Munich Breweries
their history - their beers

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Introduction

Index
History
Munich beer styles
Output Statistics
Munich brewing industry 1860 - 2001
Breweries in the city of Munich
Breweries around Munich
This page catalogues the breweries in the Munich area and the beers they produce. It also explains a little about the historical development of the Munich brewing industry in general.

I've tried (god how I've tried) to sample as many of the Munich beers as I can. I provide tasting notes and my own outrageous opinions on those I have tried.

You'll have to forgive me for the gaps (expecially in brewery histories) which I know I will need to fill. One more burst of enthusiasm and I should get it reasonably complete. My intention is to have a few paragraghs for every Munich brewery. That's if my butterfly attention span can be kept in check.

Munich Breweries Then
This is a summary of the last 130 years of brewing in Munich. When I finally get around the reading all those books weighing down my shelves, I'll fill in the gaps a bit more.

The modern Munich brewing industry began with the innovations introduced by Sedlmayer at Spaten in the mid-19th century. He had visited large, modern British breweries and brought back new technology, such as the use of the thermometer and the hydrometer, from his study trip.
1870-1919
Before the second half of the 19th century no Munich brewery was of any great size. Those brave enough to copy the technological improvements introduced by Sedlmayer at Spaten saw their output increase exponentially. The political environment of the period, when customs barriers within Germany disappeared as a consequence of unification, was favourable, too.

You can read more about the lagers of this period here.

In the years after 1870, the progress of Munich's brewers mirrored reasonably well that of the complete German brewing industry. The general comments which follow apply equally well to the Munich breweries.

German beer production peaked around 1900. It held steady at a slightly lower level right up until Princip engaged in direct political action in Sarajevo. The next 40 years were not German brewers' best. The First World War was a disaster for the German economy. Strangled by the Allies' maritime blockade, German society began to disintegrate: children went hungry and even the front-line troops were underfed. By 1919 there was hardly a drop of beer being brewed.

1920-2000
The postwar recovery was slow and uncertain. A small peak in the 1930's left output below its 1910 level. Many breweries, like so much of German industry, were little more than a pile of rubble by the end of the Second World War. Not every Munich brewery was able to restart after the war.

From 1949 onwards, those breweries which had managed to survive the war increased production steadily. As the economic miracle started to kick off, there were tramfuls of industrial workers with a few dm's to spend on beer. German beer output finally exceeded its 1900 peak in the early 1970's. However, what had appeared to be a never-ending process of expansion, came to an end in the 1990's. Bavaria is the state most hit by the shrinking of the German beer market.

The new millenium
The reaction in Munich to the unfavourable business climate has been merger (Spaten/Löwenbräu) and selling out to one of the big boys (Paulaner).

It seems that the international sharks have finally smelled blood. Interbrew - one of the usual suspects - got hold of Spaten/Löwenbräu in October 2003. If the regulators give it the nod, it will give Interbrew Deutschland an capacity of 15.6 million hl or 11% of the German market. I don't expect they'll be happy with that small a cut for long. Even less likely is them being left unchallenged by the other globalisers (Heineken, SAB) for long.

State-owned Hofbräu and local favourite Augustiner are probably less vulnerable than their larger colleagues to this type of "restructuring". But what do I know? If you had asked me 20 years ago which UK independent breweries would be left by 2003, I doubt that I could have picked half. 		Munich Beer Styles
Beers from Munich have never been noted for their hoppiness. All you West-coast hopheads will be disappointed in this part of Bavaria. Around 1890, Thomass-Bräu launched Munich's first reaction to very pale lagers of the pils type. All the large Munich breweries brew a pils and none of them are particularly hoppy. If you're searching for something with a real bite, head directly for Frankenland.

Pils is an important, but not dominant, style in terms of sales. In Bavaria it's share is about half of the national average (a depressing 68%). Helles and Weizen combined sell a greater volume.

These were the market shares by type for Bavaria in 2002:
  1. Pils 35.8%
  2. Helles 22.1%
  3. Weizen 18.2%
  4. Export 11.3%
  5. Other 12.6%
I would guess that in Munich itself, the cut of Helles is a good bit higher.

All the Munich breweries have very large product ranges, brewing as many as dozen or more different beers. This is a typical assortment, bottom-fermented beers first:
Style Plato alc.vol description
Pils 11.5-12º 5-5.2% Hoppy, thin, pale lager.
Helles 12.5º 5.2% Pale, malty, lightly hopped.
Spezial 13º 5.7% Pale, full, bitter-sweet and delicately hopped.
Märzen 13-14º 5.3%-6% Sweetish, malt-oriented beers that come in pale, amber and dark varieties. Most Rauchbiers are dark Mäurzens.
Oktoberfest 14º 6% Pale and sweetish. Traditionallly an amber Märzen, now usually a pale Märzen. Some breweries make both styles, though the beer they sell at the festival itself is always pale.
Dunkles 12.5º 5.2% Red-brown, nutty, malty and lightly hopped.
Bock 16.5º 6.5% Pale, amber or dark, bitter-sweet.
Doppelbock 18.5º 8.5% Red- or dark brown, fruity, bitter-sweet, alcohol and concentrated dark malt flavours
Helles Weißbier 12.5º 5.4% Pale, spicy, high CO2 content, yeasty.
Top-fermented
Dunkles Weißbier 12.5º 5.4% As above, but dark.
Kristall Weißbier 12.5º 5.4% The filtered version, almost always pale.
Weizenbock 16.5-18.5º 6.5-8.5% Usually dark, with even more spiciness than the weaker versions.

Munich Breweries
Output 1879 - 2002


Brewery 1879 1891 1898 1901 2002 2003
Spaten-Bräu 299,000 hl 466,000 hl 520,000 hl 500,000 hl 1,945,000 hl  
Löwen-Bräu 208,000 hl 462,000 hl 553,000 hl 628,181 hl    
Augustiner Brauerei 70,000 hl 283,000 hl 337,000 hl 320,000 hl 700,000 hl  
Leist-Bräu 175,000 hl 268,000 hl 360,000 hl 380,000 hl    
Pschorr-Bräu 121,000 hl 200,000 hl 230,000 hl 280,000 hl    
Bürgerliches Brauhaus   144,000 hl   254,654 hl    
Hacker-Bräu 124,000 hl 144,000 hl   199,100 hl    
Zacherl-Bräu (Paulaner) 90,000 hl 106,000 hl   155,243 hl 2,275,000 hl 2,767,000 hl
Königl. Bayer. Hof-Bräuhaus   69,000 hl   70,000 hl 161,000 hl 161,000 hl
Münchener-Kindl Actien Brauerei   61,000 hl   87,315 hl    
Salvator Brauerei   41,000 hl        
Unions-Brauerei   36,000 hl   130,000 hl 2,500 hl 2,500 hl
Sanct-Anna Brauerei   33,000 hl        
Eberl-Faber Brauerei   32,000 hl   126,152 hl    
Zum Bayer Löwen Actien Brauerei   26,000 hl   50,746 hl    
Thomass-Bräu   22,000 hl   160,000 hl 2,500 hl 2,500 hl
Rochel-Bräu   22,000 hl   60,000 hl    
Gabelsberger Brauerei   20,000 hl        


Munich Breweries
The Munich brewing industry 1860 - 2001

Year No.Breweries Beer Production (hl) Beer Consumption (hl) Beer Exports (hl) Beer Imports (hl) Beer Consumption Per head (l)
1860 18 802,000   6,755    
1881 37 1,694,000   563,000    
1902 27 3,232,000   1,531,000    
1908 24 3,146,000   1,677,000    
1911   3,716,018*   1,806,000* 23,404* 320*
1912 23* 3,706,901* 1,918,902* 1,810,523* 22,524* 312*
1914 23 3,141,000   1,465,000    
1918 22
 2,226,000   1,005,000    
1920 22 1,528,000   702,000    
1922 15 2,061,000   762,000    
1929 12 2,985,000   1,487,000    
2001 9 5,300,000        
Sources:
* Zeitschrift für das gesamte Brauwesen 1913, p398


Munich Breweries
Breweries in the city of Munich

Augustiner-Bräu Wagner KG
Landsberger Straße 31-35,
80339 München.
Tel: 089 - 519 940
F ax 089 - 519 941 11
Email: Info@augustiner-braeu.de
Homepage: http://www.augustiner-edelstoff.de/

Founded: 1328
Annual production: 700,000 hl

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Augustiner Edelstoff 5.5%   Pale lager - Spezial.
Lemon, ginger and butter aroma, sweetish taste with butter, pepper and malt aromas, bitter finish with hop, citrus and grass aromas.
A pretty good beer with lots of fresh hop flavours and a touch of maltiness. One of the best examples of this difficult to brew style.
68 
Augustiner Lagerbier Hell 5.2%   Pale lager - Helles.
Spice, tobacco and coriander aromas; sweetish/bitterish taste with hop, pepper and vanilla aromas; bitterish hop finish with tobacco and wood aromas.
A good balance of sweet malt and spicy hop. A good example of a Helles. 		65 
Augustiner Oktoberfestbier     Pale lager - Oktoberfest..  
Augustiner Pils 5.2%   Pils.  
Augustiner Dunkel 5%   Dark lager.
Toffee and fruit aromas, neural taste with hop and malt, bitterish raisiny finish. A very nice, chewy dark beer.		 67 
Augustiner Weißbier 5.2%   Amber unfiltered wheat beer.  
Augustiner Heller Bock   16.5º Pale bock.  
Augustiner Maximator   18.6º Dark Doppelbock. Seasonal - Christmas and Easter.  

