Biergartens – From Practical to Cultural
Biergartens started as a practical aspect of running a brewery in the mid 1800’s and have developed into another cultural icon. Spring is here in Germany and it is also time for another month of the German Bloggers Stammtisch roundtable. This month the theme is parks and green spaces from Adam. Here is my look at this wonderful type out outdoor space, the beer garden.
From Practical to Cultural
At one point in history, great caves underneath the ground were needed to keep beer cold. These caves were covered with dirt and had trees planted upon them. All of this in an effort to provide as much insulation and shade for the beer as possible. When the breweries started selling beer directly, people started noticing the nice parks that had sprung up nearby. Shady grassy spots are just as nice for family picnics as they apparently were to keep beer cold. Thus began the biergarten(beer garden) concept.
The idea has developed from then a fair amount. Biergartens attached to breweries traditionally allow food to be brought from outside although no beer(understandably). So bring a picnic and buy the drinks there. Nowadays, the beer gardens I have seen do definitely offer food for sale, although sometimes a fairly limited menu.
Here we are talking about the beer gardens that are traditionally attached to breweries. In an odd twist for Germany, apparently the name is not regulated so almost any outdoor place with beer service will be called a Biergarten. Most pubs label their seating like that and don’t really like the bringing of food. But definitely seek out the “real” Biergartens attached to neighboring breweries. These are special.
Communal Drinking
Germans are really into nature and being outdoors. They open their windows to get fresh air and sit in the last patch of sun in autumn. Beer is of course a popular thing as well, so beer gardens, the ability to be outside with beer, are very popular and will be full on a nice day. The Biergarten is however also a family thing. Far more so than other places with outdoor seating. It is a communal place to hang out with other people.
Traditionally an open park feel and often next to a river (breweries use a lot of water), this is just a perfect recipe for a nice place to sit outside in the summer. Every one that I have been in has the really long picnic tables and benches, so you can’t avoid being shoulder to shoulder with others. Add the social lubricant of beer and it becomes a place to be out in society enjoying both the outdoors and being around people.
The European Cup football(soccer) championship is coming up this summer. Every spot with a power plug will have a TV attached to it will people watching. I like going to the biergartens for this kind of thing too. Places to sit and more communal feeling and with better bathrooms than the open air public viewing.
Biergartens In Freiburg
Although started in Munich, they are not exclusive to breweries in Bavaria. Freiburg has several really great ones and all close to the center.
Feierling Brewery
I have mentioned Feierling several times on the blog and for good reason. It is my favorite brewery in town. It is small but great. The small two level garden backs up to Augustiner Museum and is across the street from the restaurant-brewery with its great copper brewing vats. Large trees shade the many large tables in the small garden. Waitresses offer table service for their own Inselhopf unfiltered beer and other drinks. The food menu in the garden itself is pretty limited, but in traditional fashion outside food is allowed. You can also order from their restaurant across the street and bring it back. No food delivery for that unfortunately.
Ganter Brewery
Ganter is the largest brewery in Freiburg. Their logo is on most pubs in town. The brewery is not far from where I live and I bike by the river to work and back. As the weather gets sunnier and warmer their biergarten becomes much more active. The space is large and open and attached to the back of the brewery (the entrance is near the Aral gas station if you happen to be in Freiburg). There is no table service so go stand in line for the beer window. Food is basic German pub style sausages, schnitzels and fries with the odd salad thrown in. There are grills for your own food and a playground for the children.
This is my favorite place to watch the national football games for things like World Cup and European Cup. Ganter also does a 4th of July party that is neat. To see the German interpretation and summation of all of American culture is a sight (I’ll try to do a post on it this year.)
Kastaniengarten
Ok, Kastaniengarten is not a traditional beer garden. It is on top of Schlossberg and not near a brewery. Though it has some of the best views of Freiburg. Head up Schlossberg at Schwabentor and take the steep paths and stairs to the garden. It spans both sides of the narrow mountain giving views over the town. Again no table service, order everything up at the window. Though they give you the beer direct and a little buzzer to call you for your food. Food options are standard German pub fare, but decent. Despite not having an attached brewery, this is still built in the beer garden style and will fill up in the summer months easily.
Beergardens Mean Summer
I have been in many a beer garden with and without attached brewery all over Germany. Pretty much no matter where, you will see someone out on a warm summer day enjoying a beer or two with friends. Adding outside to drinking seems to be natural for the German culture interested in doing both. A word on opening times, they are seasonal things, so rarely if ever open in the chill winter. Though they will often open on warm spring days and then close again if it gets cold. So even if it feels a little early, definitely check them out on a warm day and see if you are in luck.
