Beer and Oktoberfest Museum

In a city that produces about 56 million bottles' worth of beer each year, it's inevitable that there should be a beer museum--or, more accurately, the Bier- und Oktoberfestmuseum, which honors both the beverage and the world's biggest kegger.

The Beer and Oktoberfest Museum occupies one of Munich's oldest houses, and it's a hands-on museum--meaning that you have the option of grabbing a mug of Hell, Dunkel, Weißbier, Pils, Edelstoff, or a seasonal beer (such as the "Maximator" Doppelbock) in the Museumsstüberl tavern and restaurant.

When you aren't drinking or eating, you can wander through exhibits of historic beer mugs, Oktoberfest memorabilia, and Munich's brewing history.

Don't miss the outstanding movie about the history of brewing and Germany's Beer Purity Law, or Reinheitsgebot, which dates back to 1516.

Although the museum is small, the entry price isn't too steep, and you can buy an inexpensive voucher for a drink and a snack with your admission ticket.

Suggestions:

• Take time to admire the building itself. The house was originally built in 1340, and part of a wall on the ground floor is said to be from Roman times.

• The museum exhibits are on two floors, so don't make the mistake of heading downstairs after you've wandered through the first couple of rooms.

• Watch your head--some of the doorframes were built in the days when people were short or stooped.

• The house may be old, but the toilets are modern and clean, so use them to unload your lager before you resume sightseeing.

Location and hours:

The Bier- und Oktoberfestmuseum is on Sterneckstrasse, a cross street that you'll pass if you head from either Marienplatz or the Viktualienmarkt toward Isartorplatz.

Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (The Museumsstüberl bar-restaurant is open during museum hours and also in the evenings from 6 p.m. until midnight, Tuesday through Saturday.)

For more information, visit www.bier-und-oktoberfestmuseum.de.