"QUANTUM SHOT" #660
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- article by Victoria Whyte and Avi Abrams
The popularity of our Cheers to Beers!
series prompted us to ask a seasoned traveler and reporter Victoria
Whyte to highlight the fabulous Oktoberfest, with various styles of
fabulous beers and beer mugs (steins) served there.
200th Anniversary of Oktoberfest of Munich, Germany
Munich has been celebrating what we now know as Oktoberfest since 1810
when Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildurghausen. The
festivities started on October 12, 1810 and lasted for one week. The party
was such a success that the couple decided to throw the same type of
festival annually.
Then why is Oktoberfest in September? Eventually the
celebration was moved to take advantage of the warmer weather in
September, and therefore, in true Bavarian form, longer outdoor drinking
hours!
(German advertisement)
While the event started off as a wedding extravaganza, Oktoberfest is now
the undisputed, ultimate celebration of beer.
- the festivities normally draw in six to seven million visitors a year!
- girls and guys alike, dress in the traditional Lederhosen or Dirndls.
- the streets are full of music with the crowds singing along to the ever
popular Bavarian drinking song Ein Prosit
- in addition Passion Play is performed in the city of Oberammergau - this
only happens once every ten years!
- and of course most activities center around the many high quality beer
options!
(actress Ingrid Pitt, image credit
Life)
The Largest (and the Craziest) Celebration to Date!
This year was the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest in Munich and it was
expected to be the largest (and the craziest) to date. Visitors were not
disappointed! The streets were full of crowds dressed in traditional
Lederhosen and Dirndls and beer tents were booming with satisfied patrons
singing along to the Bavarian drinking song Ein Prosit.
(image via)
There are fourteen beer tents on the Oktoberfest grounds, all serving
one-liter steins (locally called a mass) to eager patrons whose thirst
never seems to be quenched. Only six breweries are served on the grounds,
and each tent only serves one brewery’s beer.
(image via)
The Bavarian Purity Law of 1516 states that there are only three
ingredients allowed in the production of Bavarian beer: water, barley and
hops. Despite changes to the legal requirements and advancements in beer
production, Bavarians still pride themselves on brewing a pure beer. What
does this mean to the Oktoberfest goer? Less of a hangover!
The two most common types of beer in Munich, especially during Oktoberfest
are the Weissbier (wheat beer) and the paler Helles (similar to a lager).
(actress Ingrid Pitt in "Where Eagles Dare", photos by
Life Magazine)
I have been in Munich, Germany for the past month enjoying Bavarian art,
culture, cuisine and of course Oktoberfest beer. In the below article you
will find information on the six breweries served at the Oktoberfest and
where you can find them every year.
A Mouth-watering Rundown of Excellent Beers!
1. Löwenbräu
The huge lion standing above the door of the Löwenbräu Oktoberfest
tent leaves no one guessing it’s meaning: lion's brew. The
Löwenbräu-Festhalle is an impressive tent and nearly impossible to
get a reservation in. Bavarians pass along their rights to the beer tent
reservations to their families on their deathbeds! Be sure to try the
Weisenbier specifically brewed for Oktoberfest. Löwenbräu is
also served in another local’s favorite tent: Schützen-Festzelt
(image credit:
Nick Perretti)
2. Spaten-Franziskaner
My personal favorite! The special Oktoberfest brew is slightly stronger
and paler. Is it obvious now why it’s my favorite? This brew is served at
Scottenhamel, Ochsenbraterei, and the
Hippodrome tents. The Oktoberfest celebrations are officially
started when the Mayor of Munich taps the first barrel and cries
“O’zapft Is” (It’s Open), after which everyone joins the
festivities with a Prost! (Cheers). This is done in the
Scottenhamel tent with a barrel of Spaten Beer.
My loving sentiments towards Spaten are not always felt among the
locals. The logo, a malt shovel (Spaten means spade), is often
mocked. Locals say you are ‘digging your own grave’ when you drink too
much Spaten. After many a late night I have to agree but don’t seem
to learn and keep going back for more!
3. Augustiner-Bräu
Augustiner is Munich’s oldest brewery and was originally brewed in
the monastery of the Augustinian Brotherhood. This brand is the local’s
every-day favorite and is often the first choice when buying a bottle
year-round. Augustiner’s most popular brew is their Helles,
but during Oktoberfest they serve a Märzen brew, characterized by a
medium to full body, malty flavor and higher alcohol content.
Augustiner operates one of the best tents on the Oktoberfest
grounds, rightly named Augustiner Fest-Halle, the brew is also
served in Fischer-Vroni.
