Paulaner Brewery

Paulaner is now (thankfully) so commonplace in the UK that it's easy to forget that this brewery is steeped in centuries of tradition. It is one of just six breweries in the world permitted to brew and serve beer at Munich’s annual Oktoberfest celebration, the most elaborate and celebrated of its kind. Only beer conforming to the Reinheitsgebot — the 506-year-old German Purity Law dictating that beer should only be brewed with water, yeast, malt and hops (no adjuncts, finings or preservatives) — and brewed within the city limits of Munich can be served at the Munich Oktoberfest. 

Another big part of Oktoberfest, and the broader identity of the six Munich breweries, is their beer gardens. In the 16^th century a brewing order restricted the production of beer to colder months of the year to reduce the risk of fire. As such, breweries needed to find a way to keep their beer cool during the summer months to ensure a long, slow fermentation. Their solution was to dig deep trenches, where chestnut trees provided shade, and gravel floors acted as insulation. The resulting gardens offered such effective relief from the summer heat that Munich residents began frequenting them, and the beer garden was born. Today a true Bavarian beer garden will always allow you to bring your own food onto the premises, thanks to the Bavarian Beer Garden Ordinance of 1812, instituted to protect smaller, local food purveyors. 

While so much about Paulaner’s identity is tied up in centuries-old traditions, the 390-year-old brewery is conscious of staying relevant to modern audiences. Paulaner spokesperson Gemma Ripol says that “Paulaner connects tradition with innovation. With a broad portfolio targeting different customers and different consumer occasions, its common denominator is always bringing people together. The brewery constantly analyses the current global market trends to be able to adapt its portfolio. At the same time Paulaner strives in improving its processes to reach its ambitious sustainability goals.”