With Munich Brewers' Day June 2028, Munich's breweries are keeping alive the centuries-old tradition of the trade festival.
- Dates and details
- Procedure and traditions
- Programme
- When: June 2028
- Frequency: The festival is held every two years
- Location: City centre around Marienplatz and Viktualienmarkt
- Participating groups: Brewers' parade of horse-drawn carriages, Waakirchen Mountain Rifle Company, Munich Schäffler, Harmonie Neubiberg Music Society, Würmtaler Brass Band, Aschheim Brass Band, Chiemgau Mountain Costume Preservation Society Munich with Schuhplattler dancers and Holzhacker-Buam, Goaßlschnoizer Bruckmühl, Riadastoana Feldmoching (dance group).
On this day, they ceremoniously bid farewell to their young brewers after they have successfully completed their apprenticeships and publicly commit themselves, together with them, to the ‘heart’ of Munich's brewing culture – the Munich Purity Law of 1487, according to which Munich beer is still brewed today.
The highlight of this festive day is the public ‘Freischlagen’ ceremony, with which the city honours its young brewers. One by one, they step before the mayor, who ceremoniously lowers the wooden ferula – the traditional guild symbol of brewers – over their shoulders, thereby knighting them, so to speak, into the Order of the Purity Law. A special service for the brewers is held in St Peter's Church in the morning. Afterwards, the apprentices, journeymen, masters and guests of honour, led by the Münchner Kindl, continue on to Marienplatz accompanied by traditional costume and music bands, mountain riflemen and festively decorated horse-drawn carriages.
There, the traditional Schäffler dancers perform, making an exception to their otherwise strictly observed rule of only performing every seven years in honour of the brewers. The actual ceremony of the Freischlagung then takes place in the late morning, followed by the renewal of the ‘Preueides’ (oath of allegiance) of 1487, in which the brewers solemnly swear together ‘ ...to use only barley, hops and water for every beer ... and nothing else ...’.
The official conclusion of Brewers' Day is marked by performances by traditional costume groups, whip crackers and folk dance groups on Marienplatz, while Munich's breweries hold a special reception in the afternoon to honour the best young brewers of the year.
8.30 am: Assembly of the young brewers and apprentices, and display of the guild’s antiquities on Marienplatz: guild flag – guild poles – guild chest – ferula
9.15 am: Procession to the church and entry into St Peter's Church
9.30 am: Festive service in St Peter's Church
10.30 am: Parade with brewery carriages from the Tal district via the Viktualienmarkt, the Rosental and Rindermarkt towards Marienplatz.
11.15 am: Ceremonial event at Marienplatz with the initiation of the young brewers by the Lord Mayor
12.30 pm: Official tapping of the free beer by the Chairman
1 pm: Stage programme at Marienplatz featuring the groups mentioned above
