My BA friends.... Time for another journey to Europe.... my first was waaaay back in 1980, fwiw! Cross-posting this here and the Netherlands and General Europe forums, btw... Departing Boston tomorrow, 14SEP, and flying to Krakow.... my first visit to Poland. Mainly looking to visit Auschwitz, and hopefully the Schindler Factory Museum and Plaszow.... staying 4 nights.... Overnight train on the 19th to Munich, for a 7-night stay. Oktoberfest beckons, of course, but trips to Andechs, Bamberg, maybe Nürnberg are on the schedule. Lastly, departing on the 27th for Maastricht for 4 nights.... there I'll visit the local pubs and perhaps Amsterdam and Brugge.... I'll try to post updates as I go..... And maybe I'll run into some of y'all! Prost!!
If you can manage the logistics, perhaps a day in Aying to meet up with @Bavarican and me on the 20th can be in your future?
I was just in Krakov a couple of days ago. Here is the link for the Ayinger tour. They still have slots left. https://www.ayinger.de/cms/index.php/brewery-tours.html
Unfortunately my train arrives about 1030 that morn.... will have to miss it... but you all enjoy!! Prost!
If you make it to Nürnberg you might as well hit the Altstadtfest that will be going on! https://www.asf-nuernberg.de/
Let me know if you want to pop down to the Alps we could also hit both of the Garmisch Breweries if you want. I read about how much you liked Ettal that is close as well. My village where my Kellerbar is on a hill above it. The film starts at the Garmisch train station and goes to Grainau:
Btw.. . Posting updates on the Poland part of my trio here: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/poland-germany-and-benelux-yet-again.681534/ Thnx!
Don't believe I can make it this year. My host wants to go to The Wiesn tomorrow, and we have a football match Friday... and I still have to squeeze in more Biergartens and Bamberg... Prost
Heading to Bamberg today. There is work on the train lines, bus to Erlangen is Part of the trip. Will see how that goes.
Ok. Continuing here after starting my trip in this thread: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/poland-germany-and-benelux-yet-again.681534/ Trip recap... Day 6 (20SEP25)... Arrived in München about 10.30 after a mostly sleepless 12 hours on the train from Kraków. Yikes!! Got a 7-day U/S-Bahn pass and made my way to my room for the next 7 nights. Fourth year in a row I've stayed with my host Björn... Settled in, unpacked, then headed out. Gorgeous day weather-wise. Maybe too gorgeous, as it was nearly 90F. Grabbed a couple of supremely tasty Brats at a stand at the Viktualien Markt. Then snagged a seat outside at the Schneider Brauhaus. Was feeling right at home after a couple of Hopfenweisses. Outta there and walked a bit through the Englischer Garten. With the great weather, it was packed. Loads of peeps chilling in the various streams that run through the park. Finished my walk and headed off for suppah. Ended up at an old fave called Augustiner Drei Mühlen. Unfortunately, they had a limited Wiesn menu, so none of their kick-ass Schnitzels were available. Did have a tasty Gulasch with Knodel, plus a couple of Augustiner Edelstoffs - a fantastic German bier! All set there.... was about 18.30 on the opening day of The Fest. ... headed that way. If I can find a seat rather quickly, great! If not I planned to hit the nearby Bavaria Park Biergarten. Security somehow let me in. .. ;-) made my way to the Augustiner tent. Lo and behold, snagged me a single seat in the outside area easily! Got me a Mass (for 14.50EU, the only tent this year under 15!!) and quaffed! It's now official!! My 39th OFest is in the books, 38 being consecutive!! Had a good time chatting with locals Gerhard, Johann and family. A second litre found it's way to me... Surprisingly, for as little sleep I got on the train, I felt remarkably good after walking around and downing 4 litres. Well, great to be back in München! Prost!!
Trip recap.... Day 7 (21SEP25)... Slept well...had BF... weather is supposed to be top-shelf today but getting cold and cloudy starting tomorrow. With that in mind, I opted for a day-trip to Kloster Andechs. The U-Bahn, S-Bahn and bus got me there just fine. First stopped into the lovely little church there before snagging a litre of the Doppelbock, for 10EU... Got a seat outside in the shade and relaxed!! Chatted with a really nice couple from near Tützing for a spell. Very pleasant conversation. Then gots me a 2nd litre, along with some sausages and kartoffel-salat. Hit the spot!!! Headed back to München about 14.30... After a couple of S-Bahns, I was at Augustiner Schützengarten at around 16.20. This is a large, lovely, quiet Biergarten in the central München area. Chilled there with a couple of Litres of Augustiner Festbier. Departed there and more S-Bahning got me to the Augustiner Bräustübn... Had a half of the Festbier with a great grilled sausage platter! Great meal, and I love this place! Off for a nightcap, as if I need more! Landed at Schneiders and had an Aventinus. Tasty shtuff!! Back to my room for some Zzzzs. Think I may sleep in a bit! Prost!!
Trip recap.... Day 8 (22SEP25)... Did get up late, then headed to the Viktualienmarkt... walked around the numerous food and gift stalls... had some free samples of spicy sauces. Grabbed a tasty Bratwurst nearby before ducking into Aying am Platz. Weather has turned cool and cloudy. Had a Jahrhundert to start. Had an interesting, spicy finish. Then a couple of half litres of the Kirtabier. Had lovely malt action going on. After relaxing there a couple of hours I walked over to the Oktoberfest Museum Stüberl for dinner. Had a large, tasty, tender Schnitzel there, along with an Augustiner Edelstoff. My final stop for today was a bar called Tap-House, near the Ostbahnhof. If you want variety, this is the place. Tried a Polish IPA called Hop Heads. Afraid it didn't do much for me. Finished with a Tölzer Heller Bock. That was a fine brew, and a good finish for today. Prost!!
Sounds like a nice raid in Munich too bad we mist each other. I will be up there for the O'fest on the 5th and the Kirta fest on the 12th.
Trip recap... Day 9 (23SEP25)... Another mostly low-key day. Cloudy and mid-50s again... after BF I took a long walk through the Englischer Garten, starting at the Hofgarten. Walked to the far end near the Seehaus Biergarten before turning back south. Opted for a quick lunch at the Chinesischer Turm Biergarten - Currywurst mit Pommes. Then back to the Hofgarten. Was supposed to join my host, Björn, at the Wiesn early afternoon but he postponed until late afternoon. Opted to chill, and actually warm up, at Aying am Platz. Had another tasty, malty Kirtabier. Was able to hit the Tourist Office where I bought the official 2025 Oktobefest stein. Have all of them since they started in 1978! When done I hopped on the U-Bahn to the Wiesn. Took a few pics before meeting Björn. Was about 16.30 then and the doors to the Augustiner tent were closed. We opted to ride it out, for now, outside with a Mass each... They later opened the doors and we found seats inside with not much trouble. Another litre each and we felt fine! Heard a few songs which sounded completely unfamiliar.... anyhow, set off from there and ended up at Tap-House for a night-cap. A Tölzer Heller Bock and a big bowl of chili hit the spot. Headed back to his flat hoping for warmer weather tomorrow... Zum Wohl!