Augustiner has remained the most traditional of the large Munich breweries. It's the only one still regularly supplying outlets in the city with beer in wooden barrels.


Hacker-Pschorr Bräu GmbH
Hochstraße 75,
81541 München.
Tel: 089 - 51060
Homepage: http://www.hacker-pschorr.de/

Founded: 1417
Annual production: 425,000 hl (2001)

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Hacker-Nährbier 1.2% 12.3º Dark lager.
 
Hacker-Pschorr Leichte Weisse 3.3% 7.7º Pale wheat beer.  
Hacker-Pschorr Weisse Hell 5.5% 12.5º Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Orange, peach ginger and cloves aroma; sweetish taste with cloves and orange aromas; bitterish finish with wheat, orange and butter aromas.
An OK wheat beer. 		 59
Hacker-Pschorr Dunkle Weisse 5.3% 12.4º Dark unfiltered wheat beer.  
Hacker-Pschorr Kristall Weisse 5.5% 12.4º Pale filtered wheat beer.  
Hacker-Pschorr Münchener Hell 4.9% 11.5º Pale lager - Helles.  
Hacker-Pschorr Münchener Dunkel 5% 12.5º Dark lager.  
Hacker-Pschorr Braumeister Pils 5% 11.5º Pils.  
Hacker-Pschorr ANNO 1417 5.5% 12.5º Unfiltered pale lager.  
Hacker-Pschorr Edelhell 5.5% 12.5º Pale lager - Spezial.
Vanilla and grass aromas, neutral taste with grass and hop aromas, buttery bitteish finish. A pleasant light helles with a good gop flavour.		 71 
Hacker-Pschorr Sternweisse 5.5% 12.5º Amber unfiltered wheat beer. Comes in flip-top bottles.
 
Hacker-Pschorr Helle Maibock 7.6%   Pale bock.  
Hacker-Pschorr Kellerbier     Unfiltered pale lager.
Spice, grass and yeast aroma; bitterish/sourish taste with butter and hop aromas; buttery bitter finish. Very disappointing - too lightly hopped. Insipid.
42 
Hacker-Pschorr Hubertus Bock 6.8% 16.3º Pale bock. Seasonal.  
Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Märzen 5.8% 13.7º Amber lager - Märzen. Seasonal.
The last Oktoberfest beer in the traditional amber style. A mixture of nutty maltiness and hop bitterness that bears a passing resemblance to a pale ale.		 74 
Hacker-Pschorr Animator 8.2% 19º Dark Doppelbock.
Dark amber colour with a thin head; caramel, dates, toffee, acohol and apple aromas; very sweet taste with apple, dates and toffee aromas; bitterish finish with black toffee and dates aromas.
Not that dark and very sweet. I would have preferred some balancing bitterness, but it's drinakble enough.
Tasted 19.07.2007.
 54

The beer is mashed and has its primary fermentation at the former Hacker brewery. It is then transported to the Paulaner brewery for secondary fermentation and filling. The brewery's performance in recent years has been disappointing, with production falling 5.7% in 2001.

It is possible that when Paulaner starts paring back its brands to free up capacity for more Weizen that some beers will move to Hacker-Pschorr.


Isar bräu
Kreuzeckstraße 23,
82049 Großhesselohe.
Telefon: 089 - 79 89 61
Fax: 089 - 79 14 723
E-Mail: info@isarbraeu.de Website:
Homepage: www.isarbraeu.de

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Isartaler Stations Weizen   13.5º Amber unfiltered wheat beer  

Brewpub in the former Großhesselohe station. It produces beer of outstanding quality.


Löwenbräu AG
Nymphenburger Str. 4,
80335 München. 089 - 052000
http://www.loewenbraeu.de/

Founded: 1383
Annual production: 1,900,000 hl (Spaten & Löwenbräu combined: Löwenbräu = ca 900,000 hl)

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Löwenbräu Kristallweizen 4.9% 11.8º Pale filtered wheat beer.
 
Löwenbräu Schwarze Weisse 5.2% 11.8º Dark unfiltered wheat beer.
 
Löwenbräu Original 5.2% 11.8º Pale lager - Helles.
Tobacco and smoke aroma; sweetish taste with tobacco, grass, hop and vanilla aromas; bitter finish with metal, butter and grass aromas.
Quite a pleasant Helles, with delicate hopping. A typical Munich beer.		  60
Löwenbräu Premium Pils 5.2% 11.8º Pils.
 
Löwenbräu Hefe Weissbier 5.2% 11.8º Pale unfiltered wheat beer.  
Löuwenbräuu Urtyp 5.4% 12.4º Pale lager - Spezial.  
Löwenbräu Dunkel 5.5% 12.5º Dark lager - Dunkles Export.
Caramel, chocolate, cream and dates aroma, sweetish taste with chocolate and toffee aromas, bitterish finish with liquorice, cream and toast aromas. 		 67
Löwenbräu Oktoberfestbier 6.1% 13.7º Pale lager - Oktoberfest.
Vanilla, spice and grass aroma; sweet taste with butter, pepper, pear and malt aromas; bitter finish with butter, grass and spice aromas. Not bad non-amber Oktoberfestbier. A little too buttery for my taste, but it has good hop character. These notes are for the draught version.
The bottled version had a lemon, spice and hop aroma, malt and fruit in the mouth and a peppery finish.		  62
Löwenbräu Triumphator 7.6% 18.2º Dark bock.
Liquorice, toffee, cherry, raisin and grape aroma; sweet taste with caramel, toffee, pear and malt aromas; bitterish finish with raisin and toffee aromas. A good example of the doppelbock style, chewy beer with bags of fruit and dark malt flavours. 		 80

Bought by Spaten in 2000. The two breweries continue to operate independently, at leas t for the moment. Löwenbräu was was forced to sell out by continuingly poor sales, even worse than those of their Bavarian rivals. Having produced 1,400,000 hl of beer in 1995, it was brewing less than 1,000,000 hl by the time of the sale.


Paulaner Brauerei GmbH & Co. KG
Hochstraße 75,
81541 München.
Tel: 089 - 480050
Homepage: http://www.paulaner.de/

Founded: 1634
Annual production: 2,070,000 hl (2001), 2,767,000 hl (2003)

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Paulaner Hefeweißbier leicht 3.2% 7.7º Pale unfiltered wheat beer.  
Paulaner Weißes Gold 4.5% 10.5º Pale filtered wheat beer. In a stupid clear bottle. A beer for people who who thinks it's cool to drink from a botlle.  
Paulaner Helles Gold 4.5% 10.5º Pale lager - Helles. In a stupid clear bottle. (See above.)  
Paulaner Hefeweißbier dunkel 5.3% 12.4º Dark unfiltered wheat beer.
Caramel, ginger, clove and basil aroma; sweetish taste with citrus aroma; bitterish finish with ginger. Good spicy aroma, but disappointing i the mouth.		 58 
Paulaner Hefeweißbier naturtrüb 5.5% 12.5º Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Aromas of cloves, coriander and ginger, sweetish taste with clove aroma, more cloves and basil in the finish. Archetypal wheat beer with lots of cloves - exactly what you would expect from the style.		 63 
Paulaner Hefeweißbier kristallklar 5.5% 12.4º Pale filtered wheat beer.  
Paulaner Roggen 5.3% 12.5º Unfiltered dark rye beer - made from barley, wheat and rye malt.
Caramel, raisin, lemon and giner aroma; sweetish taste wityh ginger, wheat and toffee aromas; creamy, peppery liquorice finish. An odd beer with no wheat beer spiciness, but some ginger flavour from the rye. I found that the flavour improved as it got flatter.		 75 
Paulaner Diät Bier 4.3% 8.5º Pale lager.  
Paulaner Premium Pils 4.9% 11.5º Pils.
Spicy bitter aroma, sweetish/bitterish taste with spice and pepper aromas, bitter finish with spice and flowers. Good spicy hop flavours, but a little more sweetness than you would expect in a pils.		 68 
Paulaner Original Münchner Leicht 3.2% 7.7º Pils.  
Paulaner Original Münchner Hell 4.9% 11.5º Pale lager - Helles.
Vanilla and cardboard aroma; sweetish/bitterish taste with hop, fruit and margarine aromas; woody bitter finish. Has a slight hop-extract offtaste and a generally rough hop character. It tastes like they've been skimping on the raw materials.		  43
Paulaner Original Münchner Dunkel 5.0% 12.5º Dark lager.
Apple, rasin, caramel and malr aroma; neutral taste with caramel, apple and cream aromas; bitterish finish with toffee and smoke aromas. OK. Reasonable dark malt flavours, but a little pasteurised tasting.		  61
Paulaner Original Münchner Urtyp 5.5% 12.5º Pale lager - Spezial.
Basil and tea aroma, bitterish/sweetish taste with metal, basil and cardboard aromas, bitter finish with pepper and wood. A beer totally ruined by nasty, rough hop-extract flavours.		 48 
Paulaner Original Münchner Märzen 5.8% 13.7º Amber lager - Märzen..
Apple, raisin, malt and margerine aroma; sweetish/bitterish taste with apple and toffee aromas; bitter finish with butter, hop and fruit aromas. A reasonable fruity, bittersweet beer that is about right for the style.		  60
Paulaner Oktoberfestbier 6.0% 13.7º Pale lager. Seasonal.  
Paulaner Salvator 7.5% 18.3º Dark bock. (Dark amber in colour.) Seasonal.
Toffee and hop aroma; sweet/bitterish taste with toffee, caramel and hop aromas; bitterish finish with toffe, dates, cream and hop aromas.
Not complex enough for its strength. Not really dark enough either. Disappointing.
  54

