Prost!!!
1. always outdoors
It seems like a truism but it is so. A Biergarten is required by law to be at the mercy of inclement weather , very capricious by Bavaria. That is why they cannot be covered with awnings nor can they be housed in plastic tents. In this situation, it is important to look for a good shade since the ability of the Star King to blush the skin should not be underestimated. It is true that the regular users of these establishments are the same ones who colonize Spanish beaches and swimming pools to get a tan, but they are aware that the mixture of sun and a lot (a lot) of beer is not good at all.
Other common characteristics is their situation, since are in full communion with the environment . Implicit in its definition is the term 'garden', which designates an open space, with trees and plants and natural soil. For this reason, the best Biërgarten are found in parks or landscaped squares, right at an intermediate point between civilization and wild nature.
two. no schedules One of the great advantages of these bars is that they have their taps open from early in the day until nightfall . In this way, it is easy to find your banks full at any time. There is no tradition of going to a Biergarten to have an aperitif or before dinner, since its great advantage is its indefatigable rhythm of food and drink . Of course, this does not guarantee that there will be free space in the central hours, which is when the weather is good and hunger strikes, so it is ideal to avoid them at this time to save queues and fights for a little spot in a bank.
The desolation of an empty Biergärten
3. old bavaria
You will recognize a Biergarten by its country aesthetic . Don't be fooled: if you don't have the green or brown painted wooden benches, it's not what you're looking for. Their legislation obliges them to forget about the latest hospitality innovations and conserve what they looked like 200 years ago, when the first taverns were located in the parks.
The origin is in the underground beer cellars, where this drink was stored and fermented in summer. Usually, these were outside the cities, on the banks of the rivers, in order to keep the cold . During the hottest months, thirsty Bavarians would visit them to enjoy their refreshing flavor surrounded by greenery. Over time, manufacturers began to build small picnic areas so that their buyers could enjoy the barley juice more slowly.
To preserve this tradition and not let these primitive terraces be confused with more modern businesses, there is an official plate of the government of Bavaria (the only region where these outdoor bars exist) that recognizes that the place is a Biergarten. So if the visitor has any doubts about the authenticity of the place, they always have to look for this badge to make sure and enjoy.
Four. there are no waiters
These establishments are probably the cradle of self-service. Therefore, it is not a place for young men who seek to be served or who intend to blame the service. The dynamic is simple: get up, choose the food, choose the drink, take a pretzel or not, pay and sit down. And so on over and over again until the body endures. You will only see a waiter who gets up to collect the utensils from a table. The good manners of the guests and the atmosphere in which this liturgy is celebrated means that, despite sharing mechanisms, a Biergarten never looks like a fast food place.
5. Hurrey for the Beer!
Three quarters of the people who decide to dedicate some time of their lives to a pilgrimage to a Biergarten do so to drink beer. The remaining quarter either do not know where they are going or are minors . Therefore, one thing is clear: here you come to enjoy this drink. It is usually draft beer served in beautiful half-litre or full-litre glass mugs. . There are all kinds of them, from the classic blonde, to toasted or wheat. For those who tolerate alcohol less, there is always the option of ordering it mixed with lemon. What comes to be a clear of all life but in industrial quantities.
Yes indeed, a Biergarten is not intended to be an exclusive beer hall for sophisticated gourmets and they usually do not offer more than two different brands. This feature does not imply that this is an unfamiliar plan. Being in parks, the kids can run around restlessly while mom and dad enjoy the gastronomic offer of the place. A family combo that satisfies all the offspring . Does anyone give more?
6. Jug-souvenir You don't have to, but who can resist keeping one of the impressive jugs as a souvenir of their trip? One of the hallmarks of many Biergärten are their logos on the thick glass of their containers. , which helps them to identify which glasses are their own and which are brought from home. In the most touristic places, it is common for them to charge you a deposit in order not to spend their budget on more and more jars. A pity, because if they set up a space in the Biergarten to sell them, they could get a lot of money, just like souvenir shops do.
7. strong menu
Eye, not everything is drinking . The human need to eat food when drinking beer means that they also sell food on these terraces. For many, it is the real claim, since they are typical bavarian dishes always cooked correctly . Of course, their menu is not for bikini operations (unless it's the Dukan diet, then this is heaven) since it is meat and more meat in all its aspects . There is no shortage of typical sausages of all sizes, roast knuckle, potato or coleslaw salad, etc. It is less common, but in some Biergartens they offer grilled river fish, a recipe that is not very appetizing on paper but has surprising results on the plate. To finish off or accompany, there is no lack of Bretzel, the best of salty and sweet in a beautiful biscuit-shaped bun.
Viktualienmakt at its best
8. yes to tupperware
In 1999 the Bavarian Parliament approved the definitive law: you can bring food from home to the Biergärten. With this measure, one of the requirements that is required for a place to have this name, the government intended to recover the essence of a community picnic area in these places, advocating that citizens bring their prepared recipes to their tables. This characteristic speaks of the social character of the Biergärten, which It is understood as a socializing and unifying element for a society with a high percentage of immigrants..
9. Dress Folk costume and beer is a very common marriage in many cultures. Here it could not be less. Bavarians are usually quite aware of their peculiarities and are very proud of their origins. That is why it is very common for citizens of all social classes to sit on the benches of the Biergärten wearing the popular regional attire. While men adjust leather pants called Lendehosen, women claim their breasts by stuffing them into the famous Dirndl dresses.
For the visitor who wants to mimic this custom, in the center of the main cities of the region you can buy your particular clothing. In Munich, the best known stores are Angermaier (with its own _on-line shop _) and Wiesn Tracht & Mehr.
10. Most varied places A Biergarten can be built anywhere. That is why it is very common that, in places where you least expect it, a space delimited with the famous plate appears as if nothing had happened. A very clear example is the one located in Andechs, on top of a hill. In this cloister, the monks brew their own beer, which they then offer to weary pilgrims on the terraces.
Another example of an unusual situation is in the English Garden, the largest park in Munich. Beneath a Chinese tower is the city's most famous Biergarten, attracting visitors for both its drink and its original setting. You can see the most famous Bavarian Biergarten on this website.