Unlock the Secret Ingredients That Truly Define a Beer Garden—And Why It Matters More Than You Think!
When you’ve endured the long, bone-chilling winters of a place like Chicago, those fleeting summer days feel like pure magic—and every sun-soaked minute is squeezed dry of joy. Suddenly, “Summer Fridays” become a sacred ritual, rooftops transform into haphazard hangout zones, and every bar in the city claims to have a “beer garden.” But here’s the kicker: what exactly is a beer garden? Is it just any patch of sunlit grass with a couple of plastic chairs and cold brews, or is there some secret, historic sauce behind the term? Honestly, I’ve always wondered if some spots are just borrowing the name for the vibe—because if a lawn chair and a cold one count, then my backyard is a beer garden! But as it turns out, there’s a rich tradition behind the concept, stretching all the way back to Bavaria’s underground cellars and blooming gardens, designed to keep beer cool and spirits high. Still, the idea has evolved everywhere—from family-friendly play areas in the UK to rooftop escapes in Japan and live-music patios across North America. So, if all you really need is beer served outside to call it a beer garden—well, why sweat the details? After a long winter, that’s more than enough reason to celebrate. LEARN MORE
When you live in a mostly frozen city like Chicago, you squeeze every last ounce out of the warm summer months. Companies let their employees out early on Friday for “Summer Fridays,” residents start haphazardly hanging out on their rooftops and somehow, every single bar city starts advertising their “beer garden.”
I’m not one to refuse to drink while sitting in a lawn chair on the sidewalk or a patch of grass in the backyard, but I can’t help but feel like their use of “beer garden” is pretty liberal. So what, exactly, is a beer garden?
According to Brian Hathaway, the beer expert for the beer delivery service Brewvana, it’s worth looking at the origins of the beer garden itself. “Beer gardens (or biergartens in German) originated in Bavaria, where breweries would plant gardens above their underground cellar in an effort to keep their fermentations cool,” he explains. “The beautiful plants and open-air space inspired breweries to curate these spaces into a communal area where beer and food would be served.”
Similar to the difference between saloon, tavern, bar and pub, the definition of what makes a beer garden a beer garden has loosened a bit since its origin. “Each country has now put its own spin on the tradition of enjoying a cold beer outside,” says Shawn Zipay, mixologist and purveyor of the website Cocktails with Class. “For example, in the U.K., beer gardens are family-friendly spots featuring swing sets and slides to keep the kids entertained while the adults enjoy a cold drink, and they’re normally created in the ‘backyard’ of the pub.”
In Japan, where space is at a premium, Zipay explains that many beer gardens “can be found on the rooftops of buildings, which make for great outdoor hubs where people can enjoy the view.” And in the U.S. and Canada, “a beer garden often doubles as an outdoor patio that normally features live music and entertainment.”
So even though you might expect a beer garden to have more space, perhaps accompanied by a few tables, an actual garden and a large selection of beers, “the modern beer garden is just any open-air space where you can drink beer and eat food,” Hathaway says. “In reality, the only stipulation of a beer garden is that beer is served outside.”
And at least in the summer, that’s good enough for me.
Quinn Myers
Quinn Myers is a staff writer at MEL. He reports on internet culture, technology, health, masculinity and the communities that flourish within.
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