Oktoberfest

First of all, it is a fair, not a festival or carnival or beer-apalooza, although at times it can seem equal parts of

Mmmm … bier!

each.  And it’s not just any fair, it’s the world’s largest.  History tells us that the original event was an open invitation for the people of the country to join in celebrating the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig.  I can’t imagine what my wedding anniversary parties will look like in 200 years.  The fair is 16 days long, only when it’s not.  Oktoberfest officially ends on the first Sunday in October each year, unless that Sunday happens to be October 1 or 2.  In those cases, it continues until October 3rd, which is German Unity Day.  So, the 16-day fair can be 17 or 18 days long, depending.  2010 marked 200 years of Oktoberfest in Munich.  I can’t wait for the 300 year celebration!  Enough history and background … on to the bier!

As mentioned before, so many different breweries will brew what they will call an Octoberfest (note the spelling difference.)  Only 6 breweries in the world make what is truly licensed and “allowed” to be called an Oktoberfest.  The 6 official Oktoberfestbiers are brewed by Spaten, Löwenbräu, Augustiner-Bräu, Hofbräu-München, Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr.  These beers must be brewed within the city limits of Munich to qualify.  They are a märzen-style beer with an average alcohol content of about 6%.  Generally rich and flavorful, the Americanized version of an Oktoberfest has grown a bit darker through years, while the real Oktoberfests from Munich have grown slightly lighter in color.  But next time someone offers you a Samuel Adams Octoberfest, deep down you’ll know that while incredibly good, it’s not officially recognized as a true Oktoberfest.  You’ll need to venture out to Munich in late September for a treat like that.  Now, if you really, really want to find something here that is as close as you can get to the real thing without venturing overseas, I recommend Weihenstephaner Festbier.  It can be found (or ordered) from package stores and sometimes at your favorite pub.  It’s as close as we can get to the real thing.  Certainly worth a try!

• 6.5 million visitors annually
• There are 14 large and 20 small tents set up.  Combined seating capacity is just over 100,000 at any given time.  Imagine the south’s largest football stadiums filled with people enjoying beer together!  Wait, don’t we already see that anyway?
• A lot of the tents have different reasons: quiet tents, family tents, food, specialty cocktails, traditional dance & music.  There is something for everyone!
• There is no ticket to be able to enter.  Entry is free!  But it is very difficult to get a reservation in the tents – and that’s what you’ll need to do.  You have to contact the individual tent hosts to reserve a space.  If not, plan to wait in line.  For awhile.
• Average liter of beer cost?  $13.  And you need to tip well if you want a chance for a second one.
• But don’t have too many. There are legions of people who are over-served each year and become “Bierleichen” – roughly translated as ‘beer corpses’.