Weekend in Munich

No craft spots - none needed. Have at least one meal at Augustiner (great eisbein), and one at Augustiner Am Dom. The Hofbrau Haus is probably also a must-see, just because, once in a lifetime thing you know, no need to go back after that, but still fun.

There are other threads that cover Munich, have a look. It's very easy to get around and you can pick and choose what you like.

 

For sure Augustiner- either the keller or the beer garden. I also love Ayinger Am Platzl-across from the hofbrauhaus. They tap a fresh cask every day around 5:00 and the horseradish soup is to die for. Also the Weisses Brauhaus (Schneider) is great. Assuming the weather is good a visit to either the beer gardens at Viktulienmarkt or the English Gardens is great and you are lucky enough that Andechser Am Dom will still be open. If you had more time I'd say to actually go visit Andechs but with such little time just visit the bar in Munich which is close to the Marienplatz. For craft the Tap-House Munich is easy to get to on the s-bahn and a short walk. Also, Paulaner Eiswerk brewery has a lot of crafty beers.

In Mannheim I went on one of the best brewery tours in my life at Eichbaum-but you'll need to call ahead to see if they are having one you can join. The one I went on was all in German (since the next English tour was not scheduled for another 3 months) and I doubt they get many english speaking tourists. The best bar is the Taproom Jungbusch but I'd also leave yourself open to visiting Heidelberg if you have time. Kultur braueri and Vetter are both good and the Weisser Schwan Biermuseum has a ton of choices (which is rare to find in Germany)-note it is not a beer museum but that is what some places call themselves when they are not tied houses and offer a wide variety of brands/styles.

 

Good call on staying in or near the city center. Any advice you receive on this forum will be good advice, in my opinion. Here are a few options to consider:

Schneider Weisses Brauehaus, Tal 7 - Have breakfast or second breakfast here on Saturday or Sunday. Try to get there before 10 am. Order a Weisswurst with a pretzel and a Weissbier.

Augustiner-Keller - Hit up the massive Biergarten if the weather is nice. Grab a Mass of Edelstoff from the wooden cask in the self-service area. Eat a large pretzel with Obazda spread (cream cheese specialty in Bavaria).

Andechser am Dom - Located in the shadows of the Frauenkirche. Order a Doppelbock Dunkel (fantastic beer, world class for the style). The Leberkaese is nice if you're a little hungry.

Nuernberger Bratwurst Gloeckl - Located next to Andecher am Dom. They specialize in Nuremberg-style sausages which look like breakfast sausages in the U.S. Their house beer Augustiner Helles from cask but they also have Augustiner Weissbier on tap. Highly recommend a visit for the ambience (very Bavarian).

Ayinger am Platzl - Already mentioned by papagobrewing. Great Ayinger beer selection. The Jahrhundert is their kellerbier and tastes great fresh from the cask. The food is pricey but worth it - fantastic Bavarian-style dishes. You won't leave hungry.

Hofbrauehaus - Stop in for a Mass of Dunkel. I wouldn't recommend eating there (expensive and mediocre quality for my taste).

Der Pschorr - Grab a fresh Helles from wooden cask. Beautiful beer. Nice place, too. Located in the Viktualienmarkt close to Marienplatz.

Augustiner Grossgaststaette - Located in the old town also near Marienplatz. Because you can never have enough Augustiner beer. This place has a lot of character.

Stop by Die Bierothek if you want to investigate the local and regional craft scene. Bring a couple fresh cans of your local NE IPA for the staff - they really enjoy fresh NE IPAs and other hoppy styles from the U.S. They will steer you right at Bierothek - good people.

Safe travels and Prost!

 

@rkat32 nailed most of my favorite places, so listen to him! I'd also toss in a stroll through the Englischer Garten if you have time (there are 4 biergartens within) as well.

Another thing worth considering is a trip to Kloster Andechs. It's accessible via the normal Munich S-bahn and the trip is only an hour each way followed by a 10-minute cab ride. It's a beautiful spot with some of the best beer and food you're likely to encounter anywhere.

In terms of places to stay, I'd just shoot for anything off the S-Bahn. Marienplatz and the Hauptbahnhof are probably the best two locations for a new visitor if you can find a place you're happy with. However any hotel off the central-portion of the S-Bahn is going to make getting around sans (m)any transfers easy.

If you're looking for US branded hotels for points and whatnot, the Hilton Munich City is usually where I stay. The S-Bahn station is actually connected to the hotel and there's a grocery store with a solid beer selection across the street.

 

What, no fun hike back to Herrsching on a path coincidentally next to a stream? I jokingly called it the 'penance walk' as it was near torture listening to running water almost the whole way back to the village after having consumed a fair volume. There were several people making pit stops in the woods to relieve themselves.

 

I've actually never made that walk before. My wife would probably roll her eyes at me if I even suggested it. Anything more than a mile isn't happening. If we don't show up when one of the free buses is nearby (I think they're hourly), we go for the 10'ish Euro cab.
It feels like there are more buses that leave from Andechs than there used to be, though. The last couple times we've ended up at Starnberg Nord and Tutzing, but they'll still get you back to town in an hour.

 

I couldn't help but share my story as it made my trip there all the more memorable. I chuckle every time I think about it. I had to piss so bad by the time I got to Herrsching. I think I ducked behind some bushes near the station myself.

I had the time to kill and thought the walk would do me some good after my afternoon spent there. Had I known it was next to a stream, I might have reconsidered.

 

For those that missed the walk...

 

I believe Schneider offers Aventinus Eisbock in bottles at their Weisses Bräuhaus pub. Aventinus is available stateside - at least in my market - but it’s widely considered the benchmark for the style by those in the know.

 

Yes, Schneider/Weißes does indeed offer bottles of theie Aventinus Eisbock... damn tasty shit!

Prosit!!

 

Do they still have the Eisbock weissbier glass for sale too?

 

Afraid I don't know.... will research it - in September!!

Prosit!

 

Oh... I had to pay for that?

Just kidding.

Was an Aventinus glass that found its way to the Midwest.

 

Yeah... that's what you told me about that favorite little Brat stand I asked you to check out.

 

Your loss man, great little spot!

Um... if it's still there, of course.