Munich’s Starkbierfest at the Nockherberg

In March 2020 we invited you to the Nockherberg for the Salvator tapping and the March strength. A few days later, Munich stood still; the festival was cancelled. Today the original Starkbierfest is back, and it’s exactly what it has always been: Munich’s oldest folk festival, a doppelbock with history, and an evening when half of the state’s politicians take a roasting on stage. Here’s what you need to know.

Fans of high-proof beer look forward to these three weeks all year. Served is the Salvator, brewed by Paulaner according to a recipe whose core dates back to the 18th century. It was refined by Frater Barnabas-Valentin Stephan Still by his secular name-who in 1774 was appointed brewmaster at Neudeck monastery. The Paulaner monks brewed their doppelbock for Lent, as sustenance rather than a treat. Liquida non frangunt ieiunium-what is liquid does not break the fast. The liquid bread made the sacrifice bearable, and the name Salvator, the Saviour, was apt.

The name itself is a mini linguistic history. Originally the beer was called Sankt-Vater-Bier, in honour of the order’s founder; over time the Munich dialect slurred it into Salvator. In 1751 the monks were finally allowed to serve their strong beer officially, on the feast day of that same order father. In gratitude they presented the first stein to the Bavarian prince-elector. That gesture survives to this day: at the tapping, the CEO of Paulaner traditionally hands the first Maß to the Bavarian minister-president. The brew is, by the way, strictly in accordance with the Reinheitsgebot of 1516-almost reassuring for a beer of this potency.

The progenitor is defined by its numbers: 18.3 ° Plato, 7.9 % ABV, about 700 kilocalories per litre. This is no beer to sip casually; it’s a meal with a foamy crown. Anyone who downs two Maß during Lent has met their daily quota and should think twice before adding a pretzel. Of course they do anyway, because the kitchen serves hearty Bavarian fare, from pork knuckle to grilled fish on a stick.

The Salvator is the original doppelbock. To this day only Paulaner may use the name; all other strong beers end in -ator because they measure themselves against the original.Why is it called Starkbierzeit and not just a beer festival?

With the founding of the Neudeck ob der Au monastery and the arrival of the Paulaner monks around 1621, brewing began below Nockherberg. In 1861, the Salvatorkeller was established on the hill, giving the festival its permanent home. To this day, the tapping of the Salvator in mid-March heralds the start of Starkbierzeit, those weeks between Ash Wednesday and Easter when Munich interprets fasting in its own way. Other breweries join in, at Löwenbräukeller, Augustinerkeller, and elsewhere. But Nockherberg remains the original and the biggest stage of them all.

Stage is meant literally. The tapping isn’t just opening a barrel-it’s a television event. During the politician roasting, actors in a singspiel lampoon the political elite present, while a Lenten preacher delivers a sermon. Since 2019, cabaret artist Maximilian Schafroth has taken on the role, and Bavarian Television broadcasts the evening live. Those who snag one of the coveted seats in the hall sit at tables with ministers, publishers, and Munich’s chic set. Most, however, experience the evening in front of the TV, Maß in hand.

Is Nockherberg worth it if you’re not Bavarian?

Yes, especially then. Oktoberfest is the festival for the world; Nockherberg is the festival for Munich. Smaller, rougher, more authentic. There’s no six-week prep period, no international crowd arriving in costume. Here, you sit closer, talk louder, and realize sooner that a liter of Salvator isn’t a liter of Helles. Once you’ve been, you understand why locals prefer their mountain to Theresienwiese.

The Salvatorkeller offers seating indoors and out; in good weather, the beer garden opens with panoramic views over the city. The vibe is both familial and unpolished-oom-pah music blares, and by the second Maß, the whole table is singing along. Insider tip: reserve for the weekend early; the hall fills fast. And plan your ride home by subway-the Salvator packs a punch.

What happened to the canceled year in 2020?

In 2020, the festival fell victim to the pandemic, as did 2021. It wasn’t until 2022 that the Salvator tapping returned, cautiously at first, then at full volume. Now the original Starkbierfest unfolds every spring, the roasting as sharp as ever, and demand is high. Those three weeks in March are back in Munich’s calendar, between Carnival and spring, as the festival the city knows best.

So if you’re wondering when to next dig out your dirndl or lederhosen: Nockherberg is a perfect reason. Not because you have to, but because everything here just works-the beer, the stage, the mood.

More from Munich: our brunch hotspots in Munich for the morning after, a tour of winter in Munich, and our trends for the next Oktoberfest under O’zapft is.

Good to Know

▸When is the 2026 Starkbierfest at Nockherberg?

The original Starkbierfest runs from 6 to 29 March 2026. The Salvator tapping with singspiel and politician roast opens the Starkbierzeit and is broadcast live on Bavarian Television.

▸What’s the difference between Salvator and regular beer?

Salvator is a Doppelbock with 18.3 percent original wort and 7.9 percent alcohol-significantly stronger and fuller-bodied than a Helles. With roughly 700 kilocalories per liter, the Paulaner monks once drank it as liquid bread during Lent.

▸Where exactly does the festival take place?

At the Salvatorkeller by Paulaner on Nockherberg, Hochstr. 77, 81541 Munich. In fair weather, the beer garden with city views is open.

▸Why can only Paulaner call its beer Salvator?

Salvator is a registered trademark of Paulaner and the progenitor of all Doppelbocks. Other breweries name their strong beers with the suffix -ator, in homage to the original.