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Beer History

Through a glass darkly

Kugler Alm, the Radler Beer Garden in Southern Munich
May 14, 2025

Kugler Alm, the Radler Beer Garden in Southern Munich

  So Many Beer Gardens … Let’s assume for a moment that you love beer gardens as much as I do. You’ve explored all that there is to offer in the English Garden, you’ve visited some of the iconic beer gardens in the center of …

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Beer History, City Spotlight, Food/Drink, Germany
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by Franz D. Hofer
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0 Comments
The Walberlafest in Franconia: A Beer Fest Woven from Legends
April 28, 2025

The Walberlafest in Franconia: A Beer Fest Woven from Legends

  ~A Tale of Two Walberlas~ As I approached the summit of the Walberla, I couldn’t help but think that only the Germans would schlepp an entire beer fest up a mountain. And no ordinary mountain. The Walberla is shrouded in legends of witches’ sabbaths …

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Beer Hiking, Beer History, Germany
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by Franz D. Hofer
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2 Comments
The Reinheitsgebot of 1516: Seal of Quality, or Creativity Constraint?
April 23, 2025

The Reinheitsgebot of 1516: Seal of Quality, or Creativity Constraint?

  ~Setting the Stage~ I’ve been saying for years now that I’d post some of my material about the Reinheitsgebot (Beer Purity Law). Turns out it’s been one of the more difficult pieces of work to get across the finish line—not because I’ve had writer’s …

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Beer History, Germany, Zymurgical Musings
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by Franz D. Hofer
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3 Comments
At the Pub, German and Austrian Style
April 14, 2025

At the Pub, German and Austrian Style

  ~Evoking Gemütlichkeit at the Wirtshaus~   It was the early 1990s. I had only recently discovered what German beer was all about, and was doing my level best to try as many of them as possible. Occasionally, my friends and I would find our …

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Austria, Beer History, Germany, Zymurgical Musings
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by Franz D. Hofer
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3 Comments
The Origins of the Contemporary Wirtshaus
December 31, 2024

The Origins of the Contemporary Wirtshaus

  Medieval Inns and Taverns The Wirtshaus is a Central European institution with deep roots in medieval times. During the early and high Middle Ages, inns with taverns sprung up along trade and pilgrimage routes, offering food and accommodation to weary travelers, along with stables …

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Beer History, Germany, Zymurgical Musings
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by Franz D. Hofer
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3 Comments
The Wirtshaus: Beer, Taverns, and Everyday Life
November 27, 2024

The Wirtshaus: Beer, Taverns, and Everyday Life

  The rain caught us unawares. A veil of mist rapidly descended, shrouding the hills in the distance. The first few drops announced themselves with a rattle through the leaves. Soon the path was a series of tiny rivulets. Leaves in autumn hues swirled around …

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Austria, Beer History, Germany, Zymurgical Musings
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by Franz D. Hofer
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2 Comments
Talkin’ About a (Beer Garden) Revolution: Munich’s Waldwirtschaft
August 13, 2024

Talkin’ About a (Beer Garden) Revolution: Munich’s Waldwirtschaft

  That sweeping vista across the valley below! It’s the first thing you notice when you find a seat in the Waldwirtschaft’s expansive beer garden. Known locally as the “WaWi,” the Waldwirtschaft in southwestern Munich is nestled in the woods just beyond a residential neighbourhood …

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Beer History, Germany
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by Franz D. Hofer
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0 Comments
Beer Gardens with a Dash of Spice: The Menterschwaige in Munich
June 29, 2024

Beer Gardens with a Dash of Spice: The Menterschwaige in Munich

  The sun was already low in the autumn sky as I finished up my beer at the legendary Waldwirtschaft (WaWi) and headed north toward the equally legendary Gutshof Menterschwaige. I’d been to the WaWi several times over the years, but hadn’t yet made it …

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Beer History, City Spotlight, Germany
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by Franz D. Hofer
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1 Comment
The Munich Baker-Brewer Dispute: Yeast and the Emergence of Lager
April 23, 2024

The Munich Baker-Brewer Dispute: Yeast and the Emergence of Lager

  A Tectonic Shift   At first blush, the Munich Baker-Brewer Dispute might look like a curious footnote in the annals of medieval history.[1] But it’s much more than that. Flaring up sporadically between 1481 and 1517, this inter-guild dispute is not only a colourful …

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Beer History, Germany, Zymurgical Musings
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by Franz D. Hofer
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1 Comment
Cologne and Its Kölsch: A Rough-and-Ready Guide
June 15, 2023

Cologne and Its Kölsch: A Rough-and-Ready Guide

  Cologne is famous for its majestic Gothic cathedral known locally as the Dom, a massive edifice that took over six centuries to complete. It’s the symbol of Cologne and the most-visited landmark in Germany. There’s even a beer named after it: Dom Kölsch. You …

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Beer History, Brewery Profiles, City Spotlight
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by Franz D. Hofer
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1 Comment

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