Must Try In MUNICH: Bavarian Culinary Delights & Unique Beer Culture!

What are the 3 best German

beer

s and the best food to accompany them? As a tour guide, I will take you to the best

beer

gardens and most famous breweries in Munich, Germany. The German beer purity law was first introduced over 500 years ago here in Bavaria. It allows beer to be brewed with just four ingredients, and yet German brewers managed to create a whopping 5,000 different beers from it, more than any other country in the world. For the best beer festival in the world, Oktoberfest, almost every brewery in Munich brews its own special beer. But all beers still have to comply with the famous Beer Purity Law that spread from Bavaria and was later adopted by all German states.

Here beer is officially classified as a food and the emblematic drink of Bavarian beer

culture

is Weissbier or wheat beer. It

must

be brewed with at least 50% wheat malt. These beers are fermented with yeast strains that provide the typical aroma of cloves, banana, smoke and even bubble gum. Because wheat beer is top-fermented, it is brewed at warmer temperatures, unlike bottom-fermented beers that require cooler temperatures. Therefore, before the invention of refrigeration technology in the 18th century, wheat beer was the only beer allowed to be brewed in the summer months. No wonder it has been the most popular beer for over 200 years.

With the invention of technology to keep fermenting and maturing beer cool, restrictions on summer brewing were removed. Brown beer became fashionable and wheat beer quickly lost popularity. In recent decades wheat beer is experiencing a great resurgence and the one to try is Schneider Weisse. It is brewed by Schneider Brauhaus, Germany's most popular wheat beer brewery. Its traditional brewery is located in the center of the old town and offers a fantastic Bavarian atmosphere. Brewery taverns are a popular place to enjoy a traditional meal and one of the

must

-try dishes is a traditional sausage called Bratwurst, a large roast pork sausage with sauerkraut.

Bratwurst is first poached and then always fried or grilled. This is the most popular German sausage as it is perfect as pub food and original German fast food. Bratwurst sausage was a means of survival during the winter months, since nothing was wasted and precious scraps of meat ended up in this sausage. The next popular type of beer is Helles, which simply translates to bright beer. Helles is a traditional German beer produced in Munich. When the Czech Republic began producing a light golden yellow lager beer called Pilsner, it became a huge hit in Europe. At that time, Bavarian brewers traditionally brewed strong, dark lagers.

In response to the Czech pilsner, the Bavarians developed their own variety of bright beer that was lighter and less bitter than the pilsner but much maltier. The new crystal clear, fresh and easy-drinking beer was called Helles. There are many good Helles in Munich, but the one you should try is the one brewed by a brewery with more than 650 years of history, Augustiner-Bräu. AAA! Marvelous! Augustiner-Keller is known for its large beer garden, where they also offer excellent traditional food. The most famous is the Pork Knuckles or Schweinshaxe as it is called in Bavaria. Pork knuckles are a staple in traditional German cuisine and, depending on the region and the slightly different preparation process, go by various names.

Bavarian Schweinshaxe refers to a whole pork knuckle that is marinated for days and then slow-roasted for hours until cooked through and the skin is browned and crispy. Having a giant pork knuckle on a plate, or half in my case, is certainly a

unique

experience. But in addition to traditional beer and traditional food, this place also has a traditional atmosphere, as it is one of the most popular beer gardens in Munich. This is where beer gardens were born and this is the story of how it all started? The reason for the existence of beer gardens can be found in the Bavarian Beer Law of 1539.

The law only allowed beer to be brewed between autumn and spring, since fermentation in hot weather could spoil the beer. To solve the problem, a brewer came up with the idea of ​​digging a huge underground cellar where the beer would stay cool and fresh all summer long. To shade the ground, chestnut trees were planted above the basement. With their flat roots, the trees did not damage the vaults and grew quickly, thus creating beautiful shady gardens above the basement. Beer gardens were born and have become an important part of Bavarian beer

culture

. Part of the beer culture is also a huge beer mug called Mass.

Mass is actually a regulated serving unit that holds exactly 1 liter. But let me tell you, this beer mug is a real workout, as a full mass weighs 2.3 kilos. So big respect to all the waitresses inside the Oktoberfest tents, who often carry 15 or even more of these. Munich has more than 60 beer gardens, but the largest has an impressive 8,000 seating capacity. It is called Hirschgarten because it is located in the park of the same name. Another famous beer garden is located in Europe's largest urban park, the English Garden Park. This is another great beer garden, as it is the second largest in Munich with around 7,000 seats.

It is called the Chinese Tower Beer Garden as it extends beneath the famous wooden pagoda-shaped tower. But Munich's most central beer garden is located just a few steps from the main square. The Viktualienmarkt beer garden is located on Munich's central food market, between market stalls. In the middle of the food market stands a maypole, a decorated tree trunk bearing figures showing trades and crafts from this part of Munich. This city beer garden attracts many tourists, as the popular Glockenspiel is just around the corner. A

unique

feature of this beer garden is an alternating selection of Munich beer types.

Every six weeks a different beer from one of Munich's famous breweries is served on tap, and the most famous is just around the corner. It's called Hofbräuhaus and it's probably the most famous brewery in the world. According to legend, the Duke of Bavaria found the beer in Munich so bad that he founded his own state brewery. The Hofbräuhaus brewery was built to produce beer exclusively for Bavarian royalty. 300 years later, the brewery was finally opened to the public. The building was remodeled and the brewery moved to the outskirts, while the building became a famous brewery that quickly became the center of Munich's public and political life.

The first beer brewed at this brewery was Dunkel, a traditional strong, dark lager. Dunkel predates all other types of beer and is considered the original type of Bavarian beer. This dark beer is still only produced in Munich, although its color can vary from copper to dark brown. The beer has a typical caramel-like, spicy and toasty character. But in addition to traditional beer, they also serve a traditional Bavarian specialty, a strange-looking white sausage called Weisswurst. The history of the white sausage dates back to the 19th century, when a butcher at the restaurant in the main square ran out of sheep intestines for the traditional sausages.

Instead, he used thin pork casings and stuffed them with the sausage mixture. Because he was worried that the sausages would open during the frying process, he put them in hot water for 10 minutes. After the cooked sausages were served, the new dish was praised and Weisswurst was born. Bavarians prefer to eat their famous white sausage with a special sweet mustard called Weisswurstsenf and with a pretzel known as Breze in Munich. These pretzels are soft, light and fluffy. Its crust is thin, dark brown and shiny, and has a cracked surface after baking. Pretzels are available in different versions and sizes, usually covered with coarse salt.

They go well with any sausage or beer, so it is not surprising that they can be found in beer gardens and in almost every corner of the city. In addition to a unique beer culture and delicious food, the Bavarian capital is also packed with incredible attractions. You can see them in my video in the upper right corner. Also take a look at the description below where you will find my favorite tours and experiences in Munich. My name is Rok, thank you very much for the approval and for seeing us and until next time.