Strong Beer Fest or Starkbierfest 2025 in Munich

Try this very special 'strong beer' or 'Starkbier' in German brewed by Munich's monks for centuries. The tradition is still alive, and the best breweries in Munich invite visitors to taste their special potent brews during the Strong Beer Fest

Dates: March 14–April 6, 2025

Spring in Munich brings a great beer celebration—the 'Starkbierfest'—Munich’s Strong Beer Festival. It takes place for a few weeks between Ash Wednesday and Easter. During this period, you can taste some of Germany's most potent brews from top breweries. The variety of tastes is huge, but one thing unites them—an alcohol content of over 7%.

Beer Selection

German beer is famous for its quality. The Purity law ensures that everything you drink contains only water, malt, hops, and yeast. Strong beers are extremely popular during the spring season as it is still cold outside and these drinks are malty and warming.

Starkbierfest Program & Attractions

During the three weeks of the festival, visitors can enjoy delicious beer from Florian Lechner's brewery. Part of the Starkbierfest is the comedy show called Derblecken, which occurs at Nockherberg a day before the festivities and mocks local politicians. Besides beer, you'll have a chance to taste delicious appetizers, traditional staples like pretzels, and meat delicacies. While you're enjoying your pint of beer, tap your feet to the rhythm of catch music performed on the stage of the venue. This year's festival is set to feature The Kirchdorfer, an Oktoberfest legend who has extensively toured in 20 countries.

Tickets & Schedule

Individual tickets are available at the box office and cost €18.50. This includes entry, a beer voucher, and a booking fee. Table bookings range from €175 to €315. The festival lasts three weeks and usually welcomes visitors from 11 am to 10:30 pm.

Location

The event is held at the Paulaner am Nockherberg tavern. The venue is quite spacious and usually filled with people of all ages, ready to enjoy delicious drinks. This location will put you in the festive mood and showcase some great beer. The building is situated around 2 miles (3 km) from the city center, so it's easy to access either by bus, tram or any other public transportation. Plenty of parking is available nearby.

History of the Strong Beer Festival

The tradition of brewing these strong special beers dates back to the 16th century from Paulaner monks. They brewed a special beer called ‘Holy Father Beer’ during the Lent because it had more calories. They also called this stuff 'Flüssiges Brot' (liquid bread) as it helped to survive 40 days of fasting with a full belly and a good mood. Bavarian rulers also joined in the tapping of the first strong beer kegs in the Middle Ages. The first public beer festival was established in 1751.