Augustiner Bräu

Infobox Brewery
name = Augustiner Bräu München


caption =
location = Munich, Germany
owner = Augustiner-Bräu Wagner KG
opened = 1328
production = 90 million litres 2003
active_beers = brewbox_beer|name=Edelstoff|style=Export brewbox_beer|name=Lagerbier Hell|style=Helles brewbox_beer|name=Oktoberfestbier|style=Märzen brewbox_beer|name=Pils|style=Pilsner brewbox_beer|name=Maximator|style=Doppelbock brewbox_beer|name=Augustiner Dunkel|style=Dunkles brewbox_beer|name=Heller Bock|style=Bock brewbox_beer|name=Augustiner Weissbier|style=Wheat beer
seasonal_beers =
other_beers =

Augustiner Bräu is a brewery located in Munich, Germany. Established in 1328, it is Munich's oldest brewery and produces some of Munich's most popular brands of beer.

History

The origins of the Augustiner brewery date back to the year 1294. On July 5, Pope Celestine V succeeded Nicholas IV as the 192nd pope and on December 24 - Pope Boniface VIII became the 193rd pope after Celestine V abdicated the papacy on December 13, only five months after reluctantly accepting his surprise election on July 5, wishing to return to his life as an ascetic hermit. It was in this year when, on the order of the bishop of Freising, an Augustinian monastery was established at the Haberfeld, just outside the gates of Munich (a city famous for its breweries operated by monks). By 1315, the monastery had been incorporated within the city walls of Munich.

The earliest documented evidence of the brewery's existence comes from the year 1328 (when a major fire spared the brewing house); this year is now commonly accepted as the founding year, although the brewery had probably existed for several years before the fire. The monastery was granted the right not only to brew beer but also to sell it on their premises which started the tradition of brewery-owned beer halls that still exists today. From the brewery's inception until secularisation in 1803, when many Bavarian monasteries were put under state control by Napoleons' reforms, the brewery was present at the original site and only sold within the monastery's own tavern. After the takeover of the monastery by the state, the monks walked out in protest.

Soon afterwards, the brewery was denationalised and was moved to Neuhauser Straße in the city centre in 1817. In 1885, it was once again relocated, this time to its present location on Landsbergerstraße 31-35 (Westend district). The second location of the brewery was transformed into a restaurant, which still exists today at Neuhauser Straße 27 under the name Augustiner Großgaststätte (Augustiner Restaurant).

The brewery was bought in 1829 by Anton Wagner. Today, 50% of the brewery is in possession of a foundation for public utility, established by will of the last descendant of the Wagner family. The other 50% is held by various limited partners. Contrary to popular belief, Augustiner Bräu is not the only Munich brewery still in German hands - Hofbräu is also in German hands, as well as Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr by 50.1%.

The current location of the brewery on Landsbergerstrasse is in the Kellerareal (celler area) of Munich, where many of the city's breweries have their main brew-houses. During the second world war the brewery suffered heavy damages, but the whole complex, including its listed brick facade, has been completely restored to its former glory.

Over the years, the capacity of the brewery has been continuously enlarged, while modern brewing processes have been intertwined with traditional methods (mechanised bottling plants alongside draught beer in wooden barrels). The whole company is supplied with hot water warmed up with non-polluting natural gas. The steam clouds from the Sudhaus are not, as in former times, simply blown into air, but reused for power production. The brewing water is pumped up from a well at a depth of 230 m and has outstanding drinking quality. The brewery still maintains its own tavern/restaurant, the "Bräustüberl", on Landsberger Straße.

Distribution and marketing

Augustiner beer is normally found within the Greater Munich area, but in the last few years it became quite popular outside of Munich, for example in Berlin where dozens of bars offer it. The reputation of the brewery is so good that the company does not engage in advertising campaigns. As an example, when most German breweries changed their bottle to a slim and more modern design to give their beer a more classy and less old fashioned appearance some ten years ago, Augustiner stuck with the "classic" older form, often nicknamed the "Bauarbeiterhalbe" (construction worker's bottle). The labels have not changed in over 20 years either. Its brands nevertheless are among the most popular of Munich's beers, and the company regularly reaches an annual output of more than 90 million litres (2003).

Augustiner Bräu operates a beer tent on the Oktoberfest, as well as owning one of Munich's largest beer gardens, the Augustiner-Keller at Arnulfstraße 52, and several traditional bars throughout the city. In recent years, Augustiner beer has become a popular drink in several bars in Berlin; however, the amounts of Augustiner consumed in Berlin are still minuscule compared to its popularity in Munich.

In the record-breaking heat of summer 2003, the brewery refused to sacrifice brewing quality and traditional process to increase production, even though it could have sold more beer.

In the US there is one distributor named Global Village Imports, LLC. that carries Augustiner, it is located in King of Prussia, PA. Although the demand is high, the distribution is very limited.

In popular culture

"Prince Zaleski and Cummings King Monk" is a collection of supernatural detective short stories by author M. P. Shiel. It was released in 1977 by Mycroft & Moran in an edition of 4,036 copies. The first three Prince Zaleski stories had appeared in Shiel's first published work, "Prince Zaleski" (London: John Lane; Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1895). The fourth was first published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine for January, 1955. The Cummings King Monk stories were drawn from "The Pale Ape and Other Pulses" (1911). Although sales were fairly low in England, the translated versions did remarkably well in Germany after associating the protagonist with a certain penchant for the popular brew.

Brands

*Augustiner's most popular brand is Augustiner Helles (5.2%), a light lager beer that is given a prolonged secondary fermentation phase. This is the brand that is generally referred to when talking about "Augustiner".
*Edelstoff is a slightly brighter, slightly sweeter, more sparkly, and stronger (5.6%) lager variant. This is the beer normaly served on the Octoberfest.
*Augustiner Dunkles, a malty dark beer
*Augustiner Pils, brewed according to the original Pilsner recipe.
*Augustiner Weissbier
*Oktoberfestbier, a style of beer (known as Märzen in German) specially brewed for the Oktoberfest. Augustiners Oktoberfest beer and Edelstoff are the only beers at the festival that are still served from traditional wooden barrels.
*Maximator, a Doppelbock and, like the Oktoberfestbier, seasonal. Brewed to coincide with Lent, this is a starkbier (strong beer, 7.5%).
*Heller Bock
*Augustiner Maibock A well lagered (conditioned) pale, seasonal beer (7.2%), only available in May and June in Munich.All of Augustiner's brands are brewed in accordance with the Reinheitsgebot.

ee also

Oktoberfest

External links

* [http://www.augustiner-braeu.de Augustiner Bräu's Website]