2012 will see the 200th anniversary of the edict which permitted beer brewers to sell retail quantities of their own beer in their beer cellars from June until September and to serve beer and bread to their guests. Thus the beer garden was “born”.
The custom that guests are allowed to bring their own food to the beer garden and consume it there is based on this edict of 1812.

Up to the present day this tradition enjoys great popularity and is the hallmark of Bavarian Gemütlichkeit, tolerance and ease. On balmy summer nights Bavarians love to pack their picnic baskets and to enjoy the dimming of the day with a beer from the tap. In the beer garden young and old people, locals and foreigners, revelers from all social classes mix in a casual gettogether. The beer garden season lasts as long as the sun permits from spring to autumn.

In a typical Bavarian beer garden, self-service is the rule. Typical beer garden drinks, such as beer or “Radler” (a mix of beer and lemonade or lemon soda), are generally only served in one liter steins. Alcohol-free drinks, such as “Spezi” (a mixture of cola and orange soda) or Apfelschorle (a mixture of apple juice and mineral water), are normally served in half-liter measures.

The strong beer season – tapping the barrel on the Nockher Hill

In Munich it is looked upon as the fifth season of the year, the strong beer season. We owe this to the monks who used to brew a strong, nutritious beer in the monasteries at this time of the year so that they could survive Lent with no ill effects. The tradition of strong beer lives on to this day. During the weeks of March strong beer is served in all the breweries' restaurants; there are music and festive events on the programme.

Programm:

Feb. 24 - Mar. 24, 2012 Strong Beer Festival at Löwenbräukeller
The keg is tapped on Feb. 23, 2012
Location: Löwenbräukeller
www.loewenbraeukeller.com

Mar. 3 – 25, 2012 Strong Beer Festival at Paulaner
Location: Paulaner am Nockherberg
www.nockherberg.com

Jul. 21 – 22, 2012 Munich's Beer Garden Weekend
Numerous events with music, dance and Bavarian food will take
place in several beer gardens in Munich

A Selection of Beer Gardens in Munich:

Oldest: Augustiner Biergarten ( www.augustinerkeller.de )

Family friendly: Hofbräukeller ( www.hofbraeukeller.de ),
Paulaner Biergarten ( www.nockherberg.com )

Largest: Hirschgarten ( www.hirschgarten.de )

Most central: Viktualienmarkt ( www.biergarten-viktualienmarkt.com )

Brass Band: Chinesischer Turm ( www.chinaturm.de )

Jazz Band: Waldwirtschaft ( www.waldwirtschaft.de )

Green: Biergarten Muffatwerk ( www.muffatwerk.de )

Most sporty: Park-Café ( www.parkcafe089.de )

Closest to the Isar: Flaucher Biergarten ( www.zum-flaucher.de )

Trendiest: Seehaus im Englischen Garten ( www.kuffler-gastronomie.de )

More Information: www.200-jahre-biergarten.de

Check out Jamie Oliver's interview with Mrs. Antje Schneider, the manager of the famous Chinaturm beer garden in the city park "English Garden": Read more