The Hofbrauhaus in Munich is a great place to experience the German tradition of hospitality. Gemutlichkeit means celebrate comfortable enjoyment and that is what the Hofbrauhaus offers. Here you will always find many Bavarian men and women enjoying the friendly atmosphere as they enjoy their bier.
The Beer Hall is the heart and soul of the Hofbrauhaus and seats 1,000 thirsty guests. Upon entering the beer hall you will see long tables where the guests are seated and are treated to the sounds of an ompah band's music as the pretzel ladies wander the aisles with baskets of delicious pretzels. It is the opportunity for guests to experience the great tradition of eating a pretzel and quenching the thirst with the wonderful Hofbrau brew.
Upon sitting at one of the tables, the "bier madchen" comes to take your bier order. If you are ordering 1 bier, you hold up your thumb and say "ein bier bitte". For 2 biers, you hold up your thumb and forefinger and say "zwei bier bitte". Quickly your bier is served in a large 1 liter glass mug (about 34 oz.) The Hofbrauhaus is a great place to learn a bit of German because the locals enjoy sitting down to chat with you.
Each year the Hofbrauhaus serves approximately 1,900,000 biers.
The Hofbrauhaus was built in 1589. It was built because the cost of bier was too expensive for the average Bavarian. The "higher" class of Bavarians drank wines or biers from Northern Germany. Bavarian Duke Wilhelm V ordered that a brewery be built in Munich. The location selected for the new brewery was the site of the Duke's chicken barn. In 1607 the brewery was moved to a new location at the "Platzl" in Munich. That has been the location of the Hofbrauhaus ever since.
In the 1700s the tax revenues generated by the Hofbrauhaus provided 30-50 percent of the Bavarian State's budget. Yes, Bavarians do have a great thirst for bier.
During the 30-Years War of the Middle Ages, King Gustavius of Sweden was threatening to invade and destroy Munich. Those threats were appeased when 600,000 barrels of the much desired HB brew was given to Sweden.
Is it possible that a Prussian made the Hofbrauhaus more famous with a song? In 1935, a "Berliner", Wilhelm Gabriel composed the song "In Munchen steht ein Hofbrauhaus". This fact is very difficult for a Bavarian to accept.
The Hofbrauhaus is a famous tourist attraction; but it has many regular, local and loyal customers who have their own personalized bier stein that are kept in small lockers at the Hofbrauhaus.
KING Werk, as a German manufacturer of hand-crafted beer steins is grateful and proud being awarded with the sales license for authentic Hofbrauhaus Beer steins.
You don't have to fly over to Munich and buy an original HB Beer Stein at the HB Gift Store: You can conveniently browse through our HB assortment and order them online, bringing German Gemütlichkeit into your home. Display it proudly at your home. It shall be a great decoration and conversation piece and, naturally you can enjoy a cold brew out of authentic HB stein, which was proudly handcrafted in Germany.
Prost!