Owned by Brau Holding International, the company jointly owned by Paulaner and Heineken.

History
In 1634 a group of South Italian monks, invited to Munich by Kurfürst Maximilian, brewed their first beer. The existing Munich breweries made sure that they were prevented from selling their beer to the general public. In 1745 one pub, the Tannenwirt close to the monastary, was allowed to officially sell Paulaner beer. In 1751 they were allowed to sell their beer on the feast day (2nd April) of the monastary's patron, St. Franz of Paula. The strong beer that they sold - "Sankt-Vater-Bier" (later contracted to Salvator) - proved very popular. Salvator was the original doppelbock and the custom of selling beer on the feast day was the start of the Starkbierzeit ("strong beer time") tradition, though in the 1830's this was moved from April to two weeks in March.

Only in 1780 were the monks allowed to sell their beer wherever and whenever they wanted. Production increased rapidly, but the monks were not to benefit for very long. In 1799 the monastary was secularised and the brewery became the property of the Bavarian state. In 1813 Franz Xaver Zacherl bought the brewery and for the next seven decades it bore his name. After he died childless in 1849, the Schmederer brothers bought the brewery. The name was changed to "Gebrüder Schmederer Aktienbrauerei in München" in 1886 and "Aktiengesellschaft Paulanerbräu in München" in 1899.

The succeess of Salvator led other Munich breweries - Salvatorbrauerei, Löwenbräu. Hacker, Spaten - to introduce beers of the same name. The Schmederer brothers took them to court and finally, in 1895, were granted "Salvator" as a legally-protected registered trademark. Their competitors then thought up all sorts of -ator names - Triumphator, Maximator, Optimator - to get around the restriction. Every large Munich brewery has its own -ator today.

Palauner achieved a considerable coup with the purchase of Thomasbräu in 1928. It continued to operate the Kapuzinerplatz site and its own brewery until bomb damage closed both towards the end of the war. When brewing resumed in 1949, it was only at the Paulaner site.

A milestone was reached in 1971, when Paulaner for the first time brewed more than 1 million hectoliters of beer.
Takeovers
In 1979 Josef Schörghuber, who had made a furtune in construction and property development bought first a majority holding in Hacker-Pschorr then in Paulaner. His acquisitions were bundled together under Brau-Holding AG. In 1986 Reichelbräu from Kulmbach was added and in 1996 Thurn und Taxis.

This is an overview of the Paulaner's takeovers.:

1921 Brauerei "Eberl-Faber"
1928 Gebrüder Thomas Bierbrauerei -> Paulaner-Salvator-Thomasbräu AG
1979 Hacker-Pschorr
1986 Kulmbacher Reichelbräu
1996 Thurn und Taxis

In 2001 Heineken bought 49% of Brau-Holding AG, the parent company of Paulaner. The plan is, in the next five years, to double production of Weißbier to 2 million hectolitres. To achieve this, their current range of products will be drastically cut back. (Note: not only have Paulaner so far not culled any existing beers, they've introduced two new beers in clear bottlres.)

Paulaner hope that Heineken will play a crucial role in expanding their Weißbier exports. I find their faith in Heineken's good intentions very touching. I expect Heineken to use their Munich brewery as a way of selling more of their own crappy pils in Germany.
Today
In my opinion the Paulaner beers have got considerably worse in the last 10 years. The cause is skimping on raw materials. The use of hop extract - as listed on the label - is a very bad sign. If you want to see the effect, try tasting Augustiner Edelstoff and Paulaner Original Münchner alongside each other. In the type of pale lager beers that make up much of Paulaner's sales you just can't get away with cutting corners. It's all too obvious in the end product.


Paulaner Bräuhaus
Kapuzinerplatz 5,
80337 München.
Tel. 089 - 5446110

Founded: 1989 (1881)
Annual production: 2,500 hl

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Thomasbräu Helles   Pale lager.
Grass and creamy aroma, bitterish taste with a touch of vanilla, bitter yeasty finish. Beautiful hop aroma, but a little thin in the finish.		 62 
Thomasbräu Weizenbier   Amber unfiltered wheat beer.
Clove and coriander aroma, netral flavour with wheat spice and cloves, spicy lemony finish. An excellent wheat beer, amongst the best I've tasted.		 87 

In 1881 the brewer Hubinger founded the Kleines Hofbräuhaus on the Kapuzinerstraße, but was soon forced (by the other Hofbräuhaus) to change thename to Münchner Bräuhaus. Things didn't go too well and he had to sell to the Thomass brothers, who gave the brewery their own name.

In 1895 they shook Munich by brewing the first pale lager - Thomas-Hell or Thomasbräu-Pilsener. Nine of Munich's large breweries issued a public statement against the introduction of pale lager, but were soon forced by public demand to follow Thomasbräu's lead. The new beer was good for Thomasbräu: they saw production increase from 22,000 hl in 1891 to 160,000 hl in 1901. Not bad in a period when total the output of Munich breweries was beginning to level off.

After the First World War life was difficult for brewers in Munich and there were a great number of takeovers. One of these saw Paulaner gobble up Thomasbräu in 1928. Brewing continued at the Kapuzinerplatz until the brewery was damaged by wartime bombing.


Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu KGaA
Marsstraße 46+48,
80335 München.
Tel.: 089 - 51220
Fax: 089 - 52222400
Email: spatenbraeu@c-o-m-a.de
Homepage: http://www.spatenbraeu.de/
http://www.franziskaner-weissbier.de/

Founded: 1397
Annual production: 1,900,000 hl (including Löwenbräu: Spaten = ca 1,000,000 hl))

Beer alc Plato Description
Spaten Diät-Pils 4.9%   Pils.
Spaten Münchner Hell 5.2% 11.7º Pale lager - Helles.
Spaten Pils 5% 11.7º Pils.
Spaten Ludwig Thoma Dunkel 5.5% 12.5º Dark lager.
Spatengold 5.5% 13º Pale lager - Spezial.
Spaten Ur-Märzen 5.6%   Amber lager (Märzen).
Spaten Ur-Bock 6.5%   Pale bock.
Spaten Optimator 7%   Dark bock.
Spaten Oktoberfestbier 5.9% 13.7º Pale lager - Oktoberfest. Seasonal
Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier Dunkel 5%   Dark unfiltered wheat beer.
Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier Hell 5%   Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Franziskaner Weissbier Kristallklar 5%   Pale filtered wheat beer.
Franziskus 7%   Wheat bock.

It was Spaten that initiated modern industrial brewing in Munich. The legendary Gabriel Sedlmayr II visited several breweries (including Bass in Burton-on-Trent) in England and Scotland in 1833. He was greatly impressed by the much more scientific approach to brewing that he encountered. On his return to Munich he began to copy many of the technological innovations he had seen on his journey, such as use of the hydrometer.

Throughout the latter part of the 1800's the Spaten brewery remained neck and neck with Löwenbräu in terms of output. Output hit a peak in 1893 of around 520,000 hl, then declined to just over the 400,000 hl mark where it remained stable until the outbreak of the First World War. From this point, began a steep decline, with the nadir in 1922 of around 220,000 hl. Throughout the 1930's output stayed in the 300,000 - 350,000 hl range. After the Second World War, starting from under 200,000 hl production rose steadily, exceeding the maximum of the 1890's in 1972 and finally hitting a new peak of 1,100,000 in 1996.

