The Munich Beer Hall Tour

Greetings from Munich! IMG_4972

After an afternoon of castle touring we arrived in Munich, our destination for 24 hours, around 6pm. We quickly checked into our gorgeous hotel, the Sofitel Mayer Bayerpost.  We were greeted by the fresh aroma of fresh flowers as soon as we entered the hotel. I am not sure whether it is due to the upcoming Easter holidays or always like this but there were huge arrangements, like the one below, in the foyer and check-in area featuring pastel colors. IMG_4974The service we have received thus far has been by far and away the best service we had ever enjoyed. The check-in process for both couples was smooth and they were even kind enough to offer us complimentary upgrades since the hotel isn’t full this weekend! After showing us our room the kind staff even offered to provide their suggestions for the best beer halls and places to enjoy since we only had one evening in Munich.   IMG_4976 IMG_4978 IMG_4981 IMG_4982

Once we finished exploring the hotel and freshening up in our rooms we headed out to explore Munich, the city which has been called a beer fanatics heaven. Our goal was to check out three highly recommended beer halls during the evening, while also enjoying some delicious Bavarian food such as the soft pretzels, schnitzel and sausages. Our walk through the city squares during dusk was the perfect way to take in the cities churches, sites and people watch as many men and women decked out in traditional Bavarian garb such as lederhosen made from buck skin!

IMG_4987IMG_5003IMG_4990 IMG_4991 IMG_4992 IMG_4998 

Hofbrauhaus

Though some might say that this is the most touristy of all the beer halls (likely a true statement) we felt that no stay in Munich was complete without a stop at the famed institution.  With seating for over 8,000 this place feels enormous.  The beer is obviously fantastic with wonderful Bavarian food to match.  Of all the halls we visited, we enjoyed Hofbrauhaus’s pretzels more than anywhere else.  There was also a band playing traditional Bavarian music which made for a lively and convivial atmosphere.

Paulaner im Tal

A small, very quiet hall serving Paulaner, we stopped in for a quick half-liter at the bar.  The beer was good and the place felt relaxed but we felt like we had experienced everything this hall had to offer after 30 minutes.

Andechser am Dom

Another lively hall with a large outdoor area that spills into the street, we sat here for about 30 minutes.  The service was a little less cheery here though that of course could have been our individual server.

Augustiner Keller

This place was a PARTY.  Admittedly, we did arrive here after 11PM and so many of the patrons were on the tail end of many hours of drinking but there was a live band and everyone was having fun we enjoyed the music and another beer before heading back to the hotel to get some well deserved rest.

065 045 048 051 052 053 054 057 059 062

On the topic of beer, what is your favorite beer?

Share Button
Follow:

Silent Saturday – Munich Beer Hall Tour

IMG_4987 IMG_4990 IMG_4991 IMG_4992 IMG_4998 IMG_5003 IMG_5005 IMG_5007 IMG_5009 IMG_5011 IMG_5018 IMG_5022 IMG_5023 IMG_5024

IMG_4995 IMG_5025 062 045 048 050 053 061 IMG_5026

Share Button
Follow:

BLT Fish Shack: Fifteen Bottles of Beer

There is nothing better than an evening of beer and delicious food after a long run.

After a relaxing afternoon with Bo, we headed over to the Galway Hooker to meet Theodora and Tina for a drink.

IMG_2143 (640x480)Luckily, the bar was pretty empty, so we were able to snag a booth and hear ourselves talk without having to scream. This is a rare find in New York City during football season so we were all pleasantly surprised!

IMG_0053 (640x480)

Per Theodora and Tina’s suggestion, I started with Sam Adams Octoberfest since the bar was lacking on pumpkin beer selections.

IMG_2144 (640x480) IMG_2141 (480x640) It was absolutely delicious! Drinking regular beers is still a very novel idea for me as I used to be the “light beer” girl who would never fathom drinking a full, malty beer. This beer was malty with a little bit of spice,  luckily lacking on the hop flavor that I don’t normally like. This may become my go to beer this season since Sam Adams is normally available in most bars.

After a round of drinks and lots of laughter, we headed downtown to meet Gabriella, Rebecca, and Clare at BLT Fish Shack.  Even though this is one of our favorite spots in Flatiron, we hadn’t been to BLT Fish Shack since our Memorial Day weekend date night.

IMG_0056 (640x480)

IMG_2150 (640x480)Bo saw on Twitter that BLT Fish Shack was celebrating NYC Beer Week with a special prix-fixe beer paired menu for $40! I quickly sent the suggestion to Theodora and Tina, originally hoping we could go Friday night before I left for Philadelphia. Luckily the stars aligned and we were able to enjoy the evening together last night!

IMG_2148 (480x640)Upon arriving, we were quickly seated towards the back of the restaurant. Luckily, unlike many NYC restaurants, they were willing to seat us even though only 6 of the 7 people had arrived. This is just one of the many ways the service out did their self last night.

I love the Shack’s cute decor details such as the lobster placemats and dish rag napkins.

IMG_2154 (640x480)

IMG_2155 (640x480) Within minutes of sitting down, our waitress graced our table with their famous garlic cheese bread. It’s easy to enjoy too much of this bread at one sitting as it’s so delicious. Luckily, I was forced to share last night and therefore limited myself to only one piece.

IMG_2156 (640x480)Bo was craving raw bar and quickly asked the group if anyone could help him enjoy some oysters, clams, and shrimp. Clearly we were all more than happy to oblige his request but were taken by surprise when the large seafood tower was presented!

IMG_2157 (480x640) The shrimp were absolutely divine and could have been a meal alone!

Everyone except for Bo chose the pre-fixe special for their meal since it was such a great deal and most of the items aren’t regularly on the menu.

The first round of beers were delivered to our table within seconds of us ordering!

IMG_2152 (480x640) Our first course was a rich but delicious corn & crab chowder, paired with Blue Point Toasted Lager. This was my favorite beer of the night, going down very smooth and paired perfectly with the rich soup. The chowder was delicious but the crispy bread, especially when dipped in the chowder, was the real winner. I only finished 1/3 or so of the bowl since I knew I still had two more courses coming.

IMG_2161 (640x480) IMG_2164 (640x480) The second course included tempura fried branzino served atop braised Swiss chard and lemon jalapeno aioli paired with Lagunitas IPA. Now I know why I stick to grilled or broiled fish. While the tempura was quite as heavy as other fried options, it really took away from the flavor and was too heavy to enjoy the whole serving. The Swiss chard was delicious however and thoroughly enjoyed!

IMG_0089 (640x480)

IMG_2168 (640x480) The final course of the evening was my least favorite unfortunately.  I was excited for donuts when I saw it on the menu but disappointed to find that they were churros instead. Furthermore, the final beer was Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, a very heavy beer that I could barely swallow. The rest of the ladies were very excited to happily pass my bottle around to share.

IMG_0097 (480x640)

IMG_2172 (640x480)

The conversation flowed just as easily as the beers all night long! In fact, we may have hazed Tina at one point in the evening tempting her to double fist in true champ style!

IMG_2173 (640x480) IMG_2174 (640x480) Such a great time with wonderful food and wonderful ladies, plus Bo! He was a true champ!

After dinner I went to a friend’s house for a farewell to summer party but was in bed passed out by midnight! Beer+heavy foods+long runs=exhausted Ashley!

Share Button
Follow: