200 Jahre Biergarten Jubiläum
Am 4. Januar 2012 feierte die Tradition Bayerischer Biergarten seinen 200. Geburtstag. 200 Jahre früher, am 4. Januar 1812, erhielten alle Brauereien durch einen Erlaß von Max I. König von Bayern die Erlaubnis, Bier direkt aus den Lagerkellern zu verkaufen.
Dieser Erlaß war die Reaktion auf eine langwierige Auseinandersetzung zwischen den Brauereien und Gastwirten. Bereits am 13. Mai 1791 beschwerten sich einige Münchner Wirte aus der Au beim Kurfürsten Karl-Theodor über die Bierkeller, welche sich in der Nähe der Isar befanden. Die Gastwirte waren der Meinung, daß die Bierkeller ihre Geschäfte ruinieren. Damit lagen die Gastwirte nicht falsch, angesichts der Tatsache, daß es den Brauereien per Gesetz untersagt war, Bier zum sofortigen Verzehr aus den Kellern heraus zu verkaufen. Doch dies wurde weitgehend praktiziert.
In those days the beer was stored between huge ice blocks in underground cellars. The ice was necessary to cool the beer throughout the summer months, as brewing was only allowed between end of September and middle of April. To improve the cooling, breweries planted chestnut trees on top of the cellars. People collecting beer straight from the breweries usually drunk their first stein on location before going back home. To provide more comfort, the breweries placed tables and benches under the chestnut trees with the result, that more and more people came to the beer cellars and the restaurants lost their guests.
The royal edict in 1812 brought an end to the argument between the breweries and innkeepers. The edict stated, that the breweries are allowed to sell their Märzenbier from June to September for straight consumption on location. To bring some guests back to the restaurants, the breweries were only allowed to sell beer and bread, but nothing else. Nevertheless, the beer garden guests started to bring their own food from home and over time this custom turned into tradition.
Throughout the 2012 beer garden season, many Munich beer gardens will celebrate this tradition together with their guests in combination with special events.
Additional information
- Beer Garden Etiquette press release by the Munich and Bavarian tourist office.
- 200 Years Beergarden press release by the Munich and Bavarian tourist office.
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