Oktoberfest 2015

Sure you can.... I've been in numerous tents often without a reservation in the evening. They typically have 3-4 rows of tables that are never reserved... if you have trouble, pull over a server... they will try their best to squeeze you in somewhere.... Prosit!

 

The times I've noticed tents closed up (they literally close the doors and the guards don't let anyone in) is when the rains come. No one wants to be outside and the tents get crammed. At that point, a nice warm Bierhall fits the bill.

 

Huh - maybe a poor assumption on my part...the weather was an issue the day I was there.

 

Ugh! Yeah, that'll do it! I guess they do enforce local fire laws, somewhat.... Prosit!

 

Went a few year's ago on a Wednesday I believe and sat in the Paulaner tent. I got there around 9:30ish and there were plenty of seats if I recall.

I went again on a Friday around 11/noonish and headed to the Hofbrau tent. It was PACKED and loud, couldn't find a seat. So we found some seats outside on an absolutely gorgeous day for a few liters.

Two totally different experiences (I drank WAY more the first day as well) but both were extremely enjoyable in their own way. Oh yeah, and as I've mentioned already, get the chicken...you won't regret it.

 

Huh, I remember when I went to Oktoberfest (back in 08 or 09 I think). It was an interesting experience but I do think the prices are kinda steep (even at that time when the Maß was I think 8€) and there's a bit too much going on for my taste.

Some Oktoberfests/Helles also don't tend to sit well with me - no idea why but they tend to get me a bit nauseaous. But I mostly also prefer wheats if we're talking Bavarian styles.

 

Gotta ask this 'cause you're in country -- you know the colors may be similar, but Oktoberfest-Wies'n and Helles are not the same beer.

Thankfully, not a problem I have, at least before the 4th Maß.

 

Of course I know they're not the same beer. I mainly lumped them together because they (and some Dunkles, actually) tend to be the beer variants that easily get me nauseaous (just like Jägermeister, most Scotch, a bunch of wines and vodka combined with fruit juices)

I had like two Schoppe Oktoberfest last year and I felt like someone stomach-kicked me.

 

Okay... some (supposedly renowned) beer writers have tried to say different in the past...

Some Dunkles, but not all? Interesting (and sad) problem.

 

That's news to me. I mean they are likely similar in certain aspects (ABV, malts/hops being used) but that doesn't make them the same. I will admit that I liked the Märzens I've tried a bit more than the Oktoberfests and Helles I've tried so far.

Yeah. The Dunkles our brewpub (Kraftbräu, the one Lurchus mentioned above) brews gets me pretty bad. Some Bavarians have also gone pretty nasty on me. Others (like Camba and Riegele) are fine, though.

 

http://www.germanbeerinstitute.com/Oktoberfestbier.html -- Last sentence on the page... makes your eyes roll. One of the many reasons we try to discourage people from using this site as reference.

In the U.S. Spaten, Paulaner, and Hacker-Pschorr still export the Amber Märzen to us -- it's quite nice and (to me) always tastes much better than any U.S. brewed Märzen.

Just odd -- maybe you have an allergy to Munich malt?

 

I have mixed memories of the Cannstatter Volksfest. Last time I was there I broke an ankle.

 

Were you doing some wild dancing while wearing your lederhosen?

Cheers!

 

Yeah, I'd generally be skeptical with the lack of sources there. And as some other beer historians rightly point out some of history is pretty muddy (I just recently read some nice pieces about the origin of IPA from something someone posted here).

Heh, I've actually never had any of theirs. I didn't have too many so far but the ones I had I liked quite a bit. The Pax Bräu Märzen I had this year was really good, super süffig too. I'm also still fond of the Schlenkerla whenever I can get my hands on it (I wonder how well that would go with a barbecue).

That would news to me. I'm pretty sure I've had comprehensive allergy tests over the years - plus aren't there a few other beers that also use Munich malts?

 

I think you can pretty much imagine that! Any good places for real BBQ around you? I always thought I could make a fortune with a chili and BBQ restaurant in Germany -- particularly Franconia.

 

Nah not really. Not that I know of at least. I'd probably do it myself which I don't really mind since I like cooking a lot (even if it's time intensive, my home made oven fries take at least 30-40 minutes).

 

Much more prosaic: having a piss.

Got back to my hotel OK, thinking I'd just sprained it. Awoke in agony, alone, in hotel room in a city where I knew no-one. Spent several hours in a hospital corridor waiting to see a doctor whose Schwabian accent I couldn't understand.

 

Sounds like you need a Stuttgart intervention my friend. A revisit might be the antidote to such a bad experience; Porsche Factory, Volkfest, some great restaurants, some better people -- go, heal thyself!

 

I'll send you my baby back rib recipe with my wife's famous spice rub! (does any of that make sense outside of the U.S? )

Wait, 30-40 minutes is time intensive? My chili takes a few hours to get just right -- and don't get into home-brewing man!

 

Ron, maybe you should adopt my story next time you tell your broken ankle story!?!

Cheers!

Jack