The Augustiner Bräustuben: From Barn to Beerhall

The scent of hops wafting through the air. The cookie dough fragrance of mashing grain. These are the first telltale signs as you make your way from Munich’s main train station a short walk away that you’re getting close to the Augustiner Bräustuben on the old brewery grounds.

The Augustiner Bräustuben is both a beerhall exuding Gemütlichkeit and current location of the Augustiner-Bräu brewery, Munich’s oldest (founded 1328). It’s a classic beer hall with character to spare, more down-home than other beerhalls in the city.

A Onetime Horse Stable

And no wonder it has a rustic feel. This lively and sometimes raucous drinking establishment occupies what was once the brewery’s stable for its dray horses. Transformed from barn to beerhall in the mid-1990s, the green cast-iron columns and orange-brick vaulted ceilings of the building recall both the shape of the stable and the industrial architecture of the nineteenth century. Post-equine touches such as the gleaming copper kettle repurposed as a bar leaves no doubt about what you should order once you find a seat.

Speaking of seats, the benches rest on old beer barrels for that added touch of rough-hewn charm. While we’re still on the topic of seats, this is no place to be shy. The place is almost always packed, so chances are high you’ll be sharing space with someone who might become a new friend.

Just beyond the copper kettle bar you’ll catch a glimpse through a window of a few stalls that have been preserved complete with straw and outfitting for the horse team that beds down here during Oktoberfest. At the back of the hall is the “Alte Schmiede,” a wood-paneled and low-ceilinged space which served as the Augustiner blacksmith shop right up until 2008. If the weather’s warm you can head up to the rooftop terrace with views over the brewery courtyard.

What You Came Here For

The Lagerbier Hell here is served from a wooden cask, which makes the place popular with beer aficionados. What’s more, the Augustiner Bräustuben is one of the cheapest places in Munich for a hefty mug of this elixir. A Maß (1 liter) went for a mere €5.60 before the pandemic, and is only €7.10 now — not too shabby when you think of the toll that inflation and commodity shortages have taken on beer prices. A half liter is exactly half the price (€3.55 in 2023), which is cheaper than many beers in Bamberg these days.

All of Augustiner’s year-round offerings are available as well, and when the season’s right you can get beers like their Oktoberfestbier and Maximator on draught. The food is what you’d expect: an ideal snack on a warm day, or hearty enough to keep the cold of winter at bay. I’ve had dishes like the Sauerbraten in a cranberry cream sauce, but more often than not I’m happy enough with a simple Brotzeitbrettl of cold meats, cheese, and obatzda.

It’s worth noting that if you’re looking for a less touristy beer experience, the Augustiner Bräustuben is far enough in the opposite direction from Marienplatz that you’ll find plenty more locals living it up here. For my money, when I’ve just arrived in Munich by train and need something to quench my thirst, nothing lifts my spirits more than a saunter down to the Augustiner Bräustuben. See you there someday soon!

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All images by F.D. Hofer

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