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Munich Beer Gardens

Beer gardens originate from a 19th century Munich where they became popular during the rule of King Ludwig I. At this time, a dark lager was the most common beer type. On order of The King, the beer had to be brewed during the winter months because fermentation had to occur between four and eight degrees celsius. So that the large Munich breweries could also offer their beer during the summer they dug beer cellars along the banks of the Isar river. To further reduce the cellar temperature, they covered the banks in gravel and planted chestnut trees on top to provide shade during the hot summer months. Soon thereafter, the beer cellars were used not only to store beer but also to serve food and beer to the public. Simple beer tables were placed amongst the trees of the so-called new Munich beer gardens, which quickly became highly popular amongst the Munich population.

However, the new trend had such negative effect on the businesses of the many small breweries and restaurants to the point where they collectively petitioned King Ludwig to forbid beer cellars to serve food. A royal decree was consequently passed, preventing all beer cellars in and around Munich from serving food. As a result, the patrons of the beer gardens were instead permitted to bring their own food. While this law is no longer in effect and as all beer gardens now serve food as well as beer, the Bayerische Biergartenverordnung states that beer gardens must still allow guests and patrons to bring their own food. The general rule nowaday is that as long as you order a beer you are welcome to unfold your own picnic on the beer tables provided in the beer garden. Those beer gardens that adhere to this rule can be considered traditional and genuine Munich beer gardens.

In beer garden where food is nowadays sold there is generally no waitress service in exchange for self-service canteen, where both food and beer is served from wooden barrels in Maß glasses. But many beer gardens have two areas, one for waitress service and another and usually larger area where the beer benches are, as originally intended only for those who bring their own food, but nowadays also to those buying food and/or beer in the self-service canteen.

This site contains details and information including map directions of most if not all traditional beer gardens in and around Munich. In case there is is any beer gardens missing, as this is a wiki, please do not hesitate to add the entry on this site.