Bayernbiere Bought and Drunk

Discussion in 'Germany' started by boddhitree, Dec 15, 2012.

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  1. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Of course, I totally forgot that 2 days later is St. Joseph's Day -- the start of Starkbierzeit, no? Maybe the middle of the Zeit?
     
    #101 steveh, Jan 29, 2013
  2. boddhitree

    boddhitree Pooh-Bah (1,839) Apr 13, 2008 Germany
    Pooh-Bah

    Starkbierzeit? Are you confusing Frankfurt with München? I'd never heard of Starkbierzeit until I heard it on BA. Is that when the Doppelbocks come out? Or the strong German winter/Christmas beers, such as a 7.8% Corolus Doppelbock from Binding (a.k.a. Radeburger :angry:) ? Otherwise, I've never heard of Starkbierzeit. I haven't a clue. Do they have this in the normal (non-Bayern) part of Germany? :wink: And what's St. Joseph Day? Does that have anything to do with Fasching?
     
    #102 boddhitree, Jan 29, 2013
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  3. einhorn

    einhorn Savant (1,175) Nov 3, 2005 California

    Are you serious about not knowing about the 5th (Bavarian) season, Starkbierzeit? If so, you are not alone. When I moved to Munich in 1996 (I had been living in Germany since 1992) I wasn't aware of the tradition and went with my classmates to Nockherberg to experience this very bayerisches Bierfest for the first time. I went 3 times thereafter and truly enjoyed not competing with Japanese, Americans and Aussies for spots to sit.
     
    #103 einhorn, Jan 30, 2013
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  4. Stahlsturm

    Stahlsturm Initiate (0) Mar 21, 2005 Germany
    In Memoriam

    They do not. "Starkbierzeit" is a catholic tradition so it's only observed in the beer drinking part of southern Germany. It is traditionally the "silent" time between the end of "Fasching" and "Easter" which is a bit like the catholic version of Ramadan. People weren't supposed to eat meat and live in silent contemplation and Bavarian monks found a way to still get something healthy and nutritious to the people that was in compliance with the Church's teachings. Starkbier.

    It may have been all over Germany once but the Protestant fundamentalist Al-Quaida did away with all these "worldly traditions" after the Reformation and ruined it for the north and the middle of Germany. Why do you think they hate Bavaria so much ? :slight_smile: They see what they have lost and covet it greatly :grinning:
     
    #104 Stahlsturm, Jan 30, 2013
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  5. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Not at all, but if I was in Frankfurt on March 17th, I'd be planning a train ride south by the 19th! :grinning:
    The Doppelbocks... and probably all the amateurs! :wink:

    http://www.beerfestivals.org/articles/dest/munich_strong_beer.html
     
    #105 steveh, Jan 30, 2013
  6. Stahlsturm

    Stahlsturm Initiate (0) Mar 21, 2005 Germany
    In Memoriam

    #106 Stahlsturm, Jan 30, 2013
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  7. boddhitree

    boddhitree Pooh-Bah (1,839) Apr 13, 2008 Germany
    Pooh-Bah

    Excellent summary. I thought it something to do with those damn Catholics. Now it makes complete sense. And it was a outstanding explanation.

    I guess what got under my skin was that many 'Mericans think is München/Bayern IS Germany. It ain't. As Stahlsturm implied, Bayern isn't even really considered German by the rest of the country, and more than Austria is. The only problem is that they're connected by the hip and can't disconnect even if they wanted to. "Bayer" is used synonymously for redneck in almost all parts of Germany. And I'm sure Bavarians feel equal enmity towards all other parts of Germany. Think Texan (I'm from Texas.) but with Dirndls and Lederhosen.

    But still, just because there is a "Bierfest" in München doesn't mean anyone else has a clue about it or ever heard of it. OK, everyone's heard of Oktoberfest, but that's because it's become so commercialized and famous internationally that they now have Oktoberfests (complete with bayrische tablecovers, flags, music, clothing, but with the local beer) in FfM and other German cities. Sorry steveh, it struck me as somewhat of an assumption that anyone would have heard of Starkbierfest outside of a Bayern just because one's in Germany.

    Germany is just as diverse regionally as any other country, and it kinda gets under my craw that 'Mericans are so Bayern-centric. To tell the truth, I was born in München but have visited there only once since then, and that was 27 years ago for a weekend to visit university friends, and I haven't had the urge to return, ever! The problem with Bayern is that it's filled with Bayer. :stuck_out_tongue: However, I'm returning in early March for the Braukunst Live 2013, for me mainly to drink the foreign (non-German) beers presented.

