Just Visiting: Munich & Amsterdam

Yeah - the gravity barrels and atmosphere. It's just been the spot that I went to first and now always go there because I know they will have lager from the wood. I would also try and track down the Ayinger Jahrhundert from gravity as well while you're in Munich. I believe it can be found at their Wirsthaus after certain hours (normally later in the day).

 

Yep, Jahrhundert vom holzfass is available daily starting at 5.

https://www.ayingers.de/fileadmin/user_upload/PDFs/Ayingers/Wirtshaus_Ayingers_Getraenkekarte.pdf

 

Besides my favorite Augustiner Braustubl, it seems that Nürnberger Bratwurst Glockl doesn't get enough love. It's a bit dark on the inside, but the food is always fantastic. Lots of locals, and I believe Augustiner vom Holzfass (wood) at a certain time of the day.

 

Until you wake up the morning after a Fest and wonder why your right hand has this odd pain -- then you grab another Maß and understand. "Boy, never got this kind of workout with pints."

 

If you're going for the marathon approach in Munich, just about everyone also offers 1/2L ("halbe") pours. A few super traditional places only do lagers via a Maß, but I've never seen a place that doesn't at least have weissbiers in 1/2L.
Some places like the Hofbrauhaus claim they only do 1L pours after a certain hour but that doesn't seem to apply to begging tourists.

 

I did just a fair amount of research before my trip to see if Ayinger beers could be found in other places in Munich but could not come up with anything at the major places. With so much 'tied house' availability in Munich, I'm guessing Ayinger beers are only at the wirthaus. Others with more experience in Munich might be able to comment with different info.

 

That was my tact (or lack thereof) on my first visit to the Forschungsbrauerei -- I had already had a Maß of the Hell and wanted to try the Blonder Bock, but didn't want to commit to a full liter. They finally gave in and poured me a half, but I got the feeling I wasn't as welcome as I'd first been. I didn't resort to the groveling on my second trip... and sucked down a whole liter of Blonder Bock.

 

Yeah, my first trip to Forschungs was quite the adventure. My wife and I were with another BA who has significantly more fortitude than either of us. We had just come from Aying where we had previously consumed three 1/2L normal-strength beers each. My wife had the sense to stop at 1 and order the export at Forschungs. Being the idiot that I am, I went for the 1L of blonder bock. That's when I learned a lesson in pacing. Luckily our next stops were around an hour away and we had plenty of time and distance to walk some of that off.

 

I watched a guy sit down for lunch at Forschungs, order a liter of Bock and the Leberkäse, finish both while reading the newspaper, all within 30 minutes at most. I was about a third through my liter of Bock (and my own Leberkäse, coincidentally) and knew I'd still be nursing it for another 30 minutes at the least!

It's all about the endurance training!

 

No love for the Weißes Bräuhaus in München? Love it there.... Fresh Aventinus, and their Hopfenweiss..... Mmmm!

As for AMS, I did up Brouwerij 't IJ last year and it was no big deal to me.... Arendsnest is THE place, imo.... Love Wildeman, but it's getting pricier lately. If you are near Brouwerij 't IJ, try de Biertuin.... good biers and eats.....

Prosit!

 

Also watched a guy pound down bottles of Aventinus there, though he wasn't as "skilled" as the businessman at Forschungs... if you know what I mean.

But yeah, another Munich favorite.

 

Don't sweat it, you can always leave beer behind.

I was under the same impression that all I would be drinking from would be the 1 L. mugs, but I think Hofbrauhaus was the only place that didn't offer a smaller pour, although they do pour a half-liter for the weissbier. I even visited 4-5 places that served a sampler flight in .11L glasses (one or two of those places might have been in Brussels or Bruge), and I think one or two places that served some beers in a .22L and .33L glass/mug. (However, some of these places may have been somewhere other than in Munich.)

 

Do they serve Aventinus vom Fass? Can't say I've ever had that before.

 

Others may have more recent input, but my first visit to Schneider was before I knew a lot of German and I had no big trouble. The waitresses are notoriously gruff, but to everyone -- they don't have favorites.

 

So it's beer & museums, eh? That's a great combination! While in Amsterdam, make time for the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, & Anne Frank House. All fantastic tours!

 

Sorry to hear you were not able to get tickets to the Anne Frank house. The popularity of the museum is crazy these days. A few years ago you could walk up to the window & buy a ticket!
Hopefully you can get in later in the day.

I have not visited the Stedelijk, The times I have been in Amsterdam I have returned to the Rijksmuseum & run out of time.

The Rembrandt House is also a nice tour. Small house & museum, so it can be toured fairly quickly.

Enjoy Amsterdam, it's a great city & you will be there at a perfect time, (weather wise), so take a canal/boat tour also!