The story of Hofbräu München began with a culinary challenge more than 400 years ago: Since he found the beer brewed in his court in Munich to be of poor taste and quality, William V, Duke of Bavaria, founded the Hofbräuhaus in 1589 –  the birthplace of the brewery and gastronomy. Today, the Hofbräuhaus Bavarian State Brewery in Munich is one of two still Bavarian-run traditional Munich breweries.