In October 2003, Interbrew announced that it had effectively taken over Spaten. If the regulators agree the deal, that is. Interbrew Deutschland will have a capcity of 15.6 million hl, or 11% of the German market. I don't expect that they will stop there, but having their own Munich brewery to play with is a good start.


Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in München
Hofbräuallee 1,
81829 München.
Tel: 089 - 92105-0
Fax: 089 - 906426
Email: marketing@hofbraeuhaus.com
Homepage: http://www.hofbraeu-muenchen.de/

Founded:
Annual production: 165,000 hl (2001)

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Münchner Kindl Weissbier Leicht 3.2%   Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Hofbräu Kristall Weisse 5.4%   Pale filtered wheat beer.  
Hofbräu Original 5.1%   Pale lager - Helles.
Coriander and spice aroma, bitter taste, spicy bitter finish. Pretty nice, aromatically spicy beer.		 66 
Hofbräu Dunkel 5.5%   Dark lager.
Malt aroma, neutral taste, dry bittersih finish. Pretty bland dunkles.		 56 
Münchner Kindl Weissbier 5.1%   Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Bitter and cardboard aroma; neutral taste with wet cardboard aroma; wheaty cardboard finish. Awful! (And it was 4 months before its sellby date.) Completely dominated by a stale hop aroma. Undrinkable. Easily the worst Bavarian beer I've ever tried.		  14
Hofbräu Schwarze Weisse 5.1% 11.7º Dark unfiltered wheat beer.  
Hofbräu Kellerbier 5.1%   Unfiltered pale lager. Draught only.  
Hofbräu Maibock 7.2%   Pale bock, Seasonal - Spring.  
Hofbräu Festbier 6%   Pale bock. Seasonal.
Apple and raisin aroma, sweetish taste with malt and cream aromas, peppry bitter finish. The sample I had tasted a little old. Probably a good fruity beer when fresh.		 45 
Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier 5.7%   Pale lager - Oktoberfest. Seasonal.  

Originally behind the Hofbräuhaus on Platzl in the city centre, then next to the Hofbräukeller in Haidhausen, the brewery is now an anonymous modern building on the outskirts of town.

Still state owned, Hobräu is the only smaller brewery to have survived in Munich. Like many breweries in Bavaria, output has been steadily falling in recent years. In 1990 Hofbräu brewed 210,000 hl.


Unions-Bräu Haidhausen
Einsteinstr. 46,
81675 München.
Tel. 089 - 477 677
Fax: 089 - 470 5848
Email: info@unionsbraeu.de
Homepage: http://www.unionsbraeu.de/

Founded: 1991
Annual production: 2.400 hl

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Unions-Bräu Helles   Unfiltered pale lager.
Vanilla aroma, bitterish taste with yeast and spice, yeasty bitterish finish. Smells good but yeast is overpowering in the mouth.		 57 
Helles Weißbier   Pale unfiltered wheat beer.  
Dunkles Weißbier   Dark unfiltered wheat beer.  

Taken over and closed by Löwenbräu in 1921. It was reopened as a brewpub in 1991.


Munich Breweries
Breweries around Munich

Klosterbrauerei Andechs
Bergstr. 2,
82346 Andechs.
Tel. 08152 - 376-0
Fax 08152 - 376-143
Email: info@andechs.de
http://www.andechs.de/

Founded:
Annual production: 95,000 hl

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Andechser Hell 4.8% 11.5º Pale lager - Helles.  
Andechser Dunkel 4.8% 12.5º Dark lager. The brewery claims it's a lower alcohol version of the dark bock.
Perfumed aroma; neutral taste with a hop aroma; bitterish aftertaste with coffee and hop aromas.
A bit thin for a dark beer.		 54
Andechser Weissbier Hell 5.5% 12.5º Pale unfiltered wheat beer.  
Andechser Weissbier Dunkel 5.5% 12.5º Dark unfiltered wheat beer.  
Andechser Spezial Hell 5.8% 13.5º Pale lager - Spezial.  
Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel 7% 18.5º Dark bock.
Pale brown colour with a dense, rocky, pale ttan head; bread, apple, date and malt aroma; sweet taste with toffee, fruit and ginger aromas; bitterish finish with toffee, caraamel, raisin and ginger aromas.
Quite nice sweet malt flavours but at this strength I would have expected a little more complexity.
Tasted 19.10.2006		 69
Andechser Bergbock Hell 7% 16.5º Pale bock.  

Brewery of the St. Bonifaz monastery. 10% of the beer is sold at the Klosterburg itself in the Bräustüberl and Klostergasthof. The brewery also has a few pubs spread about Bavaria.


Arcobräu, Gräfliches Brauhaus GmbH & Co. KG
Schlossallee 1, D-
94554 Moos/Ndb.
Tel: 09938 - 918180
Fax: 09938 - 918155
Email: info@arcobraeu.de
Homepage: http://www.arcobraeu.de

Founded:
Annual production: 180,000 hl

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Arcobräu Helles   Pale lager.
Butter aroma, bitterish taste with butter aroma, bitterish hop finish. A bland helles. Too buttery and little other flavour.
48 



Brauerei Bischofshof e.K.
Heitzerstraße 2 / Dechbettener Straße 52,
93049 Regensburg
Tel.: 0941 - 200 10
Fax: 0941 - 2001 190
E-Mail: info@bischofshof.de
Homepage: http://www.bischofshof.de/

Founded:
Annual production: hl (2003)


Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Bischofshof Pils 4.7%   Pils.  
Bischofshof Urhell 4.8%   Pale Lager - Helles.  
Bischofshof Regnsburger Premium 5% 11° Pale Lager - Helles.  
Bischofshof Original 1649 5.1%   Pale Lager - Helles.  
Bischofshof Zoigl 5.1%   Unfiltered pale Lager - Helles.  
Bischofshof Leichte Weisse %   Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Bischofshof Hefe-Weissbier Hell 5.1%   Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Bischofshof Hefe-Weissbier Dunkel 5.1%   Unfiltered dark wheat beer.  
Bischofshof Kristall Weizen 5.4%   Filtered pale wheat beer.  
Malteser Hefe-Weissbier Hell 5%   Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Malteser Hefe-Weissbier Dunkel 5%   Unfiltered dark wheat beer.  
Malteser Kristall Weizen 5%   Filtered pale wheat beer.  

Independent brewery. Also owns the Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg in Kelheim.


Distelhäuser Brauerei Ernst Bauer GmbH & Co. KG
Grünsfelder Str. 3,
97941 Tauberbischofsheim.
Tel.: 09341 - 8050
Fax: 09341 - 80527
E-Mail: info@distelhaeuser.de
Homepage: http://www.distelhaeuser-brauerei.de/

Founded:
Annual production: hl (2003)


Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Distelhäuser Leichtes 2.9% 7.8° light Pils.  
Distelhäuser Pils 11.7°   Pils.  
Distelhäuser Landbier 5.1% 12.5° Dark lager.  
Distelhäuser Export 5.2% 12.5° Pale lager - Export.  
Distelhäuser Märzen 5.4% 13.5° Amber lager - Märzen.  
Distelhäuser Kristall Weizenbier 5.4% 12.7° Filtered pale wheat beer.  
Distelhäuser Hefe-Weissbier 5.4% 12.5° Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Distelhäuser dunkles Hefe-Weissbier 5.4% 12.5° Unfiltered dark wheat beer.  
Distelhäuser Festbier 5.4% 13.5° Amber lager - Märzen. Seasonal - winter.  
Distelhäuser Winterbock 6.8% 16.5° Dark Bock. Seasonal - winter.  

Independent brewery.


Erdinger Weissbräu
Lange Zeile 1 und 3,
85435 Erding.
Tel: 08122 - 4090
Fax: 08122 - 409 115
Homepage: http://www.erdinger.de/

Founded:
Annual production: 1,360,000 hl

Beer alc Plato Description
Erdinger Weißbier Leicht 2.9% 7.8° Unfiltered pale wheat beer.
Erdinger Champ 4.7% 11.2° Unfiltered pale wheat beer.
Erdinger Weißbier mit feiner Hefe 5.3% 12.4° Unfiltered pale wheat beer.
Erdinger Weißbier kristallklar 5.3% 12.4° Filtered pale wheat beer.
Erdinger Weißbier Dunkel 5.6% 12.9° Unfiltered dark wheat beer.
Erdinger Weißbier Schneeweiße 5.6% 12.9° Unfiltered pale wheat beer. Seasonal - Nov-Feb.
Erdinger Weißbier Pikantus Weizenbock 7.3% 16.9° Unfiltered dark wheat bock.