4. Hofbräu
This brew is served in the Hofbräu Festzelt on the Oktoberfest
grounds. The famous Hofbräuhaus in Marienplatz is the tent’s
year-round sister establishment. Hofbräu is known to locals and
foreigners alike as one of the craziest party tents. This famous tent is
the favorite destination for Americans and Australians.
(photo by Avi Abrams, Dark Roasted Blend)
On the weekends, foreigners who want to experience the craziness line up
at 7 am and wait until 9 am when the first beer in served. If the staff is
feeling generous, on a rainy morning they will often open the doors and
let patrons in at 8 am to avoid the rain. On weekends the doors are closed
at 9:30 am because by then the tent is packed and already overflowing.
While I have never woken up that early after a night at Oktoberfest,
dedicated visitors have told me that 20 minutes after the first beer in
served, nearly everyone in the 10, 000 person tent has a beer in hand –
that is German efficiency at its best!
One of the best little known secrets about this tent is that it is the
only tent on the Oktoberfest grounds that will serve you beer without a
seat – all other tents are sticklers about this.
Here are some photographs from Dark Roasted Blend's Avi Abrams visit to
Hofbräuhaus in Marienplatz:
(photos by Avi Abrams, Dark Roasted Blend)
Personal beer steins are stored for those who come here often:
The colorful menu has plenty of character:
(photos by Avi Abrams, Dark Roasted Blend)
5. Paulaner
Paulaner is one of the lighter beers served at the Oktoberfest, and
one of the most popular! The brew is served in the
Armbrustschützenzelt, Winzerer Fähndl, and
Käfer’s Wies’n Schänke tents. Winzerer Fähndl is regarded as
an elite tent, local celebrities including the FC Bayern football team is
often spotted here. Käfer is a small tent but the only one that
stays open past 11pm. When all the other tents close there is a mad rush
to Käfer because it stays open for another two hours.
(images credit:
Nick Perretti)
6. Hacker-Pschorr
Hacker is served in Hacker-Festzelt and Bräurosl. The
brew is still regarded as one of the purest beers because the ingredients
are 100% natural and brewed to original Bavarian standards. The
Hacker tent switches things up with a rock band versus a brass band
that most other tents have. Cagey Strings Rock'n'Rock Band and
Kirchdorfer Musi keep the vibe going all day and night, and
probably helped the tent earn its nickname as
Himmel der Bayern (Heaven of Bavaria).
No matter what tent you end up at you are guaranteed a high quality beer
and a crazy time at Oktoberfest in Munich. Want to check it out? Join
Ludus Tours (www.oktoberfesttours.com) next year in September when we head to Munich for Oktoberfest!
Prost! Auf Wiedersehen.
(actress Ingrid Pitt in "Where Eagles Dare")
About Ludus Tours: Ludus Tours (www.oktoberfesttours.com) is a tour company that specializes in packages and hospitality at the
world's biggest cultural and sporting events. The Ludus Oktoberfest
package includes: private airport transport, 3 or 4 star accommodation
within walking distance of the Oktoberfest grounds, Bavarian welcome
dinner (including beer and food), daily breakfast, one Beertent
reservation (including beer and food), a day trip to Neuschwanstein
Castle, a bike tour of Munich, and Ludus guide assistance throughout the
stay.
About the author: Victoria Whyte works for Ludus Tours, as the PR
and Social Media Manager. She is based out of Vancouver, Canada. While
she enjoys the other events, she waits patiently every year for
September when her favorite event, Oktoberfest, takes place.
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7 Comments:
"Ozapft is" means literally "It´s tapped" in bavarian german.
Prost!
That's awesome. I never knew how Oktoberfest really worked. ... Now, I can look for the Bavarian beers over here, too. I think Lowenbrau and Spaten are the only ones I've seen in the states. Maybe Hofbrau, too.
Dennis is right..
Newport, Kentucky has the first Hofbrauhaus outside of German. The beer garden is packed in the summer.
http://www.hofbrauhausnewport.com/
Octoberfest Cincinnati is the largest outside of Germany. But my favorite event is Cincinnati's Bock Fest in the Spring. A great parade complete with a goat pulling the Bock keg and a Sausage Queen.
http://www.bockfest.otrbrewerydistrict.org/
http://www.oktoberfest-zinzinnati.com/
Oh the fresh air, the fine Alpine vistas, the sound of ice-cold water running through ancient streams..what more could you ask for? Well, one's face being rammed against a fine woman's chest will do for starters.
The largest tent at the Oktoberfest is "Hofbräuhaus". Last year visitors drank about 7 million l beer and ate 84 oxen. Besides the Americans, Australians and Chinese, more and more Russians are coming to the Oktoberfest. Here you'll find an information page in Russian about the Oktoberfest: http://www.germanija.net/meroprijatija/oktoberfest-muenchen ...
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