Photo by Birgit Reitz-Hofmann ()
History has shown if anyone knows how to brew a good pint of beer its the monks and that is exactly who brought Paulaner beer into the world. From its humble days of creation in a monastery to being just one of the six breweries allowed to serve at Munich’s Oktoberfest, Paulaner has a rich history and a beer many have tried and failed to duplicate.
The brewery is named after the Paulaner Monks who created the brand’s flagship beer and my personal favorite, Salvator, a strong double bock beer with a beautiful blend of malt, hops and chocolate. Nobody really knows when the first batch was enjoyed because the first documented evidence Paulaner beer existed is 1634. It’s when Munich brewers decided to be a buzz kill and complain to the town council the monks were giving free beer to the poor. It would take 117 years before they could officially serve their beer and nearly 150 years before the monks would get their unrestricted license. The celebration of that license is the birth of Munich’s Starkbierfest.
Touring the Paulaner Brewery is one of the least expensive things to do in Munich. You can learn about Paulaner’s history, double-check the facts in this article and learn about the perfect blend of wheat, malt and hops. Paulaner is also a stop for all Munich brewery tours.
Luckily, Paulaner Brewery is located not far from the heart of Munich. After you get done with your two free beers and your free snack, you can hop on the train and be at Marienplatz in just 20 minutes. If you’re lucky enough to do this in December, this is where you’ll find the city’s Christmas market.
Marienplatz is filled with shops, bars and restaurants and there will be no shortage of gelato stands since Germans are more obsessed with the ice cream than the Italians who created it. Marienplatz is also where you can spot all the famous buildings featured on Munich’s postcards like, Neues Rathaus, which translates to “new town hall.” New meaning it was built in 1874. The building’s gorgeous Gothic architecture will have your Instagram followers green with envy.
Being the home of Oktoberfest, Munich is filled with topnotch breweries. If you want to continue sampling the best beer Bavaria has to offer, you can head to Hofbräuhaus München or Augustiner am Dom, both located in Marienplatz.
Note:. Check its website for more information on tour times and days.
