Oktoberfest 2015

Especially when you remember that your glass is going to be probably at least 10% short and possibly 20% short of the liter you've paid for, according to the research carried out by the Union against Fraudulent Beer-Pouring.

 

Going there this year and considering the liter prices I pay in the US Oktoberfest prices sound good considering where ill be drinking.

 

I'm picking my bier tent now for the Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart for this coming Oktoberfest season

http://cannstatter-volksfest.de/en/tents/




We generally pay 30 euro for a reserved seat in the tent, 2 liters of bier, a half a chicken and a roll.

 

Sounds like a much better deal Well, aside from the chicken... but that's just the vegetarian in me talking.

 

I paid 10 euro per liter back in 2011, so that's a great deal. I was in the Paulaner tent, and then came back to the states the following week and had the exact same Paulaner Wiesn on tap, and that liter cost me $13. So, comparable.

I'm not a vegetarian, and I thought the chicken was fucking amazing. One of the best I've ever had.

 

Bavarians must live a baroque lifestyle, because 10€ per liter beer would never sit well with the ever 'thrifty' schwäbische.


Oh... the fest chicken is out of this world amazing!

 

Any tips for a first timer? My wife and I are checking this off the bucket list this year!! We're flying w/o reservations because a lot of the people we spoke with said it was near impossible to get one for just two people. Would love tent recommendations, tips for getting in, etc. if anyone has some!

 

@jumboj11 ....

Where to start? ;-) First, get there early if you want seats inside.... And pray for nice weather; if it's rainy, few will sit outside and inside will be packed! Or simply opt to sit outside... enjoy the sun and suds, and you can still hear the music. Inside is cool, though, with more liveliness.... Augustiner is usually one of the hardest to get into, as it's the locals favorite. Try for the Hofbrau tent; they have an area in front of the band with no seats - you have to stand at a high table... Look on ebay for someone selling reservations. Some people buy a tables-worth then end up with extras. My friend and I sat inside last year that way, with 2 Germans, 4 from Ohio, and the 2 from Canada he got the seats from.... Which dates are you there?

Prosit!!

 

@Bierman9

Thanks for the suggestions, hadn't thought about hitting resale markets for reservations. We'll be there 9/19 through 9/23 before heading to Belgium for a few days.

 

I plan on being in München 20-23SEP.... I usually (tradionally!) hit the Weisses Brauhaus for Sunday brunch, as well as taking a side trip to Andechs, likely Tuesday....

Prosit!

 

You ought to be able to find a tourist center at the Munich airport that may be able to get you last-minute accommodations -- it's how my friends and I found the Hotel Amba on our first visit and we ended up there many times after. Not a fancy spot, but well-located between the Oktoberfest and city center. The same for the Hotel Eder.

Do you have a preferred home-base @Bierman9 ?

 

Thanks @steveh & @einhorn. We've already locked up hotels, etc. Really just looking for tips or suggestions for the actual festival. Or general Munich suggestions for that matter.

 

Some hotels will have reserved tables at the Oktoberfest for guests, double-check with yours.

It's recommended a lot in this forum, but that's because it's worth every penny: get a copy of The Beer Drinker's Guide to Munich for great info and directions to all the best Bier Garten and Bierhalls.

Other than that, check into buying passes for the S-Bahn -- 2 people can ride on one ticket and it gets you all around town.

 

I took his post to mean they didn't have table reservations.... Yes?

Prosit!

 

Wasn't sure myself. Truth be told, I never had table reservations on my visits -- hangin' with the kleine volk!

 

One of the things I learned about a Stammtisch on my last trip to the Oktoberfest was that it's not reserved until the exact time on the card -- in other words, you can sit there until that time and get a beer... and one of the servers doesn't look at you as a rogue. And then -- if the reserver doesn't show within an hour (IIRC, maybe less) of their reservation -- table's up for grabs! We sat at a Stammtisch all night with a group of other (Munich local) claim-jumpers because the original party didn't show.

 

This was my experience as well. I arrived early in the afternoon, around 1:00 or 2:00, and sat at a table that was reserved beginning at 4:00, so I had to leave by that time (or hope no one showed). However, if you don't have reservations you won't even be allowed into the tents once they fill up later in the day.