Check out the rest of the Blogger Stammtisch group on the topic of Parks.
A Day in Munich's Viktualienmarkt - Ctrl Alt Travel
July 24, 2014 @ 9:52 pm
[…] center of the market is the bier garden (we’ll come back to that.) Beyond that are more stands selling all manner of fresh and […]
A Perfect Day in Freiburg | 100 Cities to home swap before you die
May 16, 2013 @ 9:36 am
[…] street. Come in the summer and sit under the trees and enjoy a few pints. Before you head into the biergarten, check out the Bach (stream) across the way and the stone crocodile in the […]
Football Convert - Grounded Traveler
June 15, 2012 @ 8:35 pm
[…] a social experience. During the World Cup two years ago I sat with friends several times in the biergartens to watch games. You came early to get a good seat and some food, not a 4 hour tailgate, but maybe […]
May 28, 2012 @ 9:00 pm
My favorite type of German park 🙂
Dogs in Public in Germany » Grounded Traveler
May 19, 2012 @ 3:53 pm
[…] to the US, Germany is a more public society. More walking around and much more outside. Dogs seem to fit right into this. Smaller apartments and more urban areas seem to lead to a desire […]
May 19, 2012 @ 11:40 am
The beer in Germany (along with the currywurst of course!) was one of the real highlights of the time I spent there. That is a country that takes its beer very seriously!
May 20, 2012 @ 10:22 am
That they do. They take their currywurst seriously too.
May 17, 2012 @ 11:38 am
Ahhhhh…. The thought of beer gardens has me putting Germany near the top of my list of places to visit first. What could be better than a combination of the outdoors, beer and family? Maybe it’s because of my close roots (Netherlands), but this just seems like my ideal setting. The pictures you included here are perfect -so inviting.
May 17, 2012 @ 1:21 pm
Yes do come visit in Germany. Thanks for the compliment on the pictures. Especially on the warm days and summer nights, they really are nice places.
May 17, 2012 @ 1:06 am
Biergartens are some of my favorite places to be in Germany! Thanks for starting spring off right.
May 17, 2012 @ 1:20 pm
Thanks for the comment.
May 16, 2012 @ 4:53 pm
I had no idea they had these in Germany! 🙂
In my time in Germany, I didn’t go to one but I did go to the Hofbrauhaus in Munich. Next time I am here, I will definitely do the biergarten. I love how they have these located next to parks and rivers. Fantastic locations!
I am sure a few of these will be occupied during the summer. Will they have TVs set up for Euro 2012?
May 17, 2012 @ 1:17 pm
Well they are actually next to breweries and ARE parks. It just happens that a lot of breweries are next to rivers for other reasons.
Yeah, everywhere will have TVs for the Euro 2012.
May 15, 2012 @ 4:42 pm
I love biergartens – we’re finally getting one in my hometown (which is sorely needed!).
May 15, 2012 @ 9:29 pm
That sounds awesome. What is your hometown?
May 15, 2012 @ 2:42 pm
I love the communal aspect to the Biergarten; rather than at a pub where we all sit at our own tables. It’s a great evolution of an idea!
May 15, 2012 @ 9:10 pm
Our pubs here have some big communal tables too. Though rarely the big benches.
May 15, 2012 @ 2:42 pm
I love beer gardens – definitely one of my favorite sides to German culture!
May 15, 2012 @ 9:10 pm
Yup definitely.
May 15, 2012 @ 2:12 pm
Thanks for the Biergarten history. I actually had no idea how they came about. I like it though! Oh, I miss a proper Biergarten here. Some places now started having patios and I appreciate that upgrade, but it’s too hot and dry here for green to really be a natural part of the scenery. And the culture is different too. People wouldn’t really go for it I think.
May 15, 2012 @ 9:09 pm
Yeah, ever the practical Germans. I liked the history story too.
I think people might go for it, but it would be so different as to lose the appeal. Some of the things that the American’s wouldn’t accept like big communal tables are what makes it cool.
May 16, 2012 @ 12:46 am
True 🙂 I can’t imagine the “Biertische” going over well here!
May 15, 2012 @ 12:32 pm
I love beer gardens and am so glad that beer garden season is finally here!
May 15, 2012 @ 9:06 pm
Yup, me too. And soon it will be football season which will mesh with beer garden season and make it a nice loud beer filled night to be out.