took over the brewery which had by then changed name to Spatenbräu. At this time it was Munich's smallest brewery, by then known as Spaten. The still today used logo depicting with a spade symbolising a malt shovel bears his Gabriel Sedlmayr's initials. His Sedlmayr's sons continue continued to run the business and in 1867 Spaten becomes became the largest brewery in Munich, as was then measured by malt consumptionuse.

In 1872, Spaten made history by introducing a light-an amber coloured Vienna-style beer at Munich's 1872 Oktoberfest. The beer, known as named Märzenbier, was originally allowed to be brewed only between September and April and stored in ice cellars until the Oktoberfest. The [[Märzenbier beer ]] became an instant success when it was introduced first sold in the Schottenhamel Festzelt and became an instant success as other the usual beer supplies ran had sold out. The popular Märzenbier is a became known as [[Oktoberfestbier]] and eventually changed to the pale golden and slightly stronger Helles (lager)which is still today sold during the Oktoberfest. It is now more commonly known as Oktoberbier [[File:Siebenbrunn 019. jpg|600px]] In 1922 , Spaten and [[Franziskaner and Löwenbräu ]] unified into one company, named Spaten-Franziskaner-Leistbräu AG. In 1972 , the group company issued public stock for the first time. Through mergers In 1997 Spaten-Franziskaner-Leistbräu and acquisitions [[Löwenbräu]] merged. In 2004 the the Germany brewery eventually group became part of Interbrew, the German subsidiary of the Belgian-Brazilian Interbrew (Inbew) conglomeratebrewery [http://www.ab-inbev.com InBev] which by volume is the world's largest beer producer.

<!--[[File:Franziskaner Garten 014.jpg|600px]][[File:Waldwirtschaft Grosshesselohe 008.jpg|600px]]--> Spaten beer can be found is available in the following beer gardens:

At the Oktoberfest, Spaten is sold in [http://www.festzelt.schottenhamel.de Schottenhamel], [http://www.ochsenbraterei.de/ Ochsenbraterei], [http://www.hippodrom-oktoberfest.de Hippodrom ] and [http://gloeckle-wirt.de Glöcke Wirt]. The original Spaten brewery in Munich Germany offers pre-arranged tours of its beer making facilities including beer tasting, catering and a documentary film. For bookings, contact Ms Sabine Basmann via +49-(0)89 / 52 00-22 45 or email [mailto:besucherzentrum.muenchen@inbev.com besucherzentrum.muenchen@inbev.com]. Further information at [http://www.abinbev-regional.de/BRAUEREIBESICHTIGUNG/spaten www.abinbev-regional.de/BRAUEREIBESICHTIGUNG/spaten] (in German language). [[File:Spaten 002.jpg|600px]] Alternatively, a tour can be arranged via the Munich beer tour company ''Sightseeing Biertour München''. Phone +49-(0)89 / 55 07 9000 or email [mailto:info@beertour-munich.com info@beertour-munich.com]. Further information at [http://www.beertour-munich.com www.beertour-munich.com]. == Contact information == '''Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu GmbH'''<br>Marsstrasse 46-48<br>80335 Munich<br>Germany<br> Tel: +49 (0)89 52 00-22 45<br>Website: http://www.abinbev-regional.de/SPATEN / [http://spatenbrau.com spatenbrau.com]