Brewery – Kloster Andechs
Address – Bergstraße 2, 82346 Andechs
Date of first visit – July, 1997
Most recent visit – 30th March 2023
Ruhetag – opens daily at 10.00 until 20.00
URL – https://andechs.de/kirche-amp-kloster/
For those with a religious disposition, the monastery – Kloster Andechs – may hold a certain attraction. The site is a working monastery though one is unlikely ever to encounter a monk, even in the church which is on the side open to the public.
Carl Orff of – Carmina Burana – fame has a memorial plaque inside the church which may mean something to those who are musical. For the majority who make the pilgrimage to Kloster Andechs, they are here for the Bier, there is a brewery on site. The brewery and the monastery are on the far side of the complex and so are unlikely to be seen, though one afternoon, a chap with the keys, took Hector through some doors and the inner sanctum was photographed. Maybe one day, these photos will turn up and be posted.
On warm, dry, sunny days, hundreds can be found sitting in the surrounding gardens or the internal courtyard which separates the two main indoor seated rooms. From here there are views over the meadows and on clear days one can see as far as the Zugspitze, the highest peak in Deutschland.
Bräustüberl – Kloster Andechs
Seven Biers are in year round production, plus seasonal specials, not all will therefore be available. The published photos reveal the favourites. Do not be fooled by the fake barrels. the Bier is is pumped from the hidden Fass. One may have to queue for the Bier, which is paid for in advance. Make sure you pick up the correct Bier, don’t assume if it’s cloudy that it’s a Weizen as Hector found to his cost on visit #1. Although there is a full cafeteria service, there is nothing to stop you bringing your own food.
Andechser Spezial Hell 5.8%
For many, the flagship Bier, and annoying only available on a limited basis at the city outlet – Andechser am Dom. Full bodied, this packs a bigger punch than the standard Vollbier Hell (4.8%).
Andechser Bergbock Hell 6.9%
A treat when available, and a much drier tasting Bier than the Spezial Hell.
The new Bier of choice at Andechser am Dom.
Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel 7.1%
Only a madman would order a litre of the Doppelbock Dunkel, especially if the Bergbock Hell has preceded it. Malty and sweet, a distinctive – must have – but more sensible last thing at night.
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Andechser Weissbier Hell 5.5%
There isn’t another Weizen served on tap that comes close. If one enjoys the full banana/vanilla hit, then this cloudiest of Weissbiers hits the spot.
Wonderful as the Bier and the setting is, there are some things that Kloster Andechs do not get right. As the Bier is basically thrown at you, there is rarely a sense of welcome, only occasionally has there been a sense of a staff presence on site, someone there to work the room.
Although there is a souvenir shop, it has chaotic hours and does not stock the full range of Kloster Andechs memorabilia and clothing that are produced. Get it online – is the usual dismissive cry, the website only deals with German postcodes. They could do better.