Brauerei Göller "Zur Alten Freyung"
Wildgarten 12,
97475 Zeil am Main.
Tel: 09524 - 30040
Fax: 09524 - 300422
Email: info@brauerei-goeller.de
http://www.brauerei-goeller.de

Founded: 1514
Annual production: 45,000 hl

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Göller Original 4.9% 11.8° Pils.
Pale yellow, fine-beaded head; metal, tobacco and malt aroma; sweetish/bitterish taste with boiled sweets, tobacco and pepper aromas; bitterish finish with pepper, resin and wood aromas.
A bit pasteurised-tasting, but drinkable. 		39
Göller Lager 4.9% 11.9° Pale lager - Helles.  
Göller Dunkel 5.2% 13.2° Dark lager.  
Göller Kellerbier 4.9% 11.9° Unfiltered pale lager.
Hazy pale yellow colour with an even, fine head; butter, malt and yeast aroma; sweetish/bitterish taste with malt, caramel pepper and butter aromas; bitter finish with yeast, pepper, resin and grass aromas.
A sweetish beer with a strong hoppy finish. Not bad. 		60
Göller Pilsner 4.9% 11.8° Pils.
 
Göller Rauchbier 5.2% 12° Amber smoked lager.
Amber colour with a dense white head; smoke, ham, burnt and basil aromas; sweetish taste with smoke, bacon, burnt, pepper and grass aromas; bitter finish with burnt, smoke, liquorice, pepper, resin and basil aromas.
A very tasty Rauchbier with enough hops to stop the smoky bacon flavour being overpowering. It has a long, complex finish. 		81
Göller Steinhauer Weisse 4.9% 12.2° Unfiltered amber wheat beer.  
Göller Freyungs Weisse 5.2% 12.8° Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Göller Dunkle Weisse 5.2% 12.8° Unfiltered dark wheat beer.  
Göller Leichte Weisse 3.7% 9.5° Pale wheat beer. Seasonal - summer.  
Göller Hausbrau 4.3% 11.2° Pale lager - Helles.  
Göller Brotzeitseidla 4.3% ° Pale lager - Helles.  
Göller Blond 4.5% ° Pale lager - Helles.  
Göller Weizenbock 7% 18° Unfiltered pale wheat Bock. Seasonal - October-January.  
Göller Herbst Bock 6% 16.8° Dark Bock. Seasonal - autumn.  

Independent brewery. It´s been owned by the Göller family since 1908.


Private Brauerei Franz Inselkammer KG
Zornedingerstr 1,
85653 Aying.
Tel: 08095 - 880
Fax: 08095 - 8850
Email: brauerei-aying@ayinger-bier.de
Homepage: http://www.ayinger-bier.de/

Founded: 1385
Annual production: 140,000 hl (2001)

Beer alc Plato Description
Ayinger Bräu-Hell 5%   Pale lager - Helles.
Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel 5.2%   Dark lager.
Ayinger Premium Pils 5% 11.8º Pils.
Ayinger Kellerbier     Unfiltered pale lager.
Soft, round and fresh - pretty good.
Ayinger Ur-Weisse     Dark unfiltered wheat beer.
Has a pleasant spice and cloves aroma, similar to Schneider.
Ayinger Bräu-Weisse     Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Ayinger Leichte Bräu-Weisse     Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Ayinger Jahrhundert-Bier     Pale lager.
Ayinger Celebrator     Dark bock.
Ayinger Winterbock 6.7% 18.5º Dark bock. Seasonal - Winter.
Liquorice and toffee aroma, sweet in the mouth with a bittersweet finish. A very well-balanced bock.



Kloster Ettal
Kaiser-Ludwig-Platz 1,
82488 Ettal
Tel: 08822 - 74413
Fax: 08822 - 74412
Email: brauerei@kloster-ettal.de
Homepage: http://www.kloster-ettal.de

Founded:
Annual production: 10,000 hl

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Ettaler Kloster Edelhell   Pale lager - Helles.  
Ettaler Kloster Dunkel   Dark lager.
 
Ettaler Kloster Pils   Pale lager - Pils.
Biscuit, vanilla, apple and raisin aroma; sweetish/bitterish taste with biscuit, grass, malt, fruit and yeast aromas; bitter finish with hop, grass, pine and yeast aromas.
An unusually malty, unfiltered pils. Very nice.		 72 
Ettaler Kloster Weissbier Hell   Pale unfiltered wheat beer.  
Ettaler Kloster Weissbier Dunkel   Dark unfiltered wheat beer.
Banan, ginger and clove aroma; neutral taste with wheat, cloves, ginger and citrus aromas; wheat finish with spice and clove aromas.
A fairly bog-standard dark wheat beer. Nice and spicy.		 62 
Ettaler Kloster Curator Doppelbock 7% Dark bock.
Dates, toffee, liquorice, cream and nut aroma; sweetish/bitterish taste with black toffee, cherry, raisin and chocolate aromas; bitter finish with chocolate, black toffee, chicory, coffee and caramel aromas.
Absoulutely delicious - thick and chewy like a doppelbock should be. Lots of fruit, dark malt and sweetness but balanced with bitterness. Their slogan - "Dem Himmel so Nah" ("So close to heaven") - is difficult to argue with.		 83 

One of Germany's remaining monastic brewers.


Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
Weihenstephaner Berg,
85354 Freising.
Tel: 08161 - 5360
Fax: 08161 - 536200
Homepage: http://www.brauerei-weihenstephan.de/

Founded: 1040
Annual production: 180,000 hl

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Weihenstephaner Original 5.1% 11.8º Pale lager - Helles. Bitterness: 24 EBU.
Coriander and spice aroma; bitterish taste with hop grass and spice aromas; bitterish finish with hop and grass aromas.
An interesting beer with a spicy aroma almost like a wheat beer. 		73 
Weihenstephaner Edel-Pils 5.1% 11.8º Pils. Bitterness: 32 EBU.  
Weihenstephaner Tradition 5.2% 12.8º Dark lager. Bitterness: 24 EBU.
Fruit and malt aroma, neutral taste with malt fruit and toffee aromas, bitterish finish with hop pepper and coffee.
A good example of a dunkles - not sweet but malty with a good hop flavour.		 76 
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Leicht 3.2% 7.7º Pale wheat beer. Bitterness: 14 EBU.  
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel 5.3% 12.7º Dark unfiltered wheat beer. Bitterness: 14 EBU.
Lemon ginger and clove aromas, sweetish taste with wheat aroma, clove finish. Not quite as spicy as the pale version, but still pretty good.		 63 
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Hell 5.4% 12.7º Pale unfiltered wheat beer. Bitterness: 14 EBU.
Ginger basil and clove aromas, neutral taste with more ginger, basil and ginger finish. A typical spicy wheat beer.		 70 
Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier 5.3% 12.7º Pale filtered wheat beer.Bitterness: 16 EBU.  
Weihenstephaner Korbinian 7.4% 18.3º Dark bock. Bitterness: 32 EBU.
Burnt toffee and raisin aroma, sweet taste with raisin and fruit, bitterish finish with toffee and liquorice aromas. A very tasty, chewy bock beer.		 79 

Bavaria manages to have not one but two state-owned breweries: Hofbräu and Weihenstephan. Not content with that distinction, Wehenstephan claims to be the oldest brewery in the world and is home to Bavaria's renowned brewing university.


Fliegerbräu
Sonnenstr. 2,
85622 Feldkirchen.
Tel: 089 - 90 36 032
Fax: 089 - 90 39 600
Email: info@fliegerbraeu.de Website:
Homepage: www.fliegerbraeu.de

Founded: 1991
Annual production:

Beer alc Description
Fliegerweiße 13.5º Amber unfiltered wheat beer.

Brewpub at the old Munich airport.


Fürstliches Brauhaus
Waffnergasse 6 - 8,
93047 Regensburg.
Tel: 0941 - 2804 330
Fax: 0941 - 2804 3399
Email: info@fuerstlichesbrauhaus.de
http://www.fuerstlichesbrauhaus.de/

Founded: 2005
Annual production: hl (2003)


Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Original Regensburger Hell 5.5% 12.8° Unfiltered pale lager.  
Marstall Dunkel 5.3% 12.5° Unfiltered dark lager.  
Brauhaus Weisse 5.4% 12.5° Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Postmeister Doppelbock 7.3% 18.4° Unfiltered dark Doppelbock. Seasonal - Lent.  
Fürstengold Märzen-Festbier 5.7% 13.5° Unfiltered amber lager - Märzen. Seasonal.  

Brewpub owned by Brau Holding (Paulaner/Heineken). It´s housed in the former coach house of the palace of the Fürst von Thurn und Taxis. Until 1997, Thurn und Taxis ran an industrial-strength brewery, which was flogged off to Paulaner (and promptly closed). In its place, this brewpub has appeared. Better than nothing, I suppose. There are still beers branded Thurn und Taxis, brewed at Paulaner in Munich.


