First time in Munich–man I’m pumped. Vienna also. Looking for must see small breweries. I’m already planning all the big ones. But all advice is appreciated
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When I was in Germany, regardless of city, I sought out the local Hausbrauerei (home brewery). The bigger national brands are great to visit but for me, the local places with the non-tourist crowds usually with a smaller Biergarten offered the best beers, the most engaging crowds, and reasonable prices. I don’t have any names for Munich but if you’re in/near Weinheim (Heidelberg area) the Woinemer Hausbrauerei was one of my favorites 30 yrs ago.
Talk to the Rankerts.
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i’ve never been, but this guy has been there a lot, and he recommended bamberg not even for beer but for apparently being the best preserved town centre in his opinion in all of germany. https://www.youtube.com/@woltersworld/search?query=munich
i think he indicated a few observations and quirks about munich in the first dos and donts video
search bamberg on his channel.
I figured he’s chime in!
Thanks for that! I’ll check it out. If Bamburg is close enough to where we are staying I plan to make the trip if we have time. I love Rauchbier
send them a message on FB
Agreed, Bamberg has a number of excellent bier
look out fr those which only serve their beers in their own Kellers.
Munich is dominated by the Big 6 breweries in the city. Ayinger has a taproom on the Platzl that the Hofbräuhaus is on, a wooden keg of Jahrhundert is tapped at 5:00. Andechs has a restaurant tap near the Frauenkirche. Wirtshaus Eder has Schönrammer Hell on tap, but it is a ways from the old town. The Schneider and Tegernsee breweries have taprooms on Tap.
If you want to have a great experience, Augustiner’s Keller is one we always stop at for a Maß of Edelstoff. The brewery is on the other side of the tracks and a little farther west. The Bräustüberl has low prices for food and beer for Munich. The atmosphere is classic, but it can get crowded later. As you go to the men’s rooms, there are windows to the stables.
There are some newer breweries. I’m not familiar with the Craft ale breweries. One that does lagers and ales is Giesinger. The original brewery and restaurant is in the Giesing district. They have small outlets sprinkled around the city.
If the weather is nice the Biergärtens will be heaving.
Hope this helps.
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Bamberg is about 2 hours by train. Slightly less by ICE, longer by RE, and longer by the RB to Nürnberg where you pickup the S-Bahn.
Less time is more €.
Thanks Jeff!
Re: Bamburg, its too far North for this trip but I hope to make it at some point. I believe our next big Europe trip will be Belgium and Cologne/Dusseldorf.
You can spend days to weeks wandering around Munich. Enjoy it.
Keith, Englischer Garten has several Biergärtens. Chineeser Turm is fun, Seehaus is on the shore of a lake in the park. At the southeast corner of the park you can see urban surfers on the Eisbachwelle. It’s fascinating to watch them on the standing wave.
Forgot to mention one place we really enjoyed last fall. HopDog is run by a guy who worked at Weyermann. The food is hot dogs, but those are German Wurst so good, and creative toppings. The bier is from small breweries around Bamberg, he drives up on the day they are closed and picks up fresh kegs. You can get a Special RauchMärzen there.
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I knew you would have some great suggestions! Thanks!
I’m headed to Vienna in May and my research makes it seem like wine is a bigger deal. Lots of these in or near the city
I did get a tip about this brewpub that looks promising
I thought this thread was going to be about Munich and Vienna malts. I suppose that a city with a malt named after it is going to have a pretty decent beer scene.
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Hi..excited you are going to Munich! Germany is a rather big country, and Bamberg/Cologne/Dusseldorf are quite a distance by car or train from where you are at. But…you have some really great places to visit. About a 40 minute train ride south of city is Andechs…great biergarten with views of foothills of the Alps…worth the time and a scenic ride as well.
In Munich of course the Hofbrauhaus in Munich is fun and very old…worth bellying up to a communal table there.
Most importantly, do not shy away from the communal tables! You always meet interesting people, and often life long connections! In Germany if you do not ask, no one will tell…meaning if you are lost, looking for something, etc. German culture can put Americans off at first…but I work there 100 days a year and now totally like the directness of it…
That’s why I posted iin “Beer Travel”! 
For Vienna, I would recommend a trip to the Schweizerhaus beer garden at the Prater. The beer is Budvar and the assembly line they have for pouring the beers is an amazing sight. My favorite Austrian beers are Murauer, Hirter and Schladminger, which can be found at numerous locations throughout the city. There’s a brewpub called Siebensternbräu that’s worth a visit, and there are a few beer-focused places such as Krah Krah and Bier&Bierli that have a good selection of Austrian beers.
That’s a great tip for the Schweizerhaus , I’m visiting the Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien for a conference.