Oktoberfest
I am leaving Munich today feeling a little fragile after a night at the Oktoberfest.
My one and only visit was over two decades ago, and from memory hardly recognizable from back then.
The goal is the same of course, and that is to drink as many litres of frothy beer as you can, not forgetting to soak it up with gigantic pretzels, but I was taken aback by just how massive it was now.
For 16 days a 100 acre site called Theresienwiese not far from Munich’s Old Town is transformed into an incredible vista. Wiese means meadow in German, but the space is predominantly concrete with the huge neo-gothic church of St Paul for company.
I don’t remember it being as ginormous, my memory tells me of more like a few beers after work in a large marquee with the occasional outburst of Ein Prosit, where it was compulsory to chug your stein.
There was a funfair and rides too, but the people were mostly dressed for post work and almost everyone was German, or even Bavarian.
Now however there are now 48 beer tents, 17 of them gargantuan, and they are anything but tents. The largest ones hold 10,000 people and they surround a funfair that wouldn’t look out of place at Disney.
It’s clearly more commercial, and I suspect a lot more expensive to gain entry into these vast tents operated by German breweries, although only beer brewed in Munich is allowed to be served.
Breweries include the oldest Augustiner, and the original Oktoberfest one, Paulaner. We were in the Hacker-Tent which has a revolving stage with all the classic chunes played by Schlager band.
The crowd was also extremely international and Oktoberfest has obviously become a large visitor event. Plus, around 80% of the attendees, split 50/50 I would say between women and men were in full dirndl or lederhosen.
In our tent 7,000 people were crammed in at benches, most were dancing on top of them and the beer and schnitzel flowed like their was no tomorrow.
Tomorrow does come though as the whole thing shuts down at 10.30pm, which suits Munich’s strict licensing laws. Beers are available from when the doors open at 9am however.
I walked an hour back to my hotel last night, it might have been quicker if I was walking straighter, but my ears were ringing and my smile was huge because it was a fantastic night and experience 🍺
Most German brewers operate under the Reinheitsgebot, German brewery laws which mandate that only hops, water and barley can be used with no additives or even yeast.
These laws were in place for about 500 years but since joining the EU other brewers can operate in Germany but the main brewers stick to the traditional laws.
Yes, Glad you enjoyed it and went back way back in the 70’s and there were veer tents of all Nationalities and well remember the beers and the famous sausages and very friendly Germans and others sharing chocolates.
As for CAFC very strange decisions by Jones and would not be surprised if he is favourite for the Cardiff job.
He certainly has a huge ego and he has walked or sacked before.
I am still behind him but to question his loyalty to ex-Luton players and others and yes 7 forwards and problems scoring and too many lightweights in midfield.
Just when CAFC have had a bit of stability but it comes with us but let’s hope he does not but dropping Michell disgusting and he did acknowledge he picked the wrong team but ke us hope he has not had a falling out with Mitchell, just like May before.
IMHO and very obvious we have too many sub-standard midfielders.