In Bavaria beer is taken very seriously, proof of that is that the Free State of Bavavaria owns its own brewery, the Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in München (public Royal Brewery in Munich, also Hofbräu München). The brewery owns the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, one of the tourist attractions of the city, the Hofbräukeller and also one of the largest tents at the Oktoberfest (Hofbräu-Festzelt). Hofbräu is one of the only six breweries at the Oktoberfest. Hofbräu and Augustiner are the only major Munich based breweries which aren’t part of large international beer conglomerates, even though Hofbräu beer is also being brewed under licence in England, Finland and South Africa. The huge success of Munich’s Hofbräuhaus has led to franchises in Germany (Kaiserslautern, Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg and around the world (New York City, Las Vegas, Belo Horizonte, etc.). Hofbräu has written Munich beer history and has helped shape the city's beer culture.

The motto "Hofbräu, my Munich" underscores not only the brewery's awareness of its roots but also its pledge to produce beer that can justifiably claim to be Munich-brewed – particularly as Munich beer is truly unique. Products of particular regional renown enjoy the E.U.'s Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, which certifies the origin of regional foods. Munich-brewed beers by Hofbräu München are permitted to carry this protected denomination.

The brewery produces over 300,000 hectolitres and has an exports-to-sales ratio of roughly 50:50, with Hofbräu Original accounting for over 50 percent of sales, making it the top product in the brewery's assortment. Other beer are Hofbräu Maibock, Münchner Sommer naturtrüb, Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier, Hofbräu Festbier, wheat beers (Münchner Weisse and Hofbräu Schwarze Weisse) at and Hofbräu Dunkel.

The brewery was founded in 1589 by the Duke of Bavaria, Wilhelm V and was situated just around the corner of the court. Hofbräu München has been brewing beer in accordance with the Bavarian Beer Purity Law for the past 400 years.