I, too have noticed that sad trend, and I've decided to counter it by wearing my lederhosen to the Rose Festival and the Oregon Brewfest. I trust the Portland FT community will be supportive.

As for the original question, Beer Gardens in Munich: Some of the nicest places are outside the city. Go with the recommendations posted earlier in this thread if you want to see some traditional beer gardens. For a fun experience, you might also consider venturing to Benediktbeuren (an old monastery; 45 minutes south of Munich, off Autobahn 95), the Lido restaurant in Seeshaupt (at the southern tip of Starnberger See), the beer garden in Mühltal (on light rail line S6), or even the outside seating at Kloster Andechs. I could go on, but I think the point I'm trying to make is obvious: If you are looking for a traditional beer garden experience, go with the ones mentioned earlier. If you have time to venture out of the city, your options multiply.

To contribute to the linguistic discusson regarding the term beer garden: I would define a traditional beer garden by its characteristics: a drinking venue with a menu dominated by beer, oversized pretzels, and smelly cheese; often in a parklike setting, covered by huge chestnut trees; harassed by noise-abatement rules more than health regulations.

Some restaurants have recognized that their "beer gardens" really don't fit this strict definition, so new terms have popped up, most notably Gastgarten (guest garden), which refers to outside seating. Some Gastgarten areas can be great (the Augustiner comes to mind), but you can also find yourself trapped in a rather sad back alley.

Another great option are Volksfeste, bavarian neighborhood parties, which offer activities similar to a beer garden (i.e., getting drunk, meeting people, vomiting). Depending on location and cause, these can be fun. Check local listings.