The Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan is officially the oldest brewery in the world, operating continuously on the same hill since at least 1040. The hill itself is older than the brewery — a Benedictine monastery was founded here in the 8th century, and the surrounding landscape carries the weight of that history. Today the brewery sits alongside the Technical University of Munich's campus for brewing, food science, and landscape design, which gives the place an unusual combination of academic rigour and centuries of tradition.
You can visit the brewery on guided tours, which take you through the production process from hop storage to lagering. But the simplest way to experience Weihenstephan is to sit in the Bräustüberl, the traditional tap room, and order a Helles or a Hefeweizen directly from the source. The terrace looks out over the Freising plain toward Munich on clear days. The beer — particularly the Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier — is as good as the history suggests.