Hofbräuhaus Traunstein Josef Sailer KG
Hofgasse 6-11,
83278 Traunstein.
Tel. 0861-98866-0
Fax 0861-98866-66
Email: info@hb-ts.de
Homepage: http://www.hb-ts.de/

Founded: 1612
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description
Hofbräu Leicht 3.4% 8.4º Pale lager.
Fürstenquell Export-Hell 5.3% 12.3º Pale lager - Helles.
Fürsten Trunk 5.5% 12.9º Pale lager - Spezial. Lagered 3-4 months.
1612er Zwicklbier 5.3% 12.3º Unfiltered pale lager. Draught only.
Altbairisch Dunkel 5.5% 12.3º Unfiltered dark lager.
Fürsten Pils     Pils.
Leichte Weiße 3.3% 7.8º Filtered pale wheat beer.
Hofbräu Weiße mit Hefe 5.5% 12.3º Unfiltered pale wheat beer.
Altbairisch Ur-Weizen 5.5% 12.3º Unfiltered dark wheat beer.
Gastro-Weiße 5.5% 12.3º Unfiltered amber wheat beer. Draught only.

In 1982 Hofbräuhaus Traunstein was the first brewery in the world with draught Weißbier. Though I must admit to being a bit sceptical about this claim. Exactly how were wheat beer breweries serving their beer in the 17th century?


Familienbrauerei Jacob
Ludwigsheide 2,
92439 Bodenwöhr.
Tel.: 09434 - 941 00
Fax: 09434 - 941 066
E-Mail: brauerei-jacob@t-online.de
Homepage: http://www.brauerei-jacob.de

Founded: 1758
Annual production: hl (2003)

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Jacob Altbayerisch Hell 4.7% 11.9° Pale lager - Helles.  
Jacob Edelpils 4.9% 12.1° Pils.  
Jacob Hammer Pils 4.9% 12.1° Pils.  
Jacob Spezial Export 5.3% 12.9° Pale lager - Export.  
Bodenwöhrer leichte dunkle Weisse 2.7% 7.5° Unfiltered dark wheat beer.  
Bodenwöhrer Weissbier dunkel 5.2% 12.7° Unfiltered dark wheat beer.  
Bodenwöhrer Weissbier 5.2% 12.8° Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Jacobator 6.5% 18.7° Dark Bock.  

Independent brewery. Owned by the Jacob family since 1884.


Brauerei Johann Kneitinger e.K.
Kreuzgasse 7,
93047 Regensburg.
Tel.: 0941 - 593 020
Fax: 0941 - 593 0299
E-Mail: info@kneitinger.de
Homepage: http://www.kneitinger.de

Founded: 1530
Annual production: hl (2003)


Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Kneitinger Edel Pils 5.5% 12.8° Pils. Colour: 6 EBC.  
Kneitinger Dunkel Export 5.5% 12.8° Dark lager. Colour: 55 EBC, bitterness 18 EBU.  
Kneitinger Bock 6.8% 16.9° Dark Bock. Seasonal. Colour: 80 EBC, bitterness 21 EBU.  

Independent brewery.


König Ludwig GmbH & Co.KG Schloßbrauerei Kaltenberg
Augsburgerstr. 41,
82256 Fürstenfeldbruck.
Tel: 08141 - 243 0
Fax: 08141 - 243 138
Email : info@koenig-ludwig.com
Homepage: http://www.kaltenberg.de/

Founded:
Annual production: 400,000 hl

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Kaltenberg Lager 3,8 3.8% Pale lager.  
Kaltenberg Hell 4.8% Pale lager - Helles.
Hop and vanilla aroma, bitterish taste with malt aroma, bitterish grassy finish. Unspectacular but drinkable.		 58 
König Ludwig Dunkel 5.1% Dark lager.  
Kaltenberg Spezial   Pale lager - Spezial.  
Kaltenberg Pils   Pale lager.  
Kaltenberg Light   Pale lager.  
Kaltenberg Erntedank Fest-Bier   Seasonal  
Kaltenberg Königl. Festtags-Bier   Seasonal  
Prinzregent Luitpold Weißbier Hell 5.5% (12º Plato) Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Apple, lemon and cloves aroma; sweetish taste with clove, butter and fruit aromas; wheat finish. A good fruity and spicy wheat beer.		  68
Prinzregent Luitpold Weißbier Dunkel 5.5% Dark unfiltered wheat beer.
Banana, lemon, clove and wheat aroma; neutral taste with ginger, spice and wheat; ginger, orange and caramel finish. Spicy, but with only subdued dark malt flavours.		 77 
Prinzregent Luitpold Weißbier Kristall   Pale filtered wheat beer.  



Lohrer Bier GmbH
Ludwigstr. 3
97816 Lohr am Main.
Tel.: 09352 - 87290
Fax: 09352 - 7699
E-Mail:
Homepage: http://www.lohrer-bier.de/

Founded: 1878
Annual production: 50,000 hl (2005)

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Lohrer Light 2.9%   Pale lager.  
Lohrer Pils 4.9%   Pils.  
Lohrer Export. 4.9%   Pale lager - Export.  
Lohrer Schwarzes 5.2%   Darklager - Märzen.  
Lohrer Urtyp 1878 5.2%   Pale lager - Spezial. First brewed for the brewery´s centenary in 1978.  
Lohrer Weissbier 4.9%   Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Keiler Weissbier Hell 4.9%   Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Keiler Weissbier Dunkel 4.9%   Unfiltered dark wheat beer.  
Lohrer Böckle 7%   Pale Bock.  

Owned by Würzburger Hofbräu since 2001. Before the takeover it had been called Brauerei Stumpf.


Bayerische Löwenbrauerei Passau
Franz-Stockbauer-Weg 13,
94032 Passau.
Tel.: 0851 - 70050
Fax: 0851 - 700510
E-Mail: info@loewenbrauerei.de
Homepage: http://www.loewenbrauerei.de/

Founded: 1873
Annual production: hl (2003)


Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Löwenbrauerei Passau Leichtes Helles %   Pale lager - Schankbier. Top-fermented.  
Löwenbrauerei Passau Urtyp Hell 4.8%   Pale lager - Helles.  
Löwenbrauerei Passau Pils 4.9%   Pils.  
Löwenbrauerei Passau Spezial Dunkel 5.2%   Dark lager.  
Löwenbrauerei Passau Export Hell 5.3%   Pale lager - Export.  
Löwenbrauerei Passau Leichtes Weizen %   Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Löwenbrauerei Passau Hefe-Weissbier 5.3%   Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Löwenbrauerei Passau Dunkle Weisse %   Unfiltered dark wheat beer.  
Löwenbrauerei Passau Maibier 5.8%   Pale lager - Märzen. Seasonal - spring.  

Independent brewery.


Brauerei Michael Plank
Marktplatz 1,
93164 Laaber.
Tel: 09498 - 8707
Fax: 09498 - 8687
Email: brauerei-plank@t-online.de
http://www.brauerei-plank.de

Founded:
Annual production: hl (2003)


Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Plank Vollbier Hell 4.8%   Pale lager - Helles  
Plank Edel Export 5%   Dark lager - Export.  
Plank Leichtes Hefeweizen 2.9%   Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Plank Hefeweizen 5.4%   Unfiltered amber wheat beer.  
Plank Red Lion Beer %   Dark lager - Export.  
Plank Heller Weizenbock 7.5%   Unfilltered pale wheat Bock. Seasonal - Advent.  
Plank Schwarzer Weizenbock 7.5%   Unfilltered dark wheat Bock. Seasonal - Easter.  

Independent brewery.


Regensburger Weizenbrauhaus
Schwarze-Bären Str. 6,
93047 Regensburg.
Tel: 0941 - 51055
Fax:
Email:
http://

Founded: 2007
Annual production: hl (2003)


Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Weizenbrauhaus Hell %   Unfiltered pale lager.  
Weizenbrauhaus Dunkel %   Unfiltered dark lager.  
Weizenbrauhaus Weizen Hell %   Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Weizenbrauhaus Weizen Dunkel %   Unfiltered dark wheat beer.  

Brewpub. Used to be part of the Johan Albrecht chain.


Schlossbrauerei Haselbach
Hofmarkstr. 7,
94113 Tiefenbach.
Tel.: 08509 - 91120
Fax: 08509 - 911230
E-Mail:
Homepage: http://

Founded:
Annual production: hl (2003)


Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Haselbacher Helles 4.9%   Pale lager - Helles  
Haselbacher Pilsener 4.9%   Pils  
Haselbacher Schwarzbier Premium Dunkel 4.9%   Dark lager - Schwarzbier.  
Haselbacher Export 5.4%   Pale lager - Export.  
Haselbacher Festbier 5.6%   Pale lager - Märzen  

Owned by Bayerische Löwenbrauerei Passau.


