You may have heard that you need to be sitting inside (or on the terrace of) a tent to be served beer at Oktoberfest. This is mostly true. Indeed, it is the only way you’ll be able to get your hands on a big old maß (liter) of special Oktoberfest brew. But if you don’t mind drinking weißbier (wheat beer) in small vessels (only half liter), head for one of the many outdoor stands that serve it up. You’ll need to drink your weißbier in the general vicinity of where you bought it, but these little areas are often quite pleasant places to hang out. I tend to prefer them to the hot, loud, sweaty insides of a tent, especially on a beautiful sunny day.
There’s a Paulaner beer garden (called Kübler’s Bierstüberl) on the left just inside Oktoberfest’s main entrance which makes for a great place to meet up with friends before wandering the wiesn together.
There are also a couple of beery-go-rounds (note: they’re not really called that) where you can sip your adult beverage while rotating ever so slowly. It’s a bar and a ride all in one!
My personal favorite of the weißbier stands is the one close to the Mozartstraße entrance, the Weißbier Alm. It offers up the best entertainment, as it is situated directly across from the Toboggan:
At first this old-timey giant slide ride doesn’t sound like it’d be particularly interesting, but the dangerously high-speed uphill conveyor belt that people ride to get up to the slide is mighty fun to watch. One can ride up holding hands with a stability carnie, or give it a go alone. Here’s a taste of the action: a guy riding up the way you’re supposed to do it (boring) followed by one of the more creative riders.
wow, great video! a sweet twist on the jeremy! also, i’m a little surprised to discover those aren’t really called beery-go-rounds. such an apt and catchy name.
I know, Carousel Bar just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Ahhhh, Weißbier! Did you know that one a day keeps the kidney stones at bay? At least that was what the docs at the Klinikum Rechts der Isar told me back in ’87. It’s worked so far. What kind do they sell at the Mozartstr. stand?
I did not know that, Harvey. Must be why my kidneys are so beautifully stone-free since moving to Munich. Glad it’s working for you, too. 🙂
I do believe that stand sells Paulaner. Now that I think about it, a suspiciously large percentage of the weißbier at Oktoberfest seems to be Paulaner.
I like weißbier and find the smaller glasses help keep it cold. I also find that it gives a worse hangover than normal pils. I notice at our local grocery store that all of the Paulaner Beer is Weißbier. I know they make other things and occasionally you see it around Oktoberfest, but here at least they only “import” the Weitzen.
To the rotating bar.. i saw one in Switzerland that was labeled “Dreh-bar”. Which is the german word for “turnable”.