The beer garden – a typical Bavarian tradition

A typical beer garden, picture: Rita E, 
https://pixabay.com/de/photos/biergarten-st%C3%BChle-
tische-sommer-2456011/, Pixaby licence

For a long time, serving beer was only permitted in restaurants with a corresponding permit (Krugrecht). The brewers were not allowed to do this themselves - without a suitable operating permit. From 1799 on it was permitted to serve beer directly at the beer cellar. The then common bottom-fermented beer could only be produced in the cold months and had to be stored in a cool place afterwards. Beer cellars were built for this purpose, the surface of which was planted with trees (often chestnuts) for additional cooling. In addition, ice was stored in the winter. Without these cellars, it would not have been possible to store the beer in summer. Chestnuts were chosen as planting because they did not damage the vaults of the cellars due to their flat roots.

The typical beer garden has shady trees, simple tables and benches and you are allowed to bring your own food (at least in the traditional Bavarian beer gardens). The reason for this is that the increasingly popular beer gardens attracted customers away from the innkeepers of the guesthouses. In 1812, the innkeepers convinced King Maximilian I therefore to ban the serving of food in beer gardens that went beyond a simple piece of bread.