Munich recommendations

I don't think there are a ton of changes in the Munich area brewery pubs except for the USA style IPAs, NEIPAs, etc. Just my lame 2 cents.

 

If you search title threads, you should find lots of information. @Domingo has stated numerous times his admiration for Giesinger in Munich, I think that's probably going to be your best bet on "new styles" in Munich.

 

As far as "doing interesting beer things" while in Munich and depending on when you go, check out Starkbierfest at Nockherberg at the Paulaner Brewery. This year it's from March 13 - April 5th. Not a new style, but a great traditional German fest.

 

Giesinger offers a nice mix of traditional Munich-style beers and more unusual options like a doppelsticke, barleywine, lemondrop tripel, etc. Nothing that zany, but definitely unusual for the area.
CREW Republic would be another. Their facility isn't very convenient to travel to without a car or some bus-hopping, though. You can find their bottles in lots of stores, though.
The Bierothek stores carry a lot of smaller "Craft" places, too.
Generally speaking, Berlin is definitely going to be more of a "craft" town than Munich. Munich has a long standing beer tradition while Berlin hasn't had that. At least not in recent history.

 

How would you detail the beer scene in Berlin? Are there plenty of craft beer choices? How expensive are they vs. German 'traditional' beer? Are these craft beers typically draft beers (i.e., on premise drinking) are mostly bottled/canned product for drinking at home?

Cheers!

 

Sounds like you had a great time during your visit. Thanks for sharing those details.

Perhaps after your Munich visit you can do a compare & contrast discussion of these two German cities.

Cheers!

 

The beer scene in Berlin and Munich is as different as the cities are different in their vibe and history.

I went to both in 8/2018. IIRC the local Pils (It Iwas good, Not outstanding) would get at the Castle bar near our accomodations was 3€. Much of the tap list was craft and those were 5-6 €, or more.

Berlin doesn't have a Big 6 of breweries dominating the scene. Other than Kindl, another large local brewery doesn't pop into mind. As it is the Capital, you can find other breweries from around the country having a presence.

On our next trip we want to carve out a week in Berlin, for everything else the city has to offer.

 

Jeff, were Berliner Weisse beers popular/prevalent during your 2018 visit to Berlin?

I hope that you and Susan enjoy your next visit there.

Cheers!

 

They were hard to find during our first visit in 2002. IIRC there were a few on taplists now.. One thing I will do next time is to go to Schneeeule (snow owl), a craft brewery that does them well.

 

The only craft beer bar I know in Munich is Tap House, run by Camba Bavaria. It has a craft beer hipness meets old world groundedness vibe, if that makes sense. On their website they say: 42 taps & 200+ beers.

For Germany, that's 38 more taps than a normal bar and 194 more beers than your average bar.

 

theres craft to be had in abundance in berlin, at daft prices in identikit bars that could be anywhere in the western world.

the echte berliner eckkneipen is where its at, cold schultheiss at a reasonable price, lovely people, history.

 

I have enjoyed your writings on this topic in the past. A 'killer' for me would be the smoking aspect.

Cheers!

 

yeah i get that, ive never been a smoker myself but must admit it doesnt bother me, adds to the atmosphere!

im off over there again in about 3 weeks so ill report back as usual

 

And I too have never smoked but the stink is an issue for me. Both while in the bar and later when I get home and my clothes stink to high heaven.

And I very much look forward to you sharing your visit with us.

Cheers!

 

We noticed years back when Bavaria banned smoking in bars and restaurants. It was for the health of the works putting up with second hand smoke. We noticed the smoke in other German states that have not followed.

How was the smoking situation during your Czech Republic trip?