Karmeliten Brauerei Karl Sturm GmbH & Co. KG
Senefeldestrasse 21,
94315 Straubing.
Tel. 09421 - 78190
Fax: 09421 - 781913

Founded: 1367
Annual production:

Beer alc Description Score (100)
Karmeliten Original Dornau-Pils 4.7% Pils  
Karmeliten Klosterbrauerei Urtyp Helles   Pale lager - Helles.  
Karmeliten Klosterbrauerei Brau Girgl 5.2% Dark lager. Caramel and hop aroma, sweetish taste witth malt and fruit aromas, chocolate and raisin finish. A pretty good dark beer. 78 
Karmeliten Klosterdrunk 5.5%    



Private Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH
Emil-Ott-Straße 1 - 5,
93309 Kelheim.
Tel: 09441 - 7050
Fax: 09441 - 7050190
Homepage: http://www.schneider-weisse.de

Founded: 1872
Annual production: 276,000 hl (2001)

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Schneider Weisse Leicht 3.3% 7.8º Wheat beer.  
Schneider Weisse Weizenhell 4.9% 11.5º Pale unfiltered wheat beer.  
Schneider Weisse Kristall 5.3% 12.3º Pale unfiltered wheat beer.  
Schneider Weisse Original 5.4% 12.8º Dark unfiltered wheat beer.
Cloves, ginger, wheat, yeast, peach coriander aroma; neutral taste with clove, ginger, orange and hop aromas; bitterish finish with cloves, orange and chicory aromas.
A complex spicy clove aroma and a dry fruity finish. The definitive wheat beer.		  81
Schneider Aventinus 8% 18.5º Dark unfiltered wheat bock.
A class above pretty well every other German beer. A wonderful banana aroma and a fruity chocolate finish. Very complex and sophisticated		  

Until being bombed out in the war, Schneider brewed in the centre of Munich. Currently all brewing is done at Kelheim, at the site of another weissbier brewery which Schneider had taken over. Primary fermentation still takes place in open vessels. The same yeast is used for both the primary fermentation and the secondary fermentation in the bottle. Some wheat beers use a bottom-fermenting yeast for the bottle conditioning (one of my many points against the Reinheitsgebot).

Schneider only introduced draught versions of their beers in the late 1990's. Before that 100% of their output was bottled. They continue to only produce top-fermenting wheat beers.


Spitalbrauerei
Am Brückenfuß 1–3,
93059 Regensburg.
Tel.: 0941 - 830 060
Fax: 0941 - 843 68
E-Mail: spitalbrauerei@spital.de
Homepage: http://www.spital.de/brauerei/index0.php

Founded: 1226
Annual production: hl (2003)


Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Spital Helles 4.7% 11.9° Pale lager - Helles.  
Spital Dunkel 5.4% 12° Dark lager.  
Spital Pils 5.5% 12.4° Pils.  
Spital St. Katharinen Spezial 5.5% 12° Pale lager - Spezial.  
Spital Weizen 5.5% 12.9° Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Spital Weizen Dunkel 5.5% 12.9° Unfiltered dark wheat beer.  
Spital Festbier 5.7% 13.2° Pale lager - Festbier.  
Spital Weizenbock 7%   Unfiltered pale wheat Bock.  
Spital Maibock 7.2% 16.8° Pale Bock. Seasonal - spring.  

Independent brewery.


Fürstliche Brauerei Thurn und Taxis Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH
Am Kreuzhof 5,
93055 Regensburg.
Tel.: 0941 - 7846 127
Fax: 0941 - 7846 128
E-Mail:
Homepage: http://www.thurnundtaxisbiere.de/

Founded:
Annual production: 130,000 hl (2005)

Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Thurn und Taxis Hell Premium Lager 4.7% 11.3° Pale lager - Helles.  
Thurn und Taxis St. Wolfgang Dunkel 4.8% 12.5° Dark lager.  
Thurn und Taxis Pilsener 4.9% 11.6° Pils  
Taxx Zwickl 5% 11.8° Unfiltered pale lager - Helles.  
Thurn und Taxis Export 5.3% 12.5° Pale lager - Export  
Thurn und Taxis Zwickel Bier 5.5% 12.5° Unfiltered pale lager - Export.  
Thurn und Taxis Fürstengold Märzen 5.6% 13.5° Pale lager - Märzen.  
Thurn und Taxis Winterfestbier 6% 13.7° Pale lager - Märzen. Seasonal - winter.  
Thurn und Taxis Leichte Weisse 2.9% 7.5° Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Thurn und Taxis Kristall Weizen 5.2% 11.8° Filtered pale wheat beer.  
Thurn und Taxis Weissbier hefetrüb 5.3% 12.4° Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Thurn und Taxis Roggen 5.3% 12.4° Unfiltered dark ryw beer.  
Thurn und Taxis Weissbier Dunkel 5.5% 12.5° Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Taxx Weisse 5.5% 12.5° Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  

Until 1997, Thurn und Taxis ran an industrial-strength brewery, which was flogged off to Paulaner (and promptly closed). In its place, this brewpub has appeared. Better than nothing, I suppose. There are still beers branded Thurn und Taxis, brewed elsewhere at Paulaner in Munich.


Tucher Bräu Verwaltung
Schwabacher Str. 106,
90763 Fürth.
Tel. 0911 - 9776-0
Fax 0911 - 9776-370
Email info@tucher.de
Homepage: http://www.tucherbraeu.de/

Founded: 1672
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Tucher Pilsener Light 2.9%   Pils.  
Tucher Original Urbräu 4.8%   Pale lager - Helles.  
Tucher Pilsener Diät 4.9%   Pils.  
Tucher Pilsener 4.9%   Pils.  
Tucher Urfränkisch dunkel 5.2%   Dark lager.  
Tucher Übersee Export 5.3%   Pale lager.  
Tucher Hefe Weizen leicht 2.9%   Pale wheat beer.  
Tucher Hefe Weizen dunkel 5.3% 12.3º Dark unfiltered wheat beer.
Cloves and yeast aroma; neutral taste with babana aroma; wheaty apple finish. A restrained but adequate beer.		 55
Tucher Kristall Weizen 5.3%   Pale filtered wheat beer.  
Tucher Hefe Weizen hell 5.3%   Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Cloves and lemon aroma; neutral taste with cloves, lemon and hop aromas; birtterish lemony finish. Pleasantly spicy, with a slight uncharacteristic (for the style) hoppiness.		 60
Tucher Bajuvator Doppelbock 7.2%   Dark bock.
Treacle, date and apple aroma; sweet/bitterish taste with treacle, dates, apple and candy aromas; bitterish finish with smoke, treacle and candy aromas.
A reasonable, if perhaps slightly too sweet Doppelbock. Does have pleasant fruit and dark malt flavours.		 62
Tucher Lorenzi Bock hell 7.2%   Pale bock  



Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg GmbH
Asamstraße 32,
93309 Kelheim.
Tel.: 09441 - 7391
Fax: 09441 - 2001 190
E-Mail: info@weltenburger.de
Homepage: http://www.weltenburger.de/

Founded: 1050
Annual production: hl (2003)


Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Weltenburger Kloster Barock Dunkel 4.7%   Dark lager.  
Weltenburger Kloster Urtyp Hell 4.9%   Pale lager - Helles.  
Weltenburger Kloster Pils 4.9%   Pils.  
Weltenburger Kloster Weißbier Dunkel 5.3%   Unfiltered dark wheat beer.  
Weltenburger Kloster Weißbier Hell 5.4%   Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Weltenburger Kloster Anno 1050 5.5%   Amber lager - Märzen.  
Weltenburger Kloster Barock Hell 5.6%   Pale lager - Märzen.  
Weltenburger Kloster Kloster Asam Bock 6.9% 18° Dark Bock.  
Weltenburger Kloster Winter-Traum 5.4%   Amber lager - Märzen. Seasonal - October to January.  

Owned by Bischofshof of Regensburg. Claims to be the oldest monastery brewery in the world.


Brauhaus Würzburg
Burkarderstraße 2-4,
97082 Würzburg
Tel: 0931 - 43159
Fax:
Email:
http://www.brauhausbar.de/

Founded: 1991
Annual production: 1,000 hl (2005)


Beer alc Plato Description Score (100)
Brauhaus Hell %   Unfiltered pale lager - Helles.  
Brauhaus Dunkel %   Unfiltered dark lager.  
Brauhaus Weizen %   Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  
Brauhaus Bock %   Unfiltered dark Bock. Seasonal.  

Brewpub.


Hofbrauhaus Freising
Mainburger Straße 26,
85356 Freising.
Tel. 08161 - 6010
Fax 08161 - 6830
Email: info@hofbrauhaus-freising.de
Homepage: http://www.hofbrauhaus-freising.de/

Founded:
Annual production: 260,000 hl

Beer alc Plato Description
Huber Weisses leicht 2.9% 7.5º Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Huber Weisses Dunkel 5.4% 12.5º Dark unfiltered wheat beer.
Huber Weisses Original 5.4% 12.5º Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Huber Weisses Kristall 5.4% 12.5º Pale filtered wheat beer.
Urhell 4.9% 11.4º Pale lager - Helles.
Dunkel 4.8% 12.8º Dark lager.
Graf Ignaz Premium Pilsner 4.9% 11.6º Pils.
Jägerbier 5.3% 12.4º Pale lager.
Freisinger Leicht 2.9% 7.5º Pale lager.
Festbier 5.8% 13.5º Pale lager.



