You would have to be living in a cave to not know that Bavaria’s kind of famous for its beer. Germany’s largest Bundesland has quite a few breweries, including those that are state-owned and operated. However, there are some smaller, privately-owned breweries. For example, Ayinger. The award-winning brewery is based in the small town of Aying that is just about sixteen miles southeast of Munich. In addition to owning the Ayinger brewery, the Inselkammer family also operates Brauereigasthof Hotel Aying, a four-star hotel in Aying. I recently ventured out of Munich to visit the town of Aying and to spend the night at the Brauereigasthof Hotel Aying.
Aying the Town
It should be stated that Aying is a small town. Very small. There is a lot of farming that goes on — tractors were constantly buzzing up and down the narrow roads. As you might expect, there are also a lot of brewery-related activities. The brewery offers tours several times a week. Otherwise, there is not much else there.
Aying is an incredibly picturesque town. The local church, Pfarrkirche Sankt Andreas, sits in the heart of the town, across from Brauereigasthof Hotel Aying. The church bells chime regularly and really helps to give you the feel of small-town life. The town is also a popular stop with cyclists who like to stop by the Ayinger Bräustüberl, a restaurant and biergarten, as a convenient rest stop to sample some of the local brew and give those tired feet a rest from pedaling. But if you stop at the Bräustüberl be prepared: with such a small town and few other restaurants around the place can get busy during lunch and dinner times!
Brauereigasthof Hotel Aying
Perhaps the highlight of Aying is
Brauereigasthof Hotel Aying. The Inselkammer family has clearly put a lot of effort and money into this charming small town Bavaria luxury hotel. It really pays off. The tastefully decorated Bavarian-themed hotel set in historic, beautifully restored buildings deserves its four-star status. During our stay at the hotel, our comfort double room was extremely spacious, well-appointed and — most importantly — comfortable. The bathroom was large, clean and impressively modern in design. The door-less walk-in shower that could easily accommodate an entire family. In addition to robes, slippers, and toiletries, the hotel even goes an extra step with international television programming (French, Italian, Spanish, the list goes on).
More Than Just Beer
Oh, and did I mention the free beer? Each room receives complimentary full-size bottles of the award-winning beer! Plus there is a bottle of naturally sparkling water from the brewery’s spring. Also included with each stay is a complimentary breakfast buffet that certainly felt luxurious with things like five kinds of honey and smoked salmon on offer. This was in addition to more traditional German and Bavarian breakfast staples like bread, yogurts, and fruit.
The staff is friendly. Every employee that you pass — always clad in traditional clothing, as is typical with many Bavarian businesses — offers a Servus or a Grüß Gott. Upon checking out, the staff member at the front desk seemed genuinely pleased that we enjoyed our stay. The German stereotype might be cold efficiency but no one seems to have told Brauereigasthof Hotel Aying that.
While I had read some complaints online of people criticizing the regular “noise” from the church bells, my problem was more with the Bräustüberl. Keep your windows closed if you are looking for quiet because the restaurant is just yards away. On a warm summer evening with the windows open, you can easily hear the patrons or their children on the playground.
Besides the beer, Aying’s biggest attraction is its quiet life. But the largely residential town might be a little too quiet for some, which is a shame. But for those who are looking for a tranquil retreat, Aying and, more specifically,
Brauereigasthof-Hotel Aying is just the answer.
This post contains affiliate links. All photos, as well as all opinions, are my own.
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