And one could add a few more lines to the song since, apart from the original at Munich's Platzl, the brewery has been running an almost-perfect copy in Las Vegas for a few years now, across from the Hard Rock Hotel.
But let's go back to Munich and talk about the tradition of Hofbräuhaus. Yet another sidenote: last year Hofbräuhaus finished 7th at ZDF-TV program "Our best - Germany's favorite places". Uli Hoeness, well-known as manager of Germany's football record champion FC Bayern München: "It's fun there, but still very civilised." And he praises the great cuisine at Hofbräuhaus: "what I love to eat: a good roast pork with a crust and a bread dumpling with sauce, coleslaw, or a homemade "Leberkäse" (Bavarian specialty, like a meat loaf) with potatoe and cucumber salad, and always a fresh pretzel".
In former times there were two Hofbräuhäuser. The first one was founded in 1589 by Herzog Wilhelm V. and existed until 1808. Duke Maximilian I. built his ducal Weißbierbrauhaus in 1607 a few steps away and created the historic foundation of today's Hofbräuhaus. One of the cosy house's secrets, with its wonderful beer garden, is the white sausage. This Munich delicacy was launched at carnival in 1857 by a close-by butcher and it is traditionally peeled with sweet mustard, or also sucked out of its skin. The production of homemade white sausages starts early at 4 am, for the guests want to be provided with yummy sausages from 9 am.
Regular guests and regulars' tables – also here a tradition is continued which was thought to be forgotten. Over a 100 regulars' tables meet up at "Schwemme", the part of Hofbräuhaus where the was brewed back then. Nowadays the Hofbräu owns one of the most modern brewing facilities of the world, before the city's gates, close to Munich's exhibiton centre in the east between Riem and Feldkirchen.
Back to the regulars, one of who has made it into heaven and, listen up, back again. We are talking about the industrious commissionaire Alois Hingerl and his story of "Münchner im Himmel" ("Münchner in heaven"). When he passed away due to the permanent hustle and was carried into heaven by the angels, he soon disturbed the heavenly peace up there. He moaned until God took pity on him and sent him back to his old home on a mission for the Bavarian government. No sooner had the angel Aloisius breathed the Munich air than he forgot his divine mission and flew straight into Hofbräuhaus. There he finally found peace of mind and enjoys one beer after other ever since. However, the Bavarian government is still waiting in vain for the divine input.
If this is still the case is subject to discussion, however this place is well worth a visit and from Frederics Serviced Apartments it is an easy thing to do: U- and S-Bahn goes to Marienplatz and from there it's just a few minutes to this world-famous location. Its beer has saved the National Theatre from complete destruction during a major fire in 1823 when it was used due to a lack of fire water.
by Dietmar Stanka
pics press material Hofbräuhaus
A Frederics serviced apartments service – short-term accommodation in Munich - boarding house Munich Schwabing and boarding house Munich Gern
Hofbräuhaus
Platzl 9
80331 Munich
Phone 089 29 01 36-0
Opening hours:
daily from 09.00 - 23.30 Uhr
