It really is all about the beer here
Munich’s postmark (‘city of world-famous beers’).
beer
Ask the Expat: practical Oktoberfest advice for first-time visitors
Can you post some guidance for Oktoberfest ahead of the event this year for those of us who want to attend? (At least I no longer think it’s in Oktober 🙂 ) -Dave Hampton, Random Walks in the Low Countries OK, so my last post containing Oktoberfest tips was not particularly comprehensive. This time I … Read more
Springtime on the Wies’n
Look familiar? Ah, springtime in Munich. On the heels of the Starkbierfest comes the Frühlingsfest, or spring festival, which takes place on the Theresienwiese, Munich’s famous Oktoberfest fairgrounds. With just two one-story beer tents, Frühlingsfest is much smaller than Oktoberfest, but the general idea is the same: carnival rides, carnival food, and drunken crowds in … Read more
Scavengers in the Biergarten
In case you were wondering what summer in Munich is like, it’s simple: all biergarten all the time. These photos are from the biergarten at Seehaus, in the middle of the English Garden. This beer garden distinguishes itself from the millions of others in that 1) it’s on a lake and 2) it has a … Read more
Isn’t every day Beer Day in Munich?
I have fallen down on the job, dear readers. There was an important event here in Munich yesterday, and I failed to attend it. From what I hear it was magical. OK, it was free beer. Helles, dunkles, and weißbier, free-flowing and plentiful from the beer fountain, at least for a couple hours in the … Read more
Starkbierfest Munich: when regular beer isn’t strong enough
Finally we’ve made it to that time of year again – time for a beer festival in Munich. Starkbierfest is a lot like Oktoberfest, with a few key differences: Different beer (duh). Starkbier is very strong and so sweet it’s practically undrinkable. No smoking! Smokers have to go outside. Your throat will still hurt from … Read more
The home stretch
This Oktoberfest business is seriously exhausting! I’ve spent 6 of the past 11 days at the Wies’n, and I’m planning to go at least one more time. I’m going to need a vacation once this is all over. The other night we had dinner at the Käfer tent, one of the smaller tents at the … Read more
Oktoberfest advice: avoid these common injuries!
As fun as Oktoberfest is, there are still some dangers lurking, particularly where beer steins are involved. This friend (who will remain somewhat anonymous) demonstrates a couple common Oktoberfest injuries for us. See this vertical welt on her forehead? Here she reenacts how she got it:My advice: don’t do this. Injury number two: blisters from … Read more
Oktoberfest waitresses demonstrating their mad skillz
The waitresses at the Wies’n must start training months in advance for all this beer-carrying. Looks like seven liters… not bad. Eight! Even better. One waiter, too: Pretty impressive, no?
Breathalyzer, Oktoberfest style
This Fräulein was administering breathalyzer tests to the guys at the table behind us in the Hippodrom, but not for the usual reasons. They weren’t interested in finding out whether they were fit to drive (the Premier of Bavaria has already educated them about that). Instead, they were receiving certificates proudly boasting the blood alcohol … Read more