Brauhaus Barfüusser
Paulstr. 4,
89231 Neu-Ulm.
Tel: 0731 - 974 480
Fax: 0731 - 974 4820
Email: info@barfuesser-brauhaus.de
http://www.barfuesser-brauhaus.de

Founded: 1996
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Barfüußer Pilsener     Unfiltered Pils.  
Barfüußer Schwarzbier     unfiltered dark lager - Schwarzbier.  
Barfüußer Weisse     Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  

Brewpub.


Brauerei & Gasthof Schlöussle
Schlöussleweg 3,
89231 Neu-Ulm.
Tel: 0731 - 77390
Fax: 0731 - 972 7557
Email: kontakt@schloessle.com
http://www.schloessle.com

Founded:
Annual production: 1,300 hl (2003)

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Schlöussle's Zwickel     Unfiltered pale lager - Helles.  
Schlöussle's Hefeweizen     unfiltered amber wheat beer.  
Schlöussle Spezial Mäurzen     Amber lager - Mäurzen  
Schlöussle's Bock     Dark Bock. Seasonal.  
Schlöussle's Bock     Pale Bock. Seasonal.  

Brewpub.


Max'l Bräuu Max Jehle
Leipheimerstr. 37,
89233 Neu-Ulm
Tel: 0731 - 719 210
Fax:
Email:
http://

Founded: ***** closed 2000 *****
Annual production: 2,000 hl

Independent brewery.


Brauerei Küuhbach Freiherr von Beck-Peccoz
Großhausener Straße 2,
86556 Küuhbach.
Tel: 08251 - 89 660
Fax: 08251 - 89 6699
Email: webmaster@brauereikuehbach.de
http://www.brauereikuehbach.de

Founded: 1862
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Küuhbacher Lager 4.8%   Pale lager - Helles.  
Küuhbacher Pils 5%   Pils.  
Küuhbacher Hell 5%   Pale lager - Helles.  
Küuhbacher Export 5.5%   Pale lager - Export.  
Küuhbacher Josefi-Bier 5.5%   Dark lager - Export.  
Küuhbacher Schloss-Weizen Leicht 3.3%   Pale unfiltered wheat beer.  
Küuhbacher Schloss-Weizen Hell 5.5%   Pale unfiltered wheat beer.  
Küuhbacher Schloss-Weizen Dunkel 5.5%   Dark unfiltered wheat beer.  
Küuhbacher X-Weizen 5.3%   Amber unfiltered wheat beer.  
Küuhbacher Peccator 7%   Dark Doppelbock. Seasonal - winter.  
Küuhbacher Festbier     Pale lager - Mäurzen. Seasonal.  

Independent brewery. In a former monastery owned since 1862 by the Beck-Peccoz family.



Breweries in Augsburg

Augusta - Brauerei GmbH
Lauterlech 10 - 14,
86152 Augsburg.
Tel.: 0821 311055
Fax: 0821 157361
http://www.augusta-brauerei.de/

Founded: 1488
Annual production: 20,000 hl

Beer alc Plato Description
Augusta-Leicht 2.8% 7.8º Pale lager.
Augsburger Urhell 4.8% 11.5º Pale lager - Helles. Lagered for a minmum of 3 months.
Augsburger Kellerbier 4.8% 11.8º Unfiltered pale lager.
Augusta-Pils 4.8% 11.8º Pils.
Augsburger Privat 5.2% 12.5º Pale lager (Export).
Augsburger Hefe-Weizen 5% 13º Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Augsburger Schwarzbier 5% 13º Black lager.
Augsburger Märzen 5.6% 13.5º Pale lager (Märzen).
Jacober Kirchweih Festbier 5.6% 13.5º Pale lager. Seasonal.
Augsburger Hunnen-Bock 8% 19.8º Bock. Seasonal.

Independent brewery.


Brauerei S. Riegele KG
Frölichstr. 26,
86150 Augsburg.
Postfach 102244,
86012 Augsburg.
Tel.: 0821 3209 - 0
Fax: 0821 320980
http://www.riegele.de/

Founded: 1884
Annual production: 200,000 hl

Beer alc Plato Description
Riegele Leichte Weisse 2.9% 7.7° Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Riegele Feines Urhell 4.7% 11.4° Pale lager - Helles.
Riegele Herrenpils 4.7% 12° Pils.
Riegele Wuerziges Export 5.1% 12.5° Pale lager - Export.
Riegele Commerzienrat Privat   12.6° Pale lager.
Riegele Aechtes Dunkel 4.9% 13.3° Dark lager.
Sebastien Riegele's Weisse 5% 12.3° Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Riegele Alte Weisse 5% 12.3° Dark unfiltered wheat beer.
Riegele Christkindl Bier 5.2% 12.5° Pale lager - Export. Seasonal for the Augsburger Christkindlmarkt.
Riegele Speziator 7.5% 19º Dark Bock.



Craft Beer Company
Weite Gasse 11,
86150 Augsburg.
Postfach 101345,
86003 Augsburg.
Tel: 0821 - 35075
Fax: 0821 - 35076
Email: contact@craft-beer.de
Homepage: http://www.craft-beer.de/

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Description
Gans Pilsener 4.8% Pils.
Gans Urhell 5% Pale lager - Helles.
Gans Hefeweizen Hell   Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Gans Hefeweizen Dunkel   Dark unfiltered wheat beer.

Brewpub. Open Mon-Sat 11:00-14:00 and 18:00-23:00. Formerly Brauerei "Zur Goldenen Gans". I'm not convinced that it is currently brewing.


Charly - Bräu
Ulmerstr. 43,
86154 Augsburg.
Tel.:0821 - 426346
Fax: 0821 - 426343
E-Mail: info@charlybraeu.de
http://www.charlybraeu.de/

Founded: 1992
Annual production: 700 hl

Brewpub. Open Mon-Fri 17:00-01:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-01:00


Erste Augsburger Gastronomie - Brauerei "König von Flandern"
Karolinenstr. 12,
86150 Augsburg.
Tel.: 0821 - 158050
Fax: 0821 - 314287

Founded:
Annual production: 1,000 hl

Brewpub.


Brauerei Hasen - Bräu
Konrad - Adenauer - Allee 33,
86150 Augsburg.
Postfach 101107,
86001 Augsburg.
Tel.: 0821 - 3299-0
Fax: 0821 - 3299111
http://www.hasen-braeu.de/

Founded: 1464
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description
Hasen-Bräu Urhell 5% 11.3º Pale lager - Helles.
Hasen-Bräu Pilsener 5% 11.6º Pils.
Hasen-Bräu 33 Dry 5% 11.6º Pils.
Hasen-Bräu Weißer Hase 5.2% 12.3º Pale unfiltered wheat beer.
Hasen-Bräu Extra 5.3% 12.4º Pale lager.

Owned by the Oetker Gruppe. It contract brews for some of the region's closed breweries: Bürgerbréu (Augsburg), Goldene Gans (Augsburg).


Kloster-Brauerei Scheyern
Benediktinerabtei zum Hl. Kreuz,
Schyrenplatz 1,
85298 Scheyern.
http://www.klosterbrauerei-scheyern.de/

Founded: 1119
Annual production: 2,000 hl

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Klosterbier-Hell 5.4% 12.5º Pale lager - Helles.  
Klosterbier-Dunkel 5.5% 12.6º Dark lager. Brewed from 100% dark malt.  
Kloster-Weißbier 5.2% 12.4º Pale wheat beer. Unfiltered.  
Hopfazupfabier   º Seasonal.  
Doppelbock   º Doppelbock.  

Independent brewery in a real working monastery.


Thorbräu Augsburg
Wertachbrucker - Tor - Str. 9,
86152 Augsburg.
Tel.: 0821 - 36561
Fax: 0821 - 158827
http://www.thorbraeu.de/

Founded: 1582
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description
Thorbräuu Export 5%   Pale lager - Export
Thorbräuu Hell     Pale lager - Helles.
Maximilans Kellerbier     Unfiltered pale lager.
Thorbräuu Pils     Pils.
Thorbräuu Leichtes Weizen     Unfiltered pale wheat beer.
Altstadtweiße Dunkel 5.5%   Unfiltered dark wheat beer.
Thorbräuu Hefeweizen 5%   Unfiltered pale wheat beer.
Thorbräuu Dunkles     Dark lager.
Thorbräuu Unfiltriert Dunkel     Unfiltered dark lager. Organic.
Celtic Bier     Organic.
Mac Mallow 5.4%   Single malt lemon beer. Organic.
Thorbräuu Portator 7.5%   Doppelbock.

Independent brewery with a few weird products.


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