Bavarian road trip - A journey through the eldorado of wheat beer
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Bavaria is known for the Christian Social Union, garbs and beer. Of the latter, the Free
State can truly be proud, because the diverse brewery culture of the Upper
Bavarian villages between scenic mountains and lakes is unparalleled.
Therefore, leave the monotonous "Prussian" world of Bitburger and Krombacher
to discover the beer gardens of the Alpine foothills during our road trip at
home in search of the best beer.
Monastery brewery
Andechs - medieval art of brewing
Liquida non frangunt
ieiunium - liquid does not break the fast, was the credo of the monks in the
Middle Ages. Up to five litres per day a Brother should have consumed all year
long. Even fasting was fun then. In Germany we owe our diverse beer culture
probably to the clerics. Since 1455 monks in Andechs have been making use of
hops and malt. The Benedictines are especially known for the dark “Doppelbock“
with 7.1% alcohol, which is brewed and distributed all year long. Otherwise you
can still find light, dark and wheat beer in the product range. One is
particularly proud of the traditional brewing method, which takes more time
compared to current procedures, but should be better for the quality. The beer
is known far beyond the country's borders and a few crates of the annually
distributed 100,000 hectolitres find their way even to distant Japan. Not only
beer lovers also pilgrims visit the place at the Ammersee. Each year around
30,000 pilgrims go to the Andechs Monastery, most of them are likely to end up
at Bräustüberl at the end of the day. Located on the so-called Holy Mountain
next to the monastery brewery itself, this beer garden is probably the best
place to try all varieties once.
Here you can get to the Bräustüberl.
Here you can get to the Bräustüberl.
Ducal
Bavarian brewery Tegernsee - royal beer
The
next stop leads us again to a monastery brewery by a lake. Former monastery
brewery though - because monks haven`t been working here for a long time –
although even more royal. The company is owned by Duchess Maria Anna in
Bavaria, the great-great-granddaughter of the last Bavarian King Ludwig III.
Sounds like a lot of tradition and actually it is, because already in the year
1050 beer should have been brewed in Tegernsee. The range includes light, dark,
pils, “Doppelbock” and “Winterbock”, whereby the Tegernsee light beer is the
classic of this brewery. The lake or rather the eponymous village is located
between the northernmost foothills of the Alps. And if on TV a cheesy reportage
about Bavaria is shown, then it is not unlikely that the pictures were shot at
Tegernsee. The best way is to taste the local beer in the ducal brewery pub
“Herzogliches Bräustüberl”, which is located in the west wing of the former
monastery. The enterprising operators have even opened a shop, that sells
beer-related souvenirs. In addition, balloon flights are organized, but you
should preferably take one before the fourth “Mass” - one litre of beer in Bavaria. They made an advertising film that even tempts
abstaining vegans to order a wheat beer and a “Brotzeitplatte” – cold light
Bavarian snack.
Here you can get to the advertising film and to the Bräustüberl.
Here you can get to the advertising film and to the Bräustüberl.
Castle brewery Maxlrain
– Unsereiner trinkt Maxlrainer - The likes of us drinks Maxlrainer
At the forest border
between Tuntenhausen and Bad Aibling the placid village of Maxlrain with its
castle is located. But much more than the 16th century estate we are interested
in the 17th century brewery. With the aspiration to brew the best beer in the
country, the master brewers give the highest priority to quality. According to
the motto "craft beer since 1636", with hops from the Hallertau
region, barley from the neighbouring yard and water from its own spring. Even
the federal government seems to be inebriated by the beer, because in 2012 and
2016 Maxlrain got the title of Brewery of the Year. Just as impressive as the
quality is the quantity. Here you can find more varieties than the village has
inhabitants. 16 beers such as light, wheat beer, pils, “Zwickl”, “Doppelbock”,
non-alcoholic and more are available. If you want to drink beer in Maxlrain,
you have two options: The “Schlosswirtschaft” or the “Bräustüberl”. Both
restaurants have a beautiful beer garden. The “Bräustüberl” is rather rustic
and you order “Haxn” - knuckle - or “Wurstsalat” - sausage salad. The
“Schlosswirtschaft” is well-known for fine Bavarian cuisine and has a rather
aristocratic character. Unsurpassable highlight of the castle brewery is in my
eyes the free ringtone. Take a listen to the ringtone.
Here you can get to the Bräustüberl and here to the Schlosswirtschaft.
Rosenheim - the
superior Oktoberfest
The Oktoberfest -beer
festival in Munich- is the biggest fair in the world and attracts visitors from
all over the world every year, with good reason. However, if you want to drink
in a more traditional way and do not necessarily want to speak English with
your table neighbours, who should rather come to the Rosenheimer Wiesn. In
2019, the fair will take place from 31st August to 15th September, which is why
the weather should be better than in Munich. The two local breweries Flötzinger
and Auer are each represented by a marquee with a beer garden. For once,
children have something to do at this stop, because of course there are big
wheel, roller coaster, bumper cars and more.
The Flötzinger Bräu was
officially founded in 1543 and to celebrate this, the well-known variety was
named: 1543 wheat beer (by the way also my favourite). If you like to have a
large choice, this is the right place, because 23 varieties are produced. If
you do not come to Wiesn or would like to try a certain beer most of them are
available in Flötzinger Bräustüberl (of course with a pretty beer garden).
Here you can get to the Bräustüberl.
Here you can get to the Bräustüberl.
Camba Bavaria – Mecca
of wheat beer
Those looking for the
perfect synthesis of the Bavarian beer tradition and the craft beer movement
will find what they are looking for in Seeon. The operators offer in addition
to the classics such as light or wheat beer also unusual varieties, e.g. Camba
Black Shark or Camba Milk Stout - Bourbon. If you do not know what that is,
soon you can fill your gap in education by attending a beer tasting. Every
Wednesday you can get to know different beer varieties in the “Truchtlachinger
Bierlerlebniswelt” (not far from Seeon). You can additionally have a whole
adventure day. In this 8-hour long course you attend the subject beer history
while drinking the delicious Camba wheat beer. Furthermore, you can brew your
own beer. Wow! Of course, also a decent “Weißwurstfrühstück” – Bavarian veal
sausage breakfast with wheat beer, pretzel and sweet mustard - and a
“Brotzeitplatte” at the beginning. If this is too much for you, you can simply
order the beer menu in the beer garden in Truchtlaching on the Alz. Camba
Bavaria is really something special and a more than successful conclusion of our
trip through the eldorado of wheat beer.
A list with all
varieties and information can be found here:
Here you can get to the Camba beer lexicon and to the tickets for the events.
What is your personal
favourite? Write it in the comments! And if you think we have not covered all
the classics in the area, stay cool. Soon the road trip
at home Part 2 is coming.
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