    There are how many Bundesländer (states) in Germany? Each has it's own unique beer culture and history, though most of it has died out except in Bayern. So just like Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a tourist trap, it's justly so because it's managed to keep a part of it's history intact, Bayern is the same: beer tourist trap to be avoided at all costs. Just like there are soooooo many small towns that also have a long ancient history to present, though without the intact city wall, they're not on the tourist map, just like other parts of Germany have beer-related things to discover. I guess my peeve is... touries (tourist) in general, and biertouries are the worst, for they're drunk as well as generally horribly obnoxious, and then to "glorify" that... :angry: and assuming... :grimacing:. Ok... I'll calm down, I just found my medicine. :flushed:
    Thanks for making my point for me.

    BTW, I've been too busy to review the 3 other beers I have set up... I'll try to do it later this week or this weekend.
     
    #107 boddhitree, Jan 30, 2013
  8. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Hah -- of course. But I take no credit for anything other than finding the link. There was a Milwaukee Journal article as well, but guess where it was focused?

    My only reason for linking was to lend a little background to Bodd's comment:
    By the way -- feel free to find a good link for us!
     
    #108 steveh, Jan 30, 2013
  9. Stahlsturm

    Stahlsturm Initiate (0) Mar 21, 2005 Germany
    In Memoriam

    Thanks :slight_smile:

    It is while Bayern pays the vast majority of the German Federal budget. They can't afford to let us go, half of Germany would turn into an instant 3rd World country.

    They look at Bavaria in envy, we look at them with pity. They hate us because we still have what they lost. Identity.

    Did you want to stay on my good side ? :angry:

    Which partly it is Bayern's fault actually, after all we forced the RHG on them as a condition of joining back in 1871. That has turned out well, got us 2 World Wars, 1 Civil War (in 1919), several vast inflations and a continous influx of aliens from the North who then sit around and complain that Bayern is so Bayrisch... *moan*

    You're welcome :slight_smile:
     
    #109 Stahlsturm, Jan 30, 2013
  10. Stahlsturm

    Stahlsturm Initiate (0) Mar 21, 2005 Germany
    In Memoriam

    I'm aware of that :stuck_out_tongue:
     
    #110 Stahlsturm, Jan 30, 2013
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  11. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah



    “Think Texan (I'm from Texas.) but with Dirndls and Lederhosen.”

    Sounds like Wurstfest in New Braunfels, Texas to me!:slight_smile:
     
    #111 JackHorzempa, Jan 30, 2013
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  12. einhorn

    einhorn Savant (1,175) Nov 3, 2005 California

    While I am impressed with the fest and accordion player, plastic cups and pitchers still get a THUMBS DOWN!
     
    #112 einhorn, Jan 30, 2013
  13. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    “ …plastic cups and pitchers still get a THUMBS DOWN!”

    Aw, c’mon, this is Texas we are talking about!:wink:

    On a more serious note the event is extremely well attended (a mob scene on weekend evenings) and there are a lot of small children in attendance. I can understand why the organizers insist upon plastic vs. glass for safety reasons.

    Cheers!

    P.S. They always have Shiner Oktoberfest on draft and this year's version was very tasty!
     
    #113 JackHorzempa, Jan 30, 2013
  14. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Oh my, does that ever bring back some old memories....
     
    #114 drtth, Jan 31, 2013
  15. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Hopefully pleasant memories!

    I have attended Wurstfest every year the past 5 or so years (I have family in Texas that I visit) and I have always had a great time. The organizers of Wurstfest do a great job getting musical acts plus the food & drink is always enjoyable. Not to mention that you are ‘encouraged ‘ to wear funny hats. I bought my sister a Phanatic dangle hat this year and she was constantly asked: where did you get that hat!:slight_smile:

    Cheers!
     
    #115 JackHorzempa, Jan 31, 2013
  16. Stahlsturm

    Stahlsturm Initiate (0) Mar 21, 2005 Germany
    In Memoriam

    I'm not sure I would go to something called "Wurstfest", hahaha.
     
    #116 Stahlsturm, Jan 31, 2013
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  17. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Pleasant indeed. Loved the Texas hill country and the things I found and did there back in the day....
     
    #117 drtth, Jan 31, 2013
  18. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Chicago's Berghoff restaurant used to call their Oktoberfest celebration "The Wurst Party of the Year." :grinning:
     
    #118 steveh, Jan 31, 2013
  19. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    There is that sense of humor!:slight_smile:
     
    #119 JackHorzempa, Jan 31, 2013
  20. boddhitree

    boddhitree Pooh-Bah (1,839) Apr 13, 2008 Germany
    Pooh-Bah

    Though not about beer... but y'all know my weakness for sausages and Wurstporno:

    Here in FfM (and probably every German town, too) there are curry wurst Imbisses (food stand) named, in English, mind you, The Best Wurst in Town. Nice play on words, I say, but what's ironic is very few people (Germans) get the joke. So it's just us ex-pats who giggle uncontrollably in our head when we see it.
     
    #120 boddhitree, Jan 31